Tools used for Trimming Common construction terms 8

Common construction terms 8 Tools for trimming

Have you have ever been on a construction site talking to your contractor and been totally lost in the terms that they are using? Well I’m here to help; here are some common terms that contractor’s use that you might not understand.

• Mitre saw. This is an electric saw that has a small deck to place the trim on. The saw can be swivelled left and right to cut the appropriate angle.

• Sliding compound mitre saw. This is like a normal mitre saw, it has a small deck and can cut on desired angles turning the saw either left or right. The difference is that it has the ability to slide on rails out towards the user; this allows the user to make longer cuts then the length of the blade.

• Coping. This is a technique for cutting and fitting inside corners together when installing baseboard trim.

• Coping saw. This is a small saw that is used to cope trim. It has a very fine blade and is non electrical.

• 16 gauge trim gun. This is a trim gun used to install trim. The gun uses a 16 gauge nail.

• 18 gauge trim gun. This a trim gun used to install trim. The gun uses 18 gauge nails. This is a smaller nail size then a 16 gauge nail.

• Pin nailer. This is another name for an 18 gauge trim nailer.

• Mitre bond. This is a type of adhesive that is used to hold trim together at the corners and joints. It is a rapid drying adhesive that holds joints together within 20 seconds.

• Finn saw. This is a saw that uses vibration to cut through material. There is no spinning blade. It allows you to cut a piece of trim or casing after it’s installed without damaging anything around it or having an over cut like a typical saw.

• Wood filler. This is a paste like substance that is used to fill the holes created by the installation of nails in the trim; the paste allows the trim to be painted smooth.

• Palm sander. This is sander that takes normal sand paper that is cut into small squares and then is attached to the bottom of the sander.

• Orbital sander. This is a tool used to sand trim, it uses round discs, and the discs are spun in a clock wise rotation.

• Breaking the edge. This is a term that refers to using a planer or a sander to soften or round a sharp square edge on a piece of trim.

• Trim plane. This is a hand held non electrical plane. It is small enough to be used to break the edge of sharp corners on trim, leaving a more rounded edge.

• Nail set. This is a tool used to drive trim nails into the trim below the surface. This allows the nail to be covered with wood filler. They are usually 3 to 4 inches long and come to a point at the end where the nail will be struck.

• Punch. This is another name for a nail set.

• Wonder bar. This is a small pry bar that is made thin enough so that you can slip it under trim without damaging it.

• Biscuit jointer. This is a machine that is used to cut a small groove into the side of a piece of trim. Another groove is cut into the material that you want the trim to be attached with ie; the jamb of a window and the casing.

• Biscuit. This is a small piece of wood shaped like a small football. It is installed in the groove cut by the biscuit jointer.

This should help you understand what your contractor is talking about the next time you have a meeting with them. Look for part 9 of common construction terms, coming soon.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.