Circular saw board

[LCHIEN]

How many of you use a saw board instead of cutting panels on your table saw?

I am working on an Xmas project, needed to cut some 2'x4' panels down, needed 7x22" and 24x24" sections.

My bt3 has the rails set to where the rail zero matches the cut line of the blade with the rip fence, and the end of the stock rail is 24 inches. Given that the rip fence needs a few extra inches, making the max cut 21" without reconfiguring, I was looking at having to shift the rails or add extension rails, neither of which appealed to me for one or two cuts.

so I pulled out the DIY circular saw board from 30 years ago. Made the cuts in short order on the patio with my wife catching the cutoffs. Just gotta be careful not to cut the supporting table!

[dbhost]

I have an 8' Empire straight edge, it's 2 48" segments and a joiner / handle. Works great once I line it up properly, zip through, easier to set up than the table saw for big pieces.

[twistsol]

Saw boards are awesome and just a poor, I mean frugal, man's track saw. I used a saw board for many years before I eventually bought a track saw which I bought because the saw board I made was heavy and unweildly. I made it from 3/4MDF for the fence and 1/4" hardboard base. base. It worked every bit as well as my track saw, but wasn't as portable.

For a while, I also had a 9' straight edge clamp that I paid too much for. It was a pain to get aligned and had a slight bow when you tightened the clamp making it utterly useless.

[LCHIEN]

I have an aluminum sawboard guide, in two 4' long pieces you can make a 8-foot saw guide, but this DIY one is handier and quicker to use since I have it.