best straight edge for circular saw

Most straight-edge clamps feature rubber feet for gripping the material. These plates attach the saw to the fence using the T-slot of the clamp. This results in a straight cut that you would surely admire. The four ways are with a speed square, DIY circular saw cutting guide, Kreg Rip-Cut or Kreg Accu-Cut. 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. Another way we can cut a straight line on plywood is with a circular saw. So, when selecting a straight edge guide, go for something that could help you cut wide boards. Tom Silva shows how to install baseboard trim that become visual anchors for any room. The narrow piece of plywood is glued to the larger piece. Moreover, the straight edge clamp can double as a clamp and a straight edge. The KMA3700 can also help you make angle cuts. The clamping mechanism should work well; otherwise, the clamp will shift position, making it difficult to cut straight. The Kreg KMA3700 ACCU-Cut differs from the Rip-Cut because it cuts wide boards of any width. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Before we get into how to make straight cuts with a circular saw, be sure to click the subscribe button at the bottom of this page to sign up for my FREE weekly newsletter loaded with helpful pocket hole tricks, space-saving workshop ideas, clever DIY tips and more! One way to combat both is to make a DIY guide that not only directs the saw path but provides zero clearance that will help prevent the wood from splintering as the blade cuts up through the surface. This product comes at a higher price point that may put it out of reach for new woodworkers or those on a tight budget. A straight edge design allows you to use any circular saw with this guide. But when cutting wide boards, you may find it challenging to maintain the straightness of your cuts, especially if you are only eyeballing the cut lines without using a straight edge guide. The best circular saw blades of 2022: Review & Buying Guide, The 9 Best Track Saws Compared: 2022 Review, The 8 Best Circular Saws For The Money: 2022 Review, the 5 best worm drive circular saws: 2022 Review, Five Best circular saw blade sharpeners To Keep Your Blades honed, Best Cordless Circular Saws of 2022: Review & Buying Guide, Your email address will not be published. Those of you planning on using the guide often or on a job site might consider going with something a bit heavier. Required fields are marked *. 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. It is broken down into a 50-inch piece along with an extension of the same length. I checked with my friend Mike at Kreg Tool about your question. The GripPro Clamps is also easy to set up. The Accu-Cut can also make any angle cuts. While you might need to use extra caution when starting your cut using a straight edge design, you will be able to use this guide on other tools such as your router. You can use a mounting plate to fit almost any circular saw to it and the components are designed to handle professional workloads without fatigue to overall strength. The Accu-Cut makes cuts up to 50 long. 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. Thanks! A circular saw cant make a perfectly straight cut by itself. This narrow piece acts as a fence for the base plate of the saw. A fence or cutting guide helps the saw make straight, accurate cuts. With this guide, you can start perfectly, allowing you to set up your cut even before your blade hits the material. Hi Frank Thank you so much for the compliments. This swivel head lets the clamps grab at an angle the wood piece creating a straight fence for your circular saw. The saw glides along the rack to make accurate straight cuts. System integration: A fully integrated system, use your Festool routers or jigsaw with the guide rail for expanded capability. Guided cutting takes out all the guesswork, so you can start every project off right. By submitting your email, you agree to our. Making a DIY cutting guide or buying a store-bought fence will help our circular saw make laser-accurate straight cuts every time. Related: How to Change a Blade on a Circular Saw. Read the full disclosure here. That extra consideration will help to prevent the edges of your projects from being so rough by supporting the wood fiber as the saw blade moves up from below; It uses anti-slip guide stripes along the bottom of the guide. The self-clamping mechanisms used are easy to operate and provide enough power to hold it into place while you work. A speed square is one of the easiest ways to make short, straight cuts with a circular saw. Hi Bill Youre right and thank you for the reminder. The Accu-Cut XL makes cuts up to 100 long. It comes with a jig that can be attached to the bottom of any saw. While a track saw will provide you with the benefit of a straight cut, as well as easier plunge-cutting capabilities, there are limitations to think about. This post contains affiliate links to supplies or tools I used to complete this project. 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. Nevertheless, it will also help if you are familiar with the following frequently asked questions about straight edge clamps for these may also be the questions you have in your mind: The straight edge clamp functions with the circular saw, allowing the user to create precise cuts. The end comes with a lever that holds the piece tightly, locking it up firmly. A crosscut is made across the grain of the wood or across the width of the board. Guided cutting makes it easier than ever to see exactly where you'll cut so you can get the results you expect. The Straight Edge Guide Extension is available in 2-foot sections for projects that require greater cutting capacity. Curious about the workbench you have in the 2nd 2 pictures (speed square & cutting guide). This typically means we need to use the saw freehand. One necessary skill you need to develop when using a circular saw is the ability to make straight cuts on long sheets of wood and board. Copyright var d = new Date(); var y = d.getFullYear(); document.write(y);. The Kreg Accu-Cut also allows us to cut straight lines with our circular saw. Purchases made using these links help support the Saws on Skates website and allow me to share more DIY projects. It would prove ideal for shops making multiple builds of the same item or out in the field where similar cuts are needed throughout the day. The straight edge clamp is also referred to as contractor clamp or clamp edge. Home Circular Saws Best Circular Saw Guides. The levers do not sit in the way of your saw as you cut either, and the low profile of the entire guide will allow circular saws to move over it as you cut. It features a two-piece construction that allows you to use it for shorter cuts. You might be surprised how important this can be. With the use of a straight edge guide, you can make perfectly straight cuts with ease. Looks like a great way to get started before investing in something like a Festool TS 55 EQ Track Saw. He said the blades can get pricey but the quality makes it worth it if youre working with it often. Mike suggested looking for a blade (like this one) labeled specifically for melamine and you should be happy with the results. Should make a minimal first cut to remove the materials factory edge necessary yea or nea? Moreover, the straight edge clamp should possess a reliable clamping mechanism. So, if you dont possess that flawless eyeballing of the cut line and the steady hand to guide the circular saw through the cut line, you might as well use a straight edge guide. The longer its length, however, the more difficult it is to clamp to smaller lumber pieces. If youre searching for an affordable straight edge guide, you can check out the DCT Aluminum. Straight edge clamps are usually of aluminum. Hi Norm Thank you for stopping by. And a speed square isnt a one-trick pony. Join our Facebook group to share your projects, tip and tricks, get ideas and feedback, inspire others, improve your skills, and help fellow DIYers grow theirs! You can see it here. The Straight Edge Guide XL is also available for cuts in material up to 8 feet. The straight edge clamps come with clamping mechanisms that feature large levers that let you tighten the clamp quickly onto the material. It may not be the most rigid guide on the list, but that will not be an issue as long as you properly support workpieces that you are cutting. I really appreciate it!

