Orteguil ORC80

[welsummer]

Hello,
I am new to this forum,
I have decided to start making picture frames as a hobby for around my house.
I am considering purchasing an Orteguil ORC80 because it is small and cheaper than the morso equivalent an I have a limited budget
I would also like to use it for cutting some architrave for internal doors.
I don't have any picture framing experience so am appealing for your advice.
does anyone know if this machine is capable of actually 'cutting' the frame, or is it just a trimmer? would I need to cut on a miter saw first then true them up with this?
probably looking at cutting skirting board, architrave, picture frame (oak) about 40x25

Thank you very much for your time, as I said, I am new and have never done anything like this before so any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you
Alex

[prospero]

Welcome Alex.

Never used such a machine, but it's somewhere between a 'proper chopper' and a trimmer. It has twin blades so you do two ends at once, but you don't appear to be able to advance the cutter block to take progressive bites. With the usual Morso type machine, you remove the waste a bit at a time and the final cut is set finer so there is minimal resistance as the blade goes though thus less chance of the wood moving and spoiling the accuracy. It seems this machine has to cut in one go. But if you sawed the rails slightly overlong and used the machine just to trim a final ½mm off, you should be fine. It does have the advantage of you being able to rig up a measuring stop system quite easily.


Orteguil is a quality make. I think maybe this machine is aimed more at the carpenter for use on-site. Great for cutting beading, architrave, etc. But in this situation the joins are mostly going to be painted over, so a bit of filling and 'making good' is normal. But for picture framing you need better accuracy.
You maybe ought to get the blades reground. Then do a few practice frames using scrap, as the fences might need a bit of fine tuning to get the perfect angle.

[guzzijim]

I started by using one, cut myself badly several times when moving it, just make sure to hold it by the carrying handle.

Will cut architrave and mouldings but maybe not skirting, may not take the height.

With skirting boards the correct way is to cut mitre with mitre box.
With a coping saw carefully cut off the bevelled end grain part @90degrees to face of skirting board, you will find it will fit perfectly over the adjacent board placed at 90 degrees.

Cutting skirting with mitres is a waste of time, they will never meet as the walls are never 100% vertical.

PS.You only need to do the mitre saw bit on one end of your skirting board, go around the room is a daisy chain way, like you do with picture framers accent bevels.

[guzzijim]

JUST WATCH THIS.

[welsummer]

I started by using one, cut myself badly several times when moving it, just make sure to hold it by the carrying handle.

Will cut architrave and mouldings but maybe not skirting, may not take the height.

With skirting boards the correct way is to cut mitre with mitre box.
With a coping saw carefully cut off the bevelled end grain part @90degrees to face of skirting board, you will find it will fit perfectly over the adjacent board placed at 90 degrees.

Cutting skirting with mitres is a waste of time, they will never meet as the walls are never 100% vertical.

PS.You only need to do the mitre saw bit on one end of your skirting board, go around the room is a daisy chain way, like you do with picture framers accent bevels.

Hello, and thank you everyone for the in depth advice. I would be mainly using it for picture framing - Would it cut oak frame at the size 50 x 21 mm
in 1 go, or would it need cutting on a mitre saw first then trimming on this?
if that is the case, would I be just as well with one of those small mitre trimmers?
Thanks

[guzzijim]

Sorry thought you were talking about one of these.

[prospero]

A big foot-operated chopper wouldn't go though oak that size in one go.

FWIW, if I had to saw'n'trim, I would sooner use that machine than a small trimmer.

[johnwphotography]

The larger Orteguil 78OR100 is the better of the lever machines to go for. It is equipped with a handwheel to take progressive advance bites out of moulding. http://www.orteguil.com/hand_operated.htm It is capable of handling mouldings of that size, but an arm lever action doesn't compare with a foot action, and hardwood mouldings will be hard work. The machines are usually supplied without rebate holders, I think Orteguil machine down Morso fit ones to fit their machines, so do be careful if purchasing secondhand. The measuring arms are very basic, but they can be base board mounted and used with any of the systems designed for hand mitre saws such as the EZY Measuring Table.