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vaking,
I understand.
Years ago I used to just mark a line and go at it with my trusty 7" Craftsman (got that in 1968). It was the way my Dad and my grandfather always did it. In 1973, I bought my first big power tool a Craftsman 10" RAS. Still did my sheet ripping with the circular saw, following a line, and then final rips on the RAS. But in 2003, I started reading about using a 'factory edge' and I thought that worked pretty well. A lot better than walking along at a rather awkward position trying to follow that pencil line, and a lot faster too. I keep an 8-inch wide piece of S2S ply marked just for that purpose. With a couple of folding saw horses and a split bench top I made from some maple flooring I found, I've been quite happy with dealing with the few piece of sheet goods that get challenged with. (I have both the RAS and CMS to deal with cross-cutting long board stock, and a BT3100 for precision ripping.)
For me, sheet stock is clumsy to handle and I've never had the benefit of help from anyone. I do this kind of thing either in the driveway or in the garage, so there dust isn't a problem. But just the size and the weight is awkward and I try to avoid using such stock as much as possible. All of the 'wide' uses, like the library window seats and some benches and tables I've made, I do so with edge-jointed board stock.
BUT while I think old ways sometimes work best (for me), I like to keep my eyes open for better ways. I can see a track saw perhaps, somewhere in the future.
CWS
I understand.
Years ago I used to just mark a line and go at it with my trusty 7" Craftsman (got that in 1968). It was the way my Dad and my grandfather always did it. In 1973, I bought my first big power tool a Craftsman 10" RAS. Still did my sheet ripping with the circular saw, following a line, and then final rips on the RAS. But in 2003, I started reading about using a 'factory edge' and I thought that worked pretty well. A lot better than walking along at a rather awkward position trying to follow that pencil line, and a lot faster too. I keep an 8-inch wide piece of S2S ply marked just for that purpose. With a couple of folding saw horses and a split bench top I made from some maple flooring I found, I've been quite happy with dealing with the few piece of sheet goods that get challenged with. (I have both the RAS and CMS to deal with cross-cutting long board stock, and a BT3100 for precision ripping.)
For me, sheet stock is clumsy to handle and I've never had the benefit of help from anyone. I do this kind of thing either in the driveway or in the garage, so there dust isn't a problem. But just the size and the weight is awkward and I try to avoid using such stock as much as possible. All of the 'wide' uses, like the library window seats and some benches and tables I've made, I do so with edge-jointed board stock.
BUT while I think old ways sometimes work best (for me), I like to keep my eyes open for better ways. I can see a track saw perhaps, somewhere in the future.
CWS
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