That being said, it is thicker and has been designed to provide decent rigidity for an aluminum product; Bora has designed this cut guide to work with a WTX saw plate.

Now we just wasted time, money and plywood. You will need to begin each cut carefully so that the circular saw butts against the guide at all times. It can also be used with a router to make dados, flutes, or even plow cuts. A simple feature that provides support no matter what side of the saw your electric motor sits and which side you are working from. Click here to visit my site policies. You will find straight edge clamps made of extruded aluminum, rigid enough for holding the straight edge. The metal used for this circular saw guide rail will withstand the workload a woodworker would place upon it. Since you want to cut long sheets and boards with your circular saw, it defeats its purpose if the straight edge can only help you cut short stocks. Its perfect for breaking down plywood into its final size. This product from Kreg is designed to make repeatable rip cuts quickly and efficiently. A circular saw cutting guide or a crosscut jig helps us make precise crosscuts and miter cuts. You will also find clamps equipped with a saw plate which allows for precise cuts. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. Circular saws dont have a good way to move in a straight line. One thing to keep in mind with the overall length will be where you use the guide.

As a straight edge system, Bora designed this product to work with your circular saw, routers, jigsaw, as well as other power tools that you need to keep moving in a straight line. The Accu-Cut comes in two versions. He is expertise in technical aspects, woodcraft and furniture building projects. It essentially turns our circular saw into a track saw. The Accu-Cut attaches most popular circular saws.

