Thread: Is this the best darkside tool there is

Looks lethal.

Be interested to see it in action, though.

Tex

I'm not afraid to display my ignorance. I have no idea how those things work and I'm obviously too simple to decipher it from the pics.

Could you post some more pictures in close up and from other angles?

You seem so enthusiastic, I'd like to get excited too!

Basically the lever up top moves the angled cutting blades left and right as needed. The blades then trim a small piece off the end of the workpiece to slice a more accurate miter (at whatever angle setting you need).

Best for fine tuning by taking small shavings because you cant really take a large chunk off with this type of tool. Blades need to be very sharp to work well Hope that helps.

Definitely one of the best

cheers
Wendy

One of the best and one of the most lethal!!!

Nice pressies though.

Pete

I think Monsieur Gilloutine must have used one of those at some point.

Tex

Originally Posted by Arron

I think these things are about the best darkside tool there is, so its time to share the knowledge.

The one at the front is a mitre trimmer. I bought it a while back to improve the quality of my crosscuts. It doesnt do through-cuts, only shaving cuts, and it took a while to bring those massive blades up to shaving-sharp. Now I can take any crosscut or mitre cut stock to it and instantly get an end that is glass-smooth and exactly 90degrees (not 89.9/90.1 which is the best my tablesaw can do) or 45degrees. Now I use it to dimension stock too - routinely cutting a mil or so over and then trimming to exact length. Its safe too, and no noise or dust.

For a long time I thought it wouldnt do longgrain cuts, so I never tried it. When I had some small components I decided to try it and found out that it cuts longgrain beautifully, as long as the grain is running consistently straight or out across the blade. The surface it produces on longgrain is unbelievably smooth. I used it to make this miniature cabinet click, trimming almost all the 110 components that went into making it. Having such straight, square stock means everything goes together better.

Having such good results from the mitre trimmer, I bought the one at the back on FoolsBay. It weighs 65 kilos, so is bigger then it looks. It can cut stock up to 340mm wide. I havent got it tuned up yet, and am not looking forward to sharpening those massive blades, but I cant see why it wont work just as well.

Look out for these things if you see them secondhand. Well worth owning.

Arron

Arron couldn't agree more with your observations,picked one up a couple of years ago at the Perth WW show from Timbecon and at an alluring price that I felt made the trimmer well worth adding to the shed.
WORD OF CAUTION wear safety shoes/boots & not thongs when operating Madame Guillotine
Unbelievably sharp and with the fine slivers that can be pared off the mitres irrespective of the grain makes this an asset that belies its simplicity.
Anyone considering picture frames construction wouldn't go amiss if one came up for sale on e-bay or in their local markests.

Cheers

Cheers Dean.

I had a problem with the perspective as I thought the handle on the blue one was leaning backward rather than standing up.

Arron

Nice Perkins Universal Trimmer in the background, looms in good condition. Is it a No. 13 or a No. 13-2? You can tell it is a Perkins by the curved top, also the name and patent date(s) maybe cast into the top arch (seems some do and some don't); although I cannot see any words cast in the top in the photo. If not, Perkins & Co should be cast into the lever. Should have a serial number stamped on the bed by the way, and this will give some indication of the vintage.

I am in the process of giving a No. 13-2 the Lazarus treatment after it sat in a leaky shed for 40+ years, still the price was right. When I get it back together shortly, will post a picture if I can figure out the process of so doing. Has come up prety well considering, the knives have been ground and are not pitted luckily, now I have to hone them - as few hours per knife I guess. These were patternmakers precision tools, picture framers use mitre cutters which are quite different machines.

Incidentally the original colour was black, no idea whether flat or glossy, I am going with the former.

I expect you will see a world of dirrerence to the little Lion (clone?) in the front. Am interested in seeing your trimmer at sometime to see whether mine is missing any bits, seems complete, except for one missing lever in the left fence; not hard to replace. Interestingly only a few Perkins trimmers are known to have survived, and now 3 of those are in Australia, good find on the 'Bay.

Now if only I could make a box like yours for SWMBO!

Cheers, Peter

I have just picked up a Perkins Universal Trimmer 13-2 in Melbourne as per the 2 discussed some time ago. As per Aaron's machine it is much larger than a "Lion" trimmer being 800mm (33") wide with the lever handle approx 800mm also. Serial no 9775, class D.
It had been sitting outside for quite some time but is complete, with only minor surface rust which has cleaned off easily. Massine 10mm (3/8") thick blades still quite sharp, but a quick tickle on the surface grinder and a bit of a home and they are now some serious "cut throat razors!"
Now time for a fine tune and then some serios shavings!
Will post some before and after photos soon.
Will post photos later.

Originally Posted by Heavansabove

Arron

Nice Perkins Universal Trimmer in the background, looms in good condition. Is it a No. 13 or a No. 13-2? You can tell it is a Perkins by the curved top, also the name and patent date(s) maybe cast into the top arch (seems some do and some don't); although I cannot see any words cast in the top in the photo. If not, Perkins & Co should be cast into the lever. Should have a serial number stamped on the bed by the way, and this will give some indication of the vintage.

I am in the process of giving a No. 13-2 the Lazarus treatment after it sat in a leaky shed for 40+ years, still the price was right. When I get it back together shortly, will post a picture if I can figure out the process of so doing. Has come up prety well considering, the knives have been ground and are not pitted luckily, now I have to hone them - as few hours per knife I guess. These were patternmakers precision tools, picture framers use mitre cutters which are quite different machines.

Incidentally the original colour was black, no idea whether flat or glossy, I am going with the former.

I expect you will see a world of dirrerence to the little Lion (clone?) in the front. Am interested in seeing your trimmer at sometime to see whether mine is missing any bits, seems complete, except for one missing lever in the left fence; not hard to replace. Interestingly only a few Perkins trimmers are known to have survived, and now 3 of those are in Australia, good find on the 'Bay.

Now if only I could make a box like yours for SWMBO!

Cheers, Peter

No need to wander into the kitchen when you're feelin peckish, either.
Deli sandwiches in the shed!

Here tis, cleaned up.
Makes a great cheese slicer!

They Are the best thing since sliced bread check thiss one out !!!!! Vintage Foot operated Mitre guilitine

Slices through solid 1/2'' bead no dramas and would take some digits aswell
worth checking this old site out owwm.com

cheers chowcini

I would think any company that sharpens paper guillotine blades would be able to sharpen the blade/s.