[Andy Graves]

How many sqaure feet of material should a man be able to fabricate in an 8 hour period. I have heard 50 – 100 sqaure feet. Am I way off base?

[Norm Walters]

Andy, for me I would say closer to 50 sq.ft. that’s with a 2″ stacked edge, double bowl sink, matte finish, set-on splash, and no cnc.

[Rob Parker]

Yes Andy I’d have to agree with Norm.

[Jon Olson]

I think it depends on the complexity of the top. This is interesting never thought of the questions before

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Random thought

[Seth Emery]

A woodchuck would chuck all he could if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

Sorry Andy, not sure about the amount. Are you talking about fabricating after having all of the parts cut out on the CNC?

Have a nice day,
Seth

[Andy Graves]

Do you think if I took my total sheet purchase for the year and devided by the fabrication man hours, that would give me a pretty accurate estimate.

Jon,

I think there is an answer to that question, I am just not sure what it is.

[Reuben Hoff III]

I would think tha twould give you a good average since I am sure some tops were more complex that others. Also do not forget to deduct for any damaged or sheets messed up before they made it to be fabricated. Of course that number will be zero for you won’t it.

Reuben

[Andy Graves]

That number will be zero

Zero is the number that I report to the front office.

[Seth Emery]

Andy,

I think that the info from the total sheet purchase divided by the fabrication man hours could be misleading unless you only do built-up tops all of the time. If you did a lot of square footage of 1/2″ thick wall cladding or 1/2″ thick window sills over the year, that could really throw things off if you are using these numbers for future figuring and don’t have the same amount of that type of work come in in the future. I think doing an actual case study for around a month using info from different styles of tops and from employees with different skillsets would be a lot more accurate. Do you use any kind of time-tracking devices for your employees, or they just clocking in and out? I think using something like that and actually looking at the data it provides can easily show where the majority of the time is being spent and give you the figures that you’re looking for.

Have a nice evening,
Seth

[Andy Graves]

Maybe I can break the report down into months. For now that is the only data I have. In the future I can do what you suggest with the one month time study.

Good points, Thanks.

[Jon Olson]

I,ll say 4 cords of wood per day

If the wood chuck used floss

[Seth Emery]

So Jon, is that 12 cords? That’s quite a woodchuck, ought to have good teeth too. Just kidding – my computer sometimes messes with me also and doesn’t show that it’s actually doing something. It just sits there.

Andy, I mentioned the time-tracking devices, but I wouldn’t get them unless I was going to continually use the data from them. They don’t seem to take much abuse, and all of that data is worth nothing if you’re not using it. Something temporary for tracking could just be using job numbers with a different code for each operation: 1100 – build-ups, 1200 – routing profile, 1300 – cove, you get the picture.

Have a good one,
Seth

[Chris77]

Here is what we have tracked. I set most of the standards, but a skilled man can beat the time easily.

All time in minutes per linear foot of completed counter top, complex U or L shape top.

Cut stock to rough sizes, 3 minutes

Cut out stacked build up and corner blocks, .7 minutes

Glue up and clamp build up, two layers, .6 minutes

Router edges straight and to pattern, 1 minute

Rough sand and router buildup, 2 minutes

Sand entire top and edges to matte finish, 10 minutes

Sand splash to matte, 2 minutes

Cut and install substrate, 2 layers of 1/2″ ply, .6 minutes

Total time should be around 19.9 minutes per linear foot of counter top, or 8.79 hours in a two sheet (sixty square feet) job.

Add to this varibles

Cutting seam, 3 minutes per linear foot of seam

Glue up seam, 4 minutes per linear foot of seam

Cooktop cutout, 10 minutes per cutout

Sink install, glue up, router out and sand, 50 minutes per sink

So add one hour and 35 minutes to the approx nine hours fabrication or 10 hours and 35 minutes average.

Not included is unloading sheet stock, putting away toos or clean up of area after fabrication, and loading and installation of top.

You have to stay busy and know what you are doing to meet this time, but there isn’t any place in my shop for someone who doesn’t do both.

So I come up with approx 50 feet per day per man, and I do mean man not a boy……

[Armstrong Granite and Marble]

Oh, I forgot. Vertical panel saw, porter cable 3.25 hp router and a Pinske straight edge for the seaming, Paraligns for seam glue up, double stack edge for build up, Router build up straight with a wood straight edge, then belt sand 120 grit, then router edge profile, porter cable 6″ orbital sander for sanding edges 80 micron, 60 micron and scotch brite for matte finish, sand top 60 micron and scotchbrite for matte finish.

I am hoping to get this time down with the Gem sander Dave is sending me.

I bet you guys with CNC can eat my lunch on these times…..

[Norm Walters]

Maybe so Al, but you can buy alot of lunches for the cost of a CNC.

[Author]

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