This will allow you to determine the blade path while still seeing the surface below this clear part. 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. So, you can cut long sheets up to 100. How to Use a Straight Edge Clamp with the Circular Saw Correctly? With the DCT Aluminum Pro, you will have enough flexibility when using specialty fixtures. Related: Beginners Guide to Table Saw Safety. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Moreover, it is reinforced by an integral tube that runs its length. It features an excellent clamping assembly that has sturdy aluminum rails. The fence attaches to the wood piece that doesnt come with parallel edges. The clamping mechanism keeps the clamp on the material to make sure that you can cut accurately using the circular saw. Achieve that truly straight cut using this self-clamping straight edge to guide your tools. Building circular saw guide rails may be beyond the skill level of novice woodworkers; Homemade saw guides can introduce drift if they are not cut properly, to begin with; Wooden jigs, including saw guides, will wear out quickly with use. This allows for precision cuts. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. You will want to make sure that your saw will sit properly on the guide or make sure you have Festool products to take advantage of this system. Second, lifting a heavy piece of plywood onto a table saw can be tricky. Moreover, it is adjustable to cover the full range of 24 inches. 4 Ways to Make Straight Cuts with a Circular Saw, How to Make a DIY Circular Saw Crosscut Jig, Measure and mark the locations for the cut, Position the blade on the mark and place the speed square against the base plate of the saw, Push the base plate of the saw against the square and make the cut, Crosscuts and rip cuts that are shorter than the length of the speed square, Place the edge of the jig on the marks and clamp in position, Position the base plate of the saw against the fence and make the cut, Cuts are limited by the length of the cutting guide, Adjust the fence so the blade will cut along the mark, Use the handle of the Rip-Cut to push the fence against the workpiece and make the cut, Place the edge of the Accu-Cut on the marks, Position the saw on the track and make the cut, The foam board makes a great work surface for cutting large sheets of plywood and MDF, The foam board prevents the saw blade from accidentally cutting your workbench, or pavement/concrete when working on the ground. You only need to position the fixed end on the board. Run the circular saw alongside the scrap piece on both sides. 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. Third, trying to cut a large sheet of plywood on a small table saw can be dangerous. Finally, look for a circular saw guide that is easy to set up, allowing you to see marks easily for quick alignment. Another factor you must consider is the length of the straight edge guide. The Rip-Cut, on the other hand, can only cut up to 24 inches. Cut one piece of plywood to be about 2 wide and glue it on top of the other piece. Most manufacturers design their products so that you can add additional components if necessary. The tools were sent in exchange for my honest review. This product does not require separate C-clamps in order to be fastened to your project. 5 Best Cordless Leaf Blowers (2022 Review), The 5 Best Double-Sided Tapes (2022 Review), The 5 Best Magnetic Screwdriver Sets (2022 Review), How to Choose a Finish Nailer | This Old House: Live, How to Maintain Small Engine Gas-Powered Yard Tools. However, the clamping material is mostly of rugged plastic or metal to hold the workpiece firmly in place. Yet, you can also do excellent cuts using the circular saw with Pro-Grip Clamps. Its saw plate readily fits into the T-channels, and you can attach it to the circular saw. Hi Bill That is the Kreg Mobile Project Center. The Rip-Cut fence follows the straight edge of our workpiece which ensures an accurate cut every time. You will find most straight edge guides with a swivel head. The face of the clamping material should contain a rubberized cover for additional grip without causing indentations to the material you are cutting. (Causes & Solutions). Cutting straight using the circular saw is a skill that can spell out the difference between a pro and a beginner. It doesnt need any clamping because of its anti-slip feature. It is made from aluminum and plastic components. Moreover, the clamping mechanism works well in resisting the pressure that the straight edge receives from the saw. It is a tool that has multiple uses. I spend most of my free time working on woodworking projects and writing for this blog. This is a guide that will last a lifetime if you take care of it; The biggest design problem I see with this product is the saw attachment itself. That adds a lot of versatility to this product; The contact points that help to keep the guide system secure on your project are made with a softer material that will not damage it. That may cause some flexing on surfaces that are not supported properly as you cut; A straight edge design will not hold the saw as you cut. They usually come in the 6.5-inch blade size, which cannot cut as deeply as a standard 7.5-inch circular saw blade. Of course, the table saw is perfect for cutting sheet goods. Now we just wasted time, money and plywood. The only time that a wider guide could be a problem is if you find yourself making rips cuts on a stock that is thin. It is designed to provide rip cuts up to 24-inches in width, allowing you to work on panels and wider boards without issue. This straight edge guide is low profile. I have the solution. Circular saws dont have a good way to move in a straight line. Ill put that one on my Christmas List! Thank you for stopping by. That would be a disappointment for heavy-duty users, who happen to be the target audience for this product; It is a bit more complex to use when compared to other systems. The locking handle grabs surfaces for a secure edge that won't budge, Break down panels and plywood easily and quickly with cutting capacity up to 100", Splinter-free cuts with tear-out protection from anti-chip guide strips, Make the cuts you need anywhere by taking your saw to the workpiece instead of bringing the workpiece to a fixed saw location, Standard kit includes everything needed to mount virtually any circular saw 6.25" - 8.25" (Specialty plate for 10"+), Universal Adapter Plate is machined to precisely fit the double-bevel design of the track, Anti-Chip Strips prevent tear-out on the top surface of your cut, provide line-of-cut indication, and anti-slip capability. It is a self-clamping system that is easy to align and fasten. Guide your circular saw, jigsaw, or router along a perfectly straight rail, Align your cuts precisely with the cutline indicator arm, Get the cuts you need quickly and efficiently with easy setup. Pretty good job This allows the guard to press on the line in front of, at, and behind the blade as you cut; This circular saw guide rail uses a special material for holding it on the workpiece. This allows us to make long, straight, accurate cuts. The Kreg Rip-Cut is an easy way for us to cut straight lines with our circular saw. You can also cut sheet materials with ease using the ProGrip Clamps. Thank you to my friends at Kreg Tool for sending me several of the tools that Ive included in this post. You can also use MDF instead of plywood. (Works with most brands.).

