support for large frames when underpinning

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Sun 24 May, 2015 5:33 pm

How best to offer support to larger frames when underpinning them. Does anyone have suggestions on how best to support a large frame? I have tried the stands that open out which you can adjust the height but they are fiddly and with so little top surface it's tricky trying to balance a frame in exactly the right place. I have had them fall off and then the strain has been so great on the mitre that haas just been completed it breaks or splits apart. I can work either side of my underpinner as the foot pedal for the compressor will move. I was thinking of putting the underpinner on a movable trolly as I share the workshop and the space is needed to access a pair of doors. This in istelf adds to the problem.
Has anyone a photo of their set up? Thanks

theframer · Post by **theframer** » Sun 24 May, 2015 6:19 pm

It depends how big the frame is have you a table in front of the underpinner? i have a 4ft square table so frames are supported on the table if they are bigger i get 1 or 2 people to support the frame as i underpin it.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Sun 24 May, 2015 8:38 pm

I have a bench top underpinner (no stand) and it's sunk in to the corner of my workbench ... which is the size of a snooker table.

pramsay13 · Post by **pramsay13** » Sun 24 May, 2015 9:10 pm

I have a stand that the other end goes on.
You can see it in the bottom of the picture, there is a v shape for the other end to slot into.
For extra big frames (these were 1.5m x 1.5m) I build up other supports for the other two corners with stools and books and things.
Sometimes I even enlist the help of a wife. Anyone's will do.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Sun 24 May, 2015 9:50 pm

Holy crap!

.. and going by the position of the pedal, you stand in the middle of it ..... along with "In thoughts of you" by Jack Vettriano!

pramsay13 · Post by **pramsay13** » Sun 24 May, 2015 9:55 pm

I stand in the middle of most frames, it feels nice.
Jack is no longer there.

Roboframer · Post by **Roboframer** » Sun 24 May, 2015 10:09 pm

Well I don't blame him!

Nicole · Post by **Nicole** » Sun 24 May, 2015 11:03 pm

I like the look of the homemade stand especially the corner added so that it wont side off. Thank you. By the way it looks as if your bin needs emptying. I might be able to adapt the table idea as maybe a shelf so that it takes up less room.

Graysalchemy · Post by **Graysalchemy** » Mon 25 May, 2015 5:08 pm

I have a 4ft x 4ft table on wheels which I can move up to the pinner. It has one corner cut off at 45 degrees so that it can but up to the pinner. If I have anything bigger I can use one of my benches which are also on wheels and the same height.

Post by **prospero** » Tue 26 May, 2015 1:52 am

I've never found working from the back of an underpinner very easy. It's just what you are used to. OK, working from the back allows you to support the frame better - as long as you have a bench in front. It's amazing just how much space you need though. And it's not so good for machines without lateral clamps as you can't lean in on the rails to hold them tight.
When I first got an underpinner I knocked up a stand with a lash-up system on swing-out arms which work great on anything up to about 36x24" or so. Anything bigger and I use a metal easel (D&J Simons I think...) fixed horizontally to support the back corner. Still using this way after 30 years.

I must say that pramsey13's photo looks very familiar.

I have pinned really big frames with corners perched on various benches around the workshop.

pramsay13 · Post by **pramsay13** » Tue 26 May, 2015 8:40 am

When I was taught it was to stand in front of the underpinner, and that's how it's been ever since.
With different framing things I'm prepared to change how I work, and I have done that over the years when I see someone else doing something, or just think there must be a better way of doing it, but to change this would mean changing the layout of the workshop, so it will stay this way for now.

Graysalchemy · Post by **Graysalchemy** » Tue 26 May, 2015 9:21 am

It also depends on how your machine is set up. With mine you don't have the luxury of different positions.

Post by **prospero** » Tue 26 May, 2015 11:31 am

When I was a lad I could stand in the middle of a 20x16.

Graysalchemy · Post by **Graysalchemy** » Tue 26 May, 2015 11:40 am

I still can.................

But I couldn't get out of it.

Chris_h · Post by **Chris_h** » Tue 26 May, 2015 12:17 pm

I got rid of my bench end guillotine and moved my underpinner to end of the bench thinking it would be easier working from the back, but just couldn't get on with it set up that way. I too will stand in the middle of a larger frames and pin it that way.

Post by **prospero** » Fri 29 May, 2015 8:02 pm

I knew I had a photo.

Getting into training.

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support for large frames when underpinning

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