"Swingman" wrote in message
...
Framing crew on a current construction project is being run by two union
carpenters from Washington state. Both of these guys are "old school", to
say the least (it's been years since I've seen exclusively 77's on a
jobsite here in Texas, and these guys pulled seven out of the trailer,
five for the "hired help", and a "personal" 77 a piece).

This morning, watched while one of them ripped a 4x12x20' cedar beam to
width, to match two butting LVL's ... took less time to "rip" than to
"report". No guide, no line, just a pencil mark to start, and a 'finger on
edge' to guide the cut. Result: perfect match to the LVL's, and the 9/16"
off cut does not vary by 1/32 for the entire 20' length.

Try that with 20' 4x12 stock on your table saw!

Can't express how good it is to see that type of "skill" is still being
wielded once again in these parts ... notable/rare enough for picture
proof:

http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/A.jpg
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/B.jpg
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/C.jpg
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/D.jpg
http://www.e-woodshop.net/images/E.jpg

Even rarer these days : sit in a the construction trailer and listen to
measurement 'call outs' in English, and SRV on the jobsite radio.

Obviously the Sketchup plans that they were referencing was a big help in
making those accurate cuts. ;~)