Cutting 4x8 sheets

[buckeyefarmer]

For furniture making where I need an exact cut to the 1/32", I clamp on a straight edge and use the circular saw. Yea, home depot will rip one within an 1" or so, if that's good enough. never saw a track saw before I saw it here. (just had to say that)

 

[s219]

Yeah, get a vertical "panel saw". Had one at a construction shop I worked at as a kid, and they made it trivial to slice up plywood in both directions. Really nice tool.

 

[joefromga]

Use an edge clamp. Quick and easy. Mine does angles too. They go to 50"or more.

If you're tired of measuring make a jig to your preset measurements.

 

[randy41]

build a larger table surface for your table saw

 

[ray66v]

It would be very easy to build a wooden jig, which you could slide the panel into, or place on top of the panel, that also has guides for a circular saw.

One afternoon, and probably $30 worth of material. :confused3:

 

[RBLapham]

I serviced some business machines at a company that made displays. They had a table saw with table extensions so it was like 20 ft by 20ft. Great for cutting plywood.

 

[PILOON]

For shop cutting I have a large bench saw and roller supports so I can one man cut.

For job site work I was fortunate to obtain a length of aluminum angle stock* that I use as a guide.
2 C clamps and align using my known setback gives me a clean accurate cut.
Using this field guide rig I once slit veneered plywood with 45 deg cuts to cap a made up 16 ft beam. It worked so well that that capped beam looked like a massive planed and sanded timber.

*The aluminum 'channel' was actually an aircraft wing spar, thin, light and very stiff. I trimmed it down to an "L" shape on the table saw to about a 1" X 4" angle so that my skill saw sits on just right.
Having used similar guide techniques in the past I knew that the best method was to have the saw ride on the angle rather than against the straight edge.
I have 2 'edges', one long for 8ft cuts and another for 48" cuts.
Recently at a tool store I saw 54" straight edge clamps being sold as a plywood cutting guide. They also had a longer version for the 8' cuts. Somewhat pricey, but great for field work.

 

[PILOON]

For shop cutting I have a large bench saw and roller supports so I can one man cut.

For job site work I was fortunate to obtain a length of aluminum angle stock* that I use as a guide.
2 C clamps and align using my known setback gives me a clean accurate cut.
Using this field guide rig I once slit veneered plywood with 45 deg cuts to cap a made up 16 ft beam. It worked so well that that capped beam looked like a massive planed and sanded timber.

*The aluminum 'channel' was actually an aircraft wing spar, thin, light and very