Ripping deck boards safely??

[havighurst]

I need to rip several pressure treated deck boards and I am not sure of the safest way to do it. They are still very wet and not very straight so I question the use of my TS. If I use my circular saw, how do I clamp the board as the plate of my saw is wider than the decking? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[messmaker]

Lay 2 boards side by side on your sawhorse. Screw them to your sawhorse top. Make sure the screws are not in the path of the cut. Use a straight edge or a saw guide to make your cut( You could eyeball it since it IS a deck). Make your cut. Remove the screws.

[eddy merckx]

I don't think I'd use a table saw either. Even if you could, just think of the nasty residue it would leave on everything.

I'd lay several boards on the ground face down, with the edges touching. That gives you a flat platform to support the circular saw. Then I'd just tack on a flat peice of wood to act as a guide. If you have a steady hand, you could just make a chalk line and follow it.

Eddy

[Uncle Cracker]

Most circ saws have a place for a rip guide such as this one. Look for one on yours. Generic guides are available all over, in case your saw did not come with one. It will cut parallel to the board edge, so you won't have to straighten the boards.

[LarryG]

Do you have a band saw? That's what I'd use -- although the residue problem that Eddy mentions would be no less real. Still, a band saw would be my choice.

[SARGE..g-47]

Morning HH...

You already got your answer on how... I will chime in to throw a little added safety at ya as I cut a lot of 12' + stock on my TS. I would use the circular also for the wet pressure treat as that juice is nasty and wear a mask.

The wet stuff will have a tendency to close behind your cut on a circular saw. I wear a little shop apron with a pouch full of wooden or plastic (those little white plastic wedges used for shimming tables, etc. you get in the Box stores where the furniture pads are, etc.) wedges.

Have someone behind you (or stop the saw if you are alone) gently slide a wedge in the open kerf you have already cut. It can't close behind you (in the case of a circular.. front of blade on a TS) with those inserted and pinch the blade.

Sometimes little details can pay big dividends!

[Knottscott]

I've ripped a 12' PT 2x12 on my TS with good results. If youre saw is heavy enough, you can use an bulk ripping blade and a splitter, then wipe down the saw and blade after.

[Uncle Cracker]

The wet stuff will have a tendency to close behind your cut on a circular saw. I wear a little shop apron with a pouch full of wooden or plastic (those little white plastic wedges used for shimming tables, etc. you get in the Box stores where the furniture pads are, etc.) wedges.

I use golf tees for this purpose...

[LinuxRandal]

Nickels, pennies and dimes are also handy for the saw kerf. And your apt to have them in your pocket or vehicle, if your helping someone do this (not at home).

[havighurst]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think that I will be able to rip these boards safely.

[Hellrazor]

I don't like cutting PT on my table saw.

I use my circ saw and a guide for fun stuff like that.