There are many benefits of building wall panels on a framing table.
Now, framing tables aren’t exactly new technology. They’ve existed for many years and are popular with manufactured and multi-family housing and home builders.
But, what exactly is a framing table?
A basic framing table is a mechanical fixture that holds and supports wall studs and plates at a comfortable working height. Studs and plates are laid out horizontally on the table, positioned, and then nailed together on top of the table.
Some tables clamp and hold the lumber in place, some tables have squaring stops, some have tab stops at 16 and 24 inches, while others have tool bridges for nailing sheathing or siding as a secondary function. Still others have all of these features and more. Finished panels slide off the main table on rollers, or are lifted off, stacked, or set aside for use later.
In a more automated shop, the framing table is one piece of equipment in a continuous operation utilizing a roller conveyor system to transfer materials to and from the framing table.
Framing tables produce accurate wall panels that can be built in a repetitive manner. For this attribute, you might refer to a framing table as a jig. But, really it is both a fixture and a jig—a precise piece of equipment built for operator efficiency and high output.
Building walls on a framing table will not only speed up production, but also give your builders freedom from kneeling and building walls on the shop floor. Less physical fatigue means less errors, less waste, and being less prone to job-related injuries. Most tables have a method to adjust the working height to suit the builders. Working height between 32 and 36 inches is a common range.
Framing tables are manufactured with a variety of controls, from simple to complex systems. Controls can be manual settings, air operated, or utilize electric motors. More complex tables involve digital technologies often linked to other digital systems whereby computerized measuring, cutting, and marking may be performed.
Other possible linked digital systems build component parts, like completed window and door rough openings. The component parts are then incorporated into a continuous wall assembly operation of the highest efficiency. The scale and cost of these digital systems make them practical for the only largest shed builders.
But let’s look at the most basic scenario found in any shed shop, the two-man team.
BY THE NUMBERS
I’ve heard it said that a shed industry norm is one shed built per day, per builder. I’m sure that this standard is a rough estimate based on factors like size of building, custom features ordered, and other obstacles. I would bet that a highly-experienced stick builder has tricks and techniques to beat this standard with smaller structures.
But, what if a shop floor builder could pull four pre-built wall panels onto a floor system and simply nail them down? He would be moving onto rafter assembly in half the time or less. Could a single builder be responsible for constructing three, four, five, or more sheds in a single day?
Let’s examine the numbers for a common shed size. The average 10 by 16 shed has four walls equal to 52 lineal feet total of framed wall. Estimates vary among framing table manufacturers, but the ones I’ve talked to say that a two-man framing table operation should be able to consistently build 1,400 lineal feet of “open” wall per eight-hour shift.
But, this is not exactly a shed wall without siding attached.
With the wall panel laying horizontal on the table, position siding panels onto the open frame, and manually nail it down. Estimates indicate that a two-man team could build 350 lineal feet of pre-sided walls in this way.
Still another option would be to invest in a panel bridge that extends the width of the table. An automatic nailer travels the length of panel bridge driving nails as it goes. With the add-on panel bridge, the same two-man team could increase total output per day to an estimated 450 lineal feet.
In the analysis I’ve described above, a two-man team utilizing a framing table could build enough pre-sided wall panels for six to seven average-size sheds per day. Add the nailing bridge, and this increases to eight to nine average-size sheds per day from just a two-man team.
IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY FOR ANY SIZE SHOP
Both small and large shops could benefit from increased productivity by utilizing a framing table. Can you visualize this type of machine in your shop? Would this allow you to increase the number of sheds your existing crew could build?
Why couldn’t a small shop build nothing but walls for a couple of days and then switch to assembly the next day and finishes another day? A two-day rotation between walls, assembly, and finishes. I’m sure that the amount and type of orders will affect your shop’s individual rotation schedule, but you get the idea. Even a small shop with a limited number of builders could dramatically improve efficiency and, thus, productivity. And increased productivity leads to higher profits.
Perhaps your shop could dedicate two men to a framing table every day of the work week. Or, even a second or third table and crew. If your volume of orders has been consistent and you need higher productivity, that could be generated by incorporating a framing table into your operation.
Or, consider that you might have gotten behind schedule because of one-offs and customization requests. Now imagine the overtime you normally pay just to catch up being cut in half or eliminated altogether. This savings is money that flows to the bottom line in the form of net profit for your business.
BE CAREFUL WITH CHANGE
Adding a framing table to your existing operation will not be without complications, though. Floor space requirements will require careful consideration. A basic framing table is 16 feet long and requires enough area around all sides for material handling and staging, as well as access with forklifts and hand carts, depending on your shop setup. Adding to or reworking your shop layout can be a major disruption, not to mention a major expense if you have to construct an entirely new area or building.
A framing table crew might out produce the rest of your shop, causing bottlenecks on the floor if you’ve not considered the flow of materials carefully. Measuring and cutting capacity on the front end that feeds cut lengths and component parts to the framing table crew will be as critical as any change you could anticipate.
Handling of finished panels will also contribute to the productivity coming out of a framing table operation. How will you move panels through the shop? Do you have panel carts or some method of lifting, stacking, and transporting finished wall panels to the assembly area? Lifting pre-sided panels will require a crane and hoist to be safe and quick.
If not well thought out and properly considered beforehand, any single obstacle could eliminate the savings realized by a framing table crew. Carefully consider your whole shop layout before jumping into a frame building station. Complications will always arise. How you handle the details in your shop will be a measure of your success with a framing table.
I hope this has caused you to think about some of the ways a framing table might improve productivity for your shop. With more time using a framing table, operators will gain skill and speed as they become familiar with this technique. Investigating and understanding completely how a framing table can improve your bottom line is worth the time and investment.
The information provided herein is for information purposes only. Please rely on specifications, details, and time studies from equipment manufacturers who build, deliver, and install framing tables routinely before making a major decision to buy a framing table.
Please contact me, marty@shedbuildermagazine.com, if you have any thoughts or comments about framing tables. If you currently use a framing table in your operation, let us know what you like or dislike about it. Or, if you simply want to brag about productivity of your builders versus automation, I am here to listen and learn from you.
Leonard Hain from The Hain Company in Diamond Springs, California, and Rod Wasserman of Wasserman & Associates in Milford, Nebraska, and Mark Lambright of Golden Rule Machine in Mount Carroll, Illinois, contributed to this article.
