December 2012/January 2013 - Low Resolution - PAWPRINT ...

PANELS & PANEL PROCESSING
No more trestle hassles for Waterhall Joinery!
TRESTLES, rails and a
hand-held circular saw
were for many years the
order of the day for sheet
cutting at Hertfordshirebased
Waterhall Joinery.
Moving to a compact,
keenly-priced Sagetech
Koolkut KK12 vertical
panel saw eased the
process markedly.
Waterhall Joinery is a
classic example of that
powerful combination:
modern technology and
traditional craftsmanship.
Established by Julian
Curtis in the early 90s,
Waterhall provides domestic
and commercial clients
with a broad range of bespoke
products including
traditional signage, sash
and casement windows,
doors, furniture, fitted
kitchens, wardrobes and
bedrooms, recess units
and garden furniture.
“We have a motto,” Julian
commented dryly. “If it
can be made in wood, we
Julian Curtis reports that the Koolkut has revolutionised life at Waterhall Joinery. “I’m 70 now, but I still
can make it.”
In common with many find cutting sheets easy with the Koolkut,” Julian reports.
small joineries and cabinetmakers, Waterhall originally took the obvious
approach to cutting sheet materials — trestles and a hand-held circular
saw, with guide rails.
“We’d lay a sheet on the floor with a trestle at each end,” Julian recalled.
“Then we’d lift one end and slide a trestle under it. Then we’d do the same
with the other end. Finally, we’d mark up the sheet, clamp an aluminium
guide rail to it and make the cut. It was time consuming and laborious.”
Julian and his son, Toby, who by now was owner of the business, knew
that the only real way to address these issues would be a vertical panel
saw. Initially, though, their research into available machines was less than
encouraging.
Looking at the ‘big names’ in the panel saw market, they were less than
enthusiastic about the prices. However, things looked up when they
started exploring the Sagetech range.
“We were very impressed by what we read on the Sagetech website
— in particular the points about the quality of the Koolkut machines,”
said Julian.
Having chatted to Sagetech (Julian’s verdict: “Very helpful indeed”)
Waterhall ordered a Koolkut K12, which cuts sheets of up to 8 ft x 4 ft.
Like the other machines in the Koolkut range (which respectively cut
sheets of up to 10 ft x 5 ft, 3.1 m x 2.1 m and 4.2 m x 2.1 m) the KK12 offers
plunge and bevel cutting (up to 45°) as well as simple and compound
angle cutting to the full length and breadth of the sheet.
Immensely strong and rigid, all saws in the Koolkut range run on a
standard single phase 13 A supply, can be floor or wall mounted and have
provision for the installation of any of a wide range of dust extractors.
The Koolkut has revolutionised life at Waterhall Joinery. “I’m 70 now,”
Julian observed, “but I still find cutting sheets easy with the Koolkut.”
With MDF and ply stored vertically alongside the panel saw, loading a
sheet is a simple matter of sliding it directly onto the machine. No horizontal
handling is necessary at any point.
Would Julian recommend the Koolkut to other joineries? “Oh yes,” he
said, without hesitation.
“Anyone cutting any amount of sheet materials should have one.”
Sagetech Industries Ltd ● Tel 0118 970 1950
Email info@sagetech.co.uk ● www.sagetech.co.uk
Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2012/January 2013 Page 17