James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Built for the professional, the Crain Carpet Saw flush cuts to preset heights along wall trim boards, door jambs, and toe spaces. Anyone who remodels or lays carpet needs either this saw or lots of free time.
Although there are some specialty hand saws that do this tricky work, none match the speed and precision of the Crain Carpet Saw. Using the carbide blade, the Carpet Saw shears away wood and cuts through small nails for exact fitting of new flooring without disassembling the interior trim. Use the masonry blade for the same exacting work in brick, plaster, and tougher materials. Although a diamond blade doesn’t come with the saw, one is available which cuts through tile and stone. If you get paid by the job, you’ll appreciate the time saved and the extra profit.
The 8.15-amp motor operates at a lower rpm than most power tools to limit dust in the workplace and does attach to to a Shop-Vac dust collection system. Blades replace easily, and the adjustable fence of cast aluminum glides smoothly over guiding surfaces. Threaded rods allow precise adjustment of the fence height and then lock securely in place — so the measurements you set stay set. For work in cramped areas without scraping your knuckles on the walls, use the racheting adjustment of the handle to change the grip angle and keep full control of the machine. The 6-1/2-inch diameter blade has enough reach to make full undercuts even in cramped corners. The Crain Carpet Saw comes with one woodcutting carbide blade and one masonry blade, plus an adjustment wrench and a sturdy carrying case.
For a portable undercutting saw and sander combo that either homeowners or contractors will find handy, see the Fein MultiMaster.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Built for the professional, the Crain Carpet Saw flush cuts to preset heights along wall trim boards, door jambs, and toe spaces. Anyone who remodels or lays carpet needs either this saw or lots of free time.
