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Cutting straight lines with a circular saw
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:11 pm
I’ve been doing odd projects around the house for the past few years, nothing huge, but I’ve been getting by with my circular saw and no miter saw. I bought the Kregg jig that allows me to rip plywood in perfectly straight lines and I’ve managed by using that where possible on lumber.
But when it’s anything longer than that jig, I have to rely on my hands, and I’m just not good enough to repeatedly cut straight lines. Other than buying a miter saw, anyone have any advice on cutting straight lines with a circular saw?
ETA
I can cut plywood just fine. It’s 2x4’s and such that I can’t cut straight. It always has some sort of angle or curve to the cut.
But when it’s anything longer than that jig, I have to rely on my hands, and I’m just not good enough to repeatedly cut straight lines. Other than buying a miter saw, anyone have any advice on cutting straight lines with a circular saw?
ETA
I can cut plywood just fine. It’s 2x4’s and such that I can’t cut straight. It always has some sort of angle or curve to the cut.
This post was edited on 12/30/21 at 7:49 pm
12
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:18 pm to Oilfieldbiology
clamp a straight board to make your cut. You can even make a jig offset the same distance as your blade to make set up faster.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:19 pm to Oilfieldbiology
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:28 pm to Oilfieldbiology
A miter saw won’t rip a board anyway, like others have said just make your own straight edge with a 1x4 or something
Posted on 12/30/21 at 7:34 pm to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
But when it’s anything longer than that jig, I have to rely on my hands, and I’m just not good enough to repeatedly cut straight lines. Other than buying a miter saw, anyone have any advice on cutting straight lines with a circular saw?
Confused here as Kreg makes three distinct tools for circular saws and getting a miter saw definitely won't help you if it's a capacity issue. The best solution to making accurate cuts in sheet goods without having to buy a cabinet saw would be to get a good track saw and enough track sections to cover whatever you are doing. Next thing I can think of is something like an Empire-brand straight edge kit, pretty cheap and with both sections screwed together I think it covers an 8' length.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 8:07 pm to Oilfieldbiology
For 2 x 4s, 2 x 6s, 1 x ……, use a speed square as a guide to cut a perfect 90 degree cross cut with a circular saw. Less than $10 at any hardware or big box store.
This post was edited on 12/31/21 at 7:32 am
Posted on 12/30/21 at 9:10 pm to CrawDude
Man that’s exactly what I was looking for. So much cheaper than buying a miter saw.
shite.
shite.
Posted on 12/30/21 at 9:58 pm to Oilfieldbiology
I always measure both sides and clamp a level in place and use it as a fence
Posted on 12/30/21 at 10:31 pm to Oilfieldbiology
I made an 8-ft long jig using 1/4” plywood that I’ll clamp or screw to the sheet I’m cutting from, similar to what armsdealer described. It works amazingly well.
This post was edited on 12/30/21 at 10:32 pm
Posted on 12/30/21 at 10:33 pm to Oilfieldbiology
This article from Family Handyman has both a straight cut rip guide and a cross cut guide. These styles work very well.
LINK
LINK
Posted on 12/31/21 at 7:48 am to Oilfieldbiology
I use methods people above me have posted, but I honestly use a handsaw most of the time. Handsaw, especially with a cheap miter box, always gives me perfectly straight cuts.
When I use a guide for a circular saw, I can get a straight edge but sometimes fail to get length precise.
When I use a guide for a circular saw, I can get a straight edge but sometimes fail to get length precise.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 8:05 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
Man that’s exactly what I was looking for. So much cheaper than buying a miter saw.
shite.
Yep, doing it like that my whole adult life and I'm now 69 years old. Can't even imagine how many miles of wood was trimmed to length like that.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 8:11 am to Oilfieldbiology
Don't watch the blade.
Focus the guide line on the front of the saw.
It took me nearly 20 years of using one to grasp that, and I'm one handy SOAB
Focus the guide line on the front of the saw.
It took me nearly 20 years of using one to grasp that, and I'm one handy SOAB
Posted on 12/31/21 at 8:54 am to Oilfieldbiology
You can also cut angles up to 45 with a speed square. There are tons of YouTube videos showing how to line up the speed square. I like to use a small quick clamp to hold the angle
Posted on 12/31/21 at 9:48 am to gumbo2176
quote:
and I'm now 69 years old.
Nice.
But seriously sometimes the most obvious solutions escape your kind during frustration and I don’t cut enough to think about it all the time.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 12:03 pm to Oilfieldbiology
Typically people have issues with cutting long runs of ply wood straight 
.
But yes, for your issue, speed square is the answer. They also make them in many different sizes. For example I have 3. My largest is 12 or 14 inches. So cutting say even a 2x12 I can still and do use it as a fence/guide.
Again, as said, watch some Youtube videos on them. They allow for many more uses/angles other than just a simple 90* cut.
. But yes, for your issue, speed square is the answer. They also make them in many different sizes. For example I have 3. My largest is 12 or 14 inches. So cutting say even a 2x12 I can still and do use it as a fence/guide.
Again, as said, watch some Youtube videos on them. They allow for many more uses/angles other than just a simple 90* cut.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 12:10 pm to Oilfieldbiology
Mark your cuts. Find out exactly where the blade is as it pertains to the notches on your saw. Always cut the outside of the line on correct notch. You’ll get the hang of it
Posted on 12/31/21 at 4:06 pm to redfish99
I've found that Skil worm-drive saws have dead on markings for good framing blades. My Makita and DeWalt side-winders are good too but if I know I'm going to be making a lot of cuts in dimensional lumber I will use my Mag 77 if I can. I also have a DeWalt 4-1/2" 20V circular saw and I've found it to be really handy at cutting 2x's, very easy to handle while holding a speed square with it.
Posted on 12/31/21 at 4:18 pm to Oilfieldbiology
I made one of those straight edge guide’s. It works great. I can cut a straight line on an entire length of plywood
Posted on 1/1/22 at 8:35 am to Miketheseventh
FYI, the Makita Plunge Saw (Track Saw) is 10% off on Amazon today (or was this morning). I finally pulled the trigger.
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