The Framers Forum

I’ve decided to invest in a new foot operated underpinner. I was going to buy an alphamachine U200 but Wessex have recommended the A+ automation (manual operation) Gary White of WP recons it’s made by the same people that used to make Alfamachine...
Any thoughts? Advice? First hand experience??
Much appreciated..

Can you see one working? That might be helpful.

Hi L Frames,
I would recommend a cassese underpinner, I have been using them for over 38 years.

see link below.
https://www.framersequipment.co.uk/cass ... ipment.htm

kind regards

Mitreman

Cassesse are very popular, ease of obtaining sare parts and consumables is pretty good and they are often one of the sought for brands when they are sold as secondhand items. Their CS-88 is one of the most popular manual underpinners around. I have one myself, it's the second one, I have owned. they are great and I am quite happy to recomment a good condition secondhand CS-88 if you are considering buying one.

I second what Mark said, the CS88 is the best manual underpinner I have used. Despite moving up to a pneumatic I still keep my CS88 close for joining spacers and fillets where possible. It's a great simple reliable tool.
I realise Jan sells the Cassese CS1, but I have to give you my honest opinion. It was the worst investment I made when I started up. I lost a lot of money when I sold it, but I couldn't have been happier to pass it on. I jumped at a cheap CS88 and immediately discovered that my first year and a half of joining dread wasn't my inabilities, it was that horrendous machine.
If your framing is intended to grow into a serious business, I would strongly suggest you think about investing in a pneumatic now. It's a game changer! The Cassese 199/299's are excellent and come up for anything between £850-£1200.

Apologies, I see from your instagram that The Frame Shed is already a serious business!!

Crumbs, I realise I haven’t been on here for ages! Thank you so much for all the excellent advice!!

Prudent to add to this post now that Cassese have folded this summer and been unable to find a buyer for their production machines and stocks. Spare parts including hammers, wedge blocks and stapling cylinders are no longer available (info from TGS). Sadly a Cassese might no longer be the wisest long term investment.