I recently began cutting the frame for my house, and I wasn't excited about the prospect of laying out all four sides, then cutting all four sides, and finally finishing it off with a handsaw. I'd heard about the Prazi beam saw, but I'd really only read about it's use (within the context of timberframing) for cutting SIPS. After reading all the reviews, I took the plunge and bought it.
I was wondering, do other timberframers out there use the Prazi beam saw for this purpose?
After some trial and error, I've found that by using a Prazi beam saw, I can make quick, accurate and square cuts. However, there are 3 things I need to do to ensure a good cut.
1. Frequently check to make sure that the bar is completly square with the foot.
2. To prevent tearout, I score the cutline with a utility knife first.
3. To ensure a straight cut, I hold a rafter sized speed square with a pipe clamp exactly 3 5/8" to the right of the cut line (that's what it is for my saw anyway)
At $130 plus the cost of a Bosch 1677M, the price is right (compared to monster circ saws or the more expensive European chain carpentry saws)
I'm also able to cut tenons, but I still need a little more practice on that.
Thoughts?