Straight Cutting Guide

[Hikerjohnd]

Well, mother nature has put a damper on my floor install but not before I put together this jig for cutting straight lines with my framing saw.

I cannot cut a straight line to save my life and I want the floor cutouts to be reasonably straight. I remember i read about this guide somewhere (I will not take credit for the idea) and tried to build it from memory. It is very easy to make and took me about 15 minutes total.



The jig is simple and can be made in any desired length. I chose 4 feet so I could cut across a sheet of plywood with ease. The materials are simple, the base is a 12 x 48 x 0.5 inch sheet of MDF. The guide rail is a 3.5 x 48 x 0.5 inch piece of poplar.

Together they are only an inch thick.



Then I measured the width of the base of the saw (mine is 5 inches) and set the guide rail one quarter inch further than needed so my first cut along the guide set the distance exactly. The rail is attached with screws and glue.







Now, when I need to make a straight cut, I can just line the edge of this guide along my line, clamp down the guide and cut! No more measuring fence distance and hoping everything comes out right!

Hope this helps someone else too!

[Woodbutcher]

That's a great way to do it. Works well with your router as well. Keep up the good work, you'll be camping in no time!

[EffieRover]

Funny you should mention that in the context of flooring. I made the same jig out of a piece of laminate flooring left over from an install and a bit of 2by I had lying around. Found it in Family Handiman magazine

[whitefishpoint]

For 30 years I was not able to construct a square box from wood cut on a table saw or radial arm saw.

This past summer I used carpenter's square and a long straight piece of wood as a straight edge clamped to the wood and cut everything with the skil-saw. I was shocked when everything came out exactly square the very first time and every time there-after!

I realized that regardless of how square I positioned the fence on the table saw - the slop in the tool while pushing wood through it is what knocked my cuts off square - all these years! I thought it was just me!

[bfitz]

Lowes/HD sells a 10 foot long aluminum saw guide that comes in two sections. I had great success with one in during my build. It costs a few bucks, but it's quick, easy, and stores nicely.

Most of the time, the cuts were either dead on or good enough that I didn't care. With the floor, I took no chances...to match a seam in the middle of the floor, I cut both mating pieces at the same time, one laying on top of the other. This way, even the slightest drift was always mirrored on the mating piece, making for a nearly perfect fit.

[Guntr]

Coincidentally a buddy sent me a link to this version today.

http://www.eurekazone.com/content/ez-one

It's basically a $1200 version of your two boards. I hope to construct something myself for use in my shop.

[mikeschn]

That's a good jig. I use something similar for my router!

Mike...