I've been looking at products for cutting 4x8 panels, such as the EZ Smart Guide and others that cost less. Any suggestions?
Panel cutting
Collapse
This topic is closed.
X
X
-
Paul.
Home Depot carries a two piece cutting edge that when put together is aboyt 100+ inches. It is clamped to the panel you're cutting and works like a charm. If I remember correctly, the price is about $20.00 or so. You'll find it in the tool corrall.
Bruce"Western civilization didn't make all men equal,
Samuel Colt did" -
If you have the money, here's an alternative to the EZ Smart Guide:
All-in-one 99.5" Guide:
Matching Saw Plate:
And while you're at it, the matching router plate:
The plates lock into a channel at the top of the clamp. The clamp will easily clamp onto square stock, or you can use quick or F clamps for odd angles. It's VERY light, considering its size. You mount your saw/router to the respective plates. It looks like it would be pretty easy to fashion new base plates to attach to the plate guide block, so that you could use multiple saws or routers with. Heck, if you're good enough, you could probably make more guide blocks too. The whole system is interchangable. This system also has a few other uses with some other attachments and/or clamps:- Dado, using the router plate
- Stopped Dados with the router plate and stop block
- Bandsaw fence, with a 20" clamp and the fence kit
- Step-n-repeat cutting with the story stick
- Probably some other things I'm not thinking of
MLCS also sells something similar, called a "Boomer Red", but apparently the channels that the plates lock into are different. They don't sell a 99.5" clamp from what I could see. The prices at MLCS are similar.
I have the guide Bruce mentions. I had it together once and the second time I tried to put it together, I managed to bend the joining plate (thin steel). It's a good thing the bent piece co-incided with the arrival of the All-in-one clamp. It's made by Empire. It's pretty good for the price, as it's only $15-$16 or thereabouts. You could probably rig up a saw guide plate to ride over one of the ribs with a little phenolic and polycarbonate. Unfortunately you could only use the guide plate when the two pieces are separated.
HTH,
JeffJeff
BOFH excuse #360: Your parity check is overdrawn and you're out of cache.
Comment
-
I have both the $20 and $45 dollar versions (one of those wonder clamps). The $20 straight edge does a fine job. The wonder clamp is handy though. I use it for much more than hacking up 32 sq ft of sheet.
Bill"Why are there Braille codes on drive-up ATM machines?"Comment
-
A couple of years ago, I needed several small cuts of 1/4" MDF. I had to order a complete sheet, and decided to make a 'full sheet' edge guide before making the smaller cuts.
I cut a full length 6" strip following a chalk line. Then set this strip on the remaining sheet of mdf, about five inches from the cut edge. I squared and glued the strip in place, making sure the factory edge of the strip was on the outside. After the glue is set, just run the circular saw with a fine cut blade along stacked piece of mdf, creating a straight edge guide already spaced for your saw.
Whenever you make cuts with this type of a guide, it's easy to align, as the cut spacing is already set for your saw. A additional plus is that you still have a bunch of MDF for other jigs/projects.
MattOld Tele\'s and Tube AmpsComment
-
I use melamine shelf boards with finished (melamine) edges. I suggest the thinner (5/8") ones since they're lighter. Collect the whole set! (4', 6', and 8')
Regards,
Tom
Comment
-
I particularly appreciate this thread because I spent an evening making a saw guide out of plywood. But the first time I used it with my new PC MAG saw, I somehow managed to cut up the guide itself. I did glue and screw the fence part of the guide, so I am still not sure how/why this happened.
So yesterday I picked up a Johnson Tru-Line 98" cutting guide for $19 at Lowes. It contains two 49" cutting guides along with a connecting plate and two small C-clamps. Is that the same thing you got Bruce? Does anyone have experience with the Johnson product?
Thanks,
LesComment
-
I am a big supporter of the sawboard http://members.aol.com/woodmiser1/sawbd.htm They are easy to make and in most cases easier to use than any of the store bought guides as you can just mark your cutline line up the sawboard and go. You do not have to offset the sawboard from the cut to allow for the distance between the sawblade and the guide. Best of all they are cheap.
Comment
-
Les,
I was looking at the Johnson product at Lowes today. I almost bought it and would love to hear some feedback on it myself.
John HunterComment
-
Go with the saw board. Make two, one 8 feet, one 4 feet. They are quick, simple, cheap and accurate. The one change I would make from the writeup listed by Don Hart is that I would put the wood guide strip an inch or two in from the edge so that you have a good clamping space that won't interfere with the saw. Somebody on this board used one side for their saw and the other for their router! Gives clamping space and two guides for the price of one.Comment
-
quote:Originally posted by DrChas
Go with the saw board. <snip> Somebody on this board used one side for their saw and the other for their router! Gives clamping space and two guides for the price of one.
There's another advantage that isn't talked about too much, but is worth mentioning. When you use a properly constructed sawboard and clamp it to your stock, you're bracing the stock at the ends to help prevent flexing. This, in turn, helps to eliminate binding and kickback. It also goes a long way towards helping to make sure you've got a nice, square edge.
Every now and again (if I can afford to lose the stock), the first thing I'll do when I pick up a new sheet of MDF is slice a few inches off the factory edge and build a new guide blank. This way I've got one ready to go when I buy a new blade or need one for the router. Just can't beat 'em on price or ease of use!Greg
Old trucks and good tools are all a man really needs.Comment
Footer Ad
Collapse
Comment