OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

267009 leeburk--- 2018‑11‑09 Miter Box
I have a Miller's Falls Langdon miter box with its long backsaw and all of its
various adjustment pieces. It has stamped steel legs and the cast iron body with
the "Buck Rogers" red phenolic base plate. It is "lovely" in the way the
adjustments work and in its accuracy. In my opinion it is easily worth well in
excess of $100 considering that even my cell phone charger costs $40 bucks
nowadays. If one doesn't leave it out in the rain the miter box will still be
working smoothly in a hundred years; the cell phone charger not so much.
Lee
267011 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
Lee

I agree to the value of them being well in excess of $100 when you are
going to use it.

But most people can buy them for much less, cuz only a small % of us will
use it.

Meanwhile, miter chop saws are going for $65 - $300 around here, and
definitely not worth it to me, as I like all 10 of my fingers.

KE

On Fri, Nov 9, 2018 at 11:32 AM leeburk--- via OldTools <
oldtools@s...> wrote:

> I have a Miller's Falls Langdon miter box with its long backsaw and all of
> its various adjustment pieces. It has stamped steel legs and the cast iron
> body with the "Buck Rogers" red phenolic base plate. It is "lovely" in the
> way the adjustments work and in its accuracy. In my opinion it is easily
> worth well in excess of $100 considering that even my cell phone charger
> costs $40 bucks nowadays. If one doesn't leave it out in the rain the miter
> box will still be working smoothly in a hundred years; the cell phone
> charger not so much.
>
>
>

-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA
267012 John Leyden <leydenjl@g...> 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
Lee — red “phenolic” base plate? Really? I’d love to see some pix of that if you
don’t mind because all the ones I’ve ever laid eyes on were enameled steel.

As for the valuation, there’s no question that tools of such high quality cannot
be affordably manufactured and sold today, which is why they are highly prized
by the relatively small number of people like ourselves who do use them. But the
sad fact remains that these things sell for a pittance at yard sales precisely
because they are no longer widely used by practicing tradespeople.

Come to think of it, does any practicing tradesperson actually use a hand miter
box on a professional job site these days?  I would be sincerely curious to know
whether anyone does.

I use mine at home of course and also at the theater where I work. It fits
neatly behind the seat in my truck, whereas my power miter saw will not; it’s
quiet and doesn’t spew sawdust everywhere; it’s a great conversation piece; and
I don’t get any pushback or outright panic from parents when I show their
darling middle- and high school kids how to cut moldings with one. But that’s as
close to “professional” as I get. Not exactly a living history exhibit either,
but close.

John
267014 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
I would guess that most carpenters working on-site don't use a mitre box
and instead opt for a chop saw.

I've got a power miter saw, and while I've never felt it particularly
unsafe, I just don't think it produces very accurate cuts. Factor in the
volume and the dust, and I'd much prefer a nice mitre box and saw. I've
only used junk - either plastic or wood. So I'm REALLY looking forward to
using a high-quality vintage one.

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and advice!
267017 Brian Welch <brian.w.welch@g...> 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
On Fri, Nov 9, 2018 at 4:01 PM John Leyden  wrote:

> Lee — red “phenolic” base plate? Really? I’d love to see some pix of that
> if you don’t mind because all the ones I’ve ever laid eyes on were enameled
> steel.


Agreed! I didn’t know such a thing existed!

Brian
267019 leeburk--- 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
Yup! I agree. Reminds me of that AT&T ad where Nerd #1 asks Nerd #2 how much he
would pay for something he doesn't want? Nerd #2 says, "Is this a test?"
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk Eppler 
To: leeburk 
Cc: Tools Old 
Sent: Fri, Nov 9, 2018 1:48 pm
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Miter Box

Lee
I agree to the value of them being well in excess of $100 when you are going to
use it.
But most people can buy them for much less, cuz only a small % of us will use
it.
Meanwhile, miter chop saws are going for $65 - $300 around here, and definitely
not worth it to me, as I like all 10 of my fingers.
KE
On Fri, Nov 9, 2018 at 11:32 AM leeburk--- via OldTools  wrote:

I have a Miller's Falls Langdon miter box with its long backsaw and all of its
various adjustment pieces. It has stamped steel legs and the cast iron body with
the "Buck Rogers" red phenolic base plate. It is "lovely" in the way the
adjustments work and in its accuracy. In my opinion it is easily worth well in
excess of $100 considering that even my cell phone charger costs $40 bucks
nowadays. If one doesn't leave it out in the rain the miter box will still be
working smoothly in a hundred years; the cell phone charger not so much.





-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA
267020 Bill Ghio 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
> On Nov 9, 2018, at 4:24 PM, Dan Beck  wrote:
> 
> I would guess that most carpenters working on-site don't use a mitre box
> and instead opt for a chop saw.
> 
> I've got a power miter saw, and while I've never felt it particularly
> unsafe, I just don't think it produces very accurate cuts. Factor in the
> volume and the dust, and I'd much prefer a nice mitre box and saw. I've
> only used junk - either plastic or wood. So I'm REALLY looking forward to
> using a high-quality vintage one.

I have a power miter saw... but if I need an accurate miter, my Langdon is the
tool of choice.

Bill
267023 Kirk Eppler <eppler.kirk@g...> 2018‑11‑09 Re: Miter Box
This is the main reason I wanted one.  I bring it into my house, place it
on a mat on the carpet, and trim moulding to length.  Clean up the mat, and
I am done.  No vacuuming the WHOLE house due to using a power saw.


On Fri, Nov 9, 2018 at 1:26 PM Dan Beck  wrote:

>
> Factor in the volume and the dust, and I'd much prefer a nice mitre box
> and saw.


-- 
Kirk Eppler in Half Moon Bay, CA, breathing thick smoke even in the
building.

Recent Bios FAQ