Today Im sharing four foolproof ways to cut straight lines with a circular saw. These rubber feet help prevent damages to the material. The Rip-Cut, on the other hand, can only cut up to 24 inches. Run the circular saw alongside the scrap piece on both sides. The Accu-Cut is different from the Rip-Cut because it can be used to cut any width board or plywood. A guide will hold the saw in place as you make the cut, providing a straight edge to the project you are working on. Its going to need a little help from a fence or cutting guide. Hi Frank Thank you so much for the compliments. And a speed square isnt a one-trick pony. A speed square is one of the easiest ways to make short, straight cuts with a circular saw. It can be used for many other shop chores. It prevents binding for low-torqued circular saws. Making a DIY cutting guide or buying a store-bought fence will help our circular saw make laser-accurate straight cuts every time.
Moreover, it makes the use of the circular saw safer. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. Home Circular Saws Best Circular Saw Guides.
If you want to cut larger panels, you can check out the ProGrip Straight Edge Guide. With a track saw, simply place the track along the desired length mark, offsetting for the thickness of the blade, and run the saw across the track. They may not line up flush and could come apart easily if you are not careful when putting them together.
The self-clamping mechanisms used are easy to operate and provide enough power to hold it into place while you work. Read the full disclosure here. It uses guide strips (anti-slip) to keep the guide in place when you are cutting. Finally, look for a circular saw guide that is easy to set up, allowing you to see marks easily for quick alignment. This swivel head lets the clamps grab at an angle the wood piece creating a straight fence for your circular saw. This typically means we need to use the saw freehand. These materials are lightweight, making this straight edge easy to carry around and use without strain throughout the day. I spend most of my free time working on woodworking projects and writing for this blog. I also use my speed square to adjust my miter saw for accurate cuts. This provides you with more versatility and can allow you to support a variety of cuts, including plunge-cuts along with the interior of panels; The lightweight aluminum is not the most rigid material that could be used. Make a track using two pieces of plywood. Looks like a great way to get started before investing in something like a Festool TS 55 EQ Track Saw.
Does it matter which way the speed square is held against the board? The metal used for this circular saw guide rail will withstand the workload a woodworker would place upon it.
The Kreg KMA3700 ACCU-Cut differs from the Rip-Cut because it cuts wide boards of any width. You may get confused about which straight-edge guide you should purchase, given the myriads of options at hand. It also features rubberized ends for a firm grip while preventing damage to the workpiece. Your email address will not be published. A rip cut is made with the grain of the wood or along the length of the board. Plus, the saw blade may bind, causing you to further drift from the cut line. This results in a straight cut that you would surely admire. Content from Saws on Skates may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. You can also make the jig longer for longer cuts.
He is expertise in technical aspects, woodcraft and furniture building projects.
Related: Beginners Guide to Table Saw Safety. Some of the abovementioned examples of straight edge guides allow for up to 50-inches maximum cutting length or more because of their extensions. Tom Silva shows how to install baseboard trim that become visual anchors for any room. Power up your circular saw to make straight, smooth cuts with the precision of guided cutting. It needs a little help from a fence or cutting guide. One thing to keep in mind with the overall length will be where you use the guide. Thank you to my friends at Kreg Tool for sending me several of the tools that Ive included in this post. Swivel heads usually operate within the range of 0 to 22.5. It should firmly grip the material to allow the swivel head to function correctly. The jig also allows for a safer cutting experience by keeping the blade on the material, preventing slippage of the saw blade. The Straight Edge Guide Extension is available in 2-foot sections for projects that require greater cutting capacity. Moreover, the straight edge clamp can double as a clamp and a straight edge. A fence or cutting guide helps the saw make straight, accurate cuts. If you have ever made a long rip cut with your circular saw, you are probably aware of how easy it can be to drift off of the marked cut line. I normally place the speed square on the same side where I start the cut so that its being pressed into the workpiece. Straight Edge - E. Emersons Contractor Series self-clamping straight edge patented design has integral tubes running the length of the wide body construction, making it ultra rigid and light to No C-clamping - No more C-clamping! It is able to guide a circular saw for up to 100-inches, making it a great choice for woodworkers who work with large panel materials on a regular basis. Guided cutting takes out all the guesswork, so you can start every project off right. The DCT Aluminum Pro comes with a scale that features both English and Metric measurements. Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates some techniques for cutting straight edges with a circular saw. The problem with this type of design is that it can cause a slight variance in cut quality at the junction points along the track. Non-skid, self-clamping strips: Dual clamping strips on the bottom prevent movement during the cutting operation, less setup time and better results.
This is due to the three-piece design that will require assembly before it is used each time and it may require some getting used to. Its saw plate readily fits into the T-channels, and you can attach it to the circular saw. Should make a minimal first cut to remove the materials factory edge necessary yea or nea? How to Choose a Straight Edge for a Circular Saw, Tour This Renovated 220-Year-Old Farmhouse, With a wraparound porch and oversize windows that frame the views, an updated rear addition embraces its pastoral settingand readies a well-loved, almost 220-year-old farmhouse for another century of family life. If you are a casual woodworker, I think you can get away with a lighter design made from less durable materials. The Accu-Cut attaches most popular circular saws. It is an alternative option for those without a track saw. You can make perfect cuts with ease using this guide. Bora WTX Clamp Edge and Straight Cut Guide, True Trac 105TPC Universal Track Saw Guide. Hi Norm Thank you for stopping by. Of course, the table saw is perfect for cutting sheet goods. Its aluminum construction also makes it lightweight, a feature that will also allow you to handle it with little effort compared to heavy-duty designs. All Rights Reserved. Hence, it is better to use a straight edge guide to keep your cut straight. You can see it here. Festool makes a variety of proprietary guides in this product range.
You can also use MDF instead of plywood. Then, you should press the fence of the saw against the clamps straight edge while you cut. It seems the way shown the square would tend to move away from the board, if it were against the back edge it would be pressed into the work. By submitting your email, you agree to our. This system from Festool provides users with 55-inches of straight cuts.
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The saw glides along the rack to make accurate straight cuts. The fence forces the saw to make cuts exactly where we want them. That eliminates potential problems with saw bases struggling to mate up with guide surfaces; You can use other tools, including routers, with this clamping straight edge. Some may also feel that you will be paying for a name brand and not a design; This circular saw guide rail comes in pieces that you can connect together.
System integration: A fully integrated system, use your Festool routers or jigsaw with the guide rail for expanded capability. Mark whatever is being cut at the desired length, plus the offset. Its T-track also allows for standard accessories. These plates attach the saw to the fence using the T-slot of the clamp.
It also comes with a saw plate and non-chip strips (2 rolls). Apart from that, I also enjoy weightlifting and chess. This straight edge system is made from aluminum. Yet, unless you are a very talented woodworker whose hands do not wobble and whose spatial gaze at the cut line is perfect, you will indeed find making straight cut on long boards a significant challenge. This product from True Trac comes at a very high price point, but its metal design is meant to stand up to heavy use in a busy workshop or out in the field. You will find straight edge clamps made of extruded aluminum, rigid enough for holding the straight edge. It features a two-piece construction that allows you to use it for shorter cuts. There are two versions of the Accu-Cut. Its perfect for breaking down plywood into its final size. While these saws have advanced over the years, they can still make crooked cuts no matter how many laser pointers or LED lights are attached to the tool.
Learn how to use your circular saw to make laser-accurate straight cuts! Then the blade binds up when we try to get the saw back on track. The GripPro Clamps is also easy to set up. It is designed to provide rip cuts up to 24-inches in width, allowing you to work on panels and wider boards without issue.
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