Thank You , The fence is adjustable and can make cuts up to 24 wide. It offers a sturdy and well-made clamp set.

Use a straight scrap piece of wood and place it on the measurement.

Lightweight guides are often made from materials that can wear out or become damaged easily. Hence, it is better to use a straight edge guide to keep your cut straight. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. It can also withstand constant use. Cutline indicators make alignment to your pencil marks easy, so you can work confidently knowing youll make the cut exactly where you need it. This design will be able to match up with a wider variety of circular saw products than other systems will; A clear plastic piece with a red cursor is used for alignment. Content from Saws on Skates may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. This means the Accu-Cut doesnt need to be clamped in position. Learn how to use your circular saw to make laser-accurate straight cuts! Afterward, you tighten its adjustable end by only pulling down its locking lever. Then the blade binds up when we try to get the saw back on track. The fence forces the saw to make cuts exactly where we want them. In this way, you will not waste time and material when cutting long sheets or boards. Then, you can begin cutting. You got several size options with the ProGrip Clamps (24, 35,50). Thanks so much. It is portable and I would recommend it. Stronger materials will stand up to heavy-duty use for long periods of time, but will often weigh more. Your email address will not be published. This will create an accurate guide accommodating the required offset for each side of the saw. Some guides can be used on a variety of saws, while other products are intended for specific brands. This handle pushes below the material and may catch on your saws power cord if you are not careful. Ive added a note above the pic that for best results it should be placed so that speed square is being pressed into the workpiece. My hand was covering the speed square when I had it in this position. Its also a guide for the saw blade. The plate keeps the saw firmly in place against the clamps flat edge. You can make perfect cuts with ease using this guide. Extra Wide - This self clamping straight edge is extra wide for exceptional rigidity and has a low profile for obstruction-free cuts. Mark whatever is being cut at the desired length, plus the offset. Moreover, it is easy to use with a circular table saw and other saws. You will indeed raise your level of wood cutting a notch higher if you master the use of the straight edge guide.

Sadly, that plate is not included here and must be purchased separately; It uses an over-sized clamp lever to apply pressure to the project. And now you're ready to make a cut! Cut sheet goods down to size with precision and ease by using the Kreg Straight Edge Guide. I use two of them as my workbench in my shop. A guide will hold the saw in place as you make the cut, providing a straight edge to the project you are working on. It functions as a guide rail for the circular saw. It is an alternative option for those without a track saw. The larger piece of plywood acts as a base for the jig. If you enjoyed this tutorial, would you please take a moment and pin it to Pinterest? Measure the offset of the circular saw guide to the blade. The manufacturer calls for users to drill mounting holes into their circular saw base plate, something that many casual woodworkers will not be interested in doing; It has a price tag that puts it out of reach for most casual hobbyists, especially considering that it is designed for a workload that they will probably not experience in their woodshop. First off, the best track saws are more expensive than circular saws.

This feature keeps the guide in place, which means you dont need to use a clamp to keep it affixed. Then secure the guide to your material using the low-profile GripMaxx clamps that are built right into the guide. With this cutting capacity, you can make a rip cut on a 48 plywood piece. Simply purchasing the best circular saw track system can save you money and allow you to take full advantage of the features that your circular saw offers you. Think of a track saw like a train track for our circular saw. Clearance is something to consider, and I would suggest finding a guide that provides zero clearance to help with splintering. The strip itself is designed to be an anti-chip guide. The universal Rip-Cut sled attaches to most popular circular saws. This material will help to keep the guide in place and eliminates the need for clamps or levers to be used for holding the guide on your projects surface; This strip can be used with left or right-handed saw designs. Scott. Multiple lengths can be attached quickly so that you can create a guide of the exact size that you need for your job. He told me there are blades specifically made for cutting two sided melamine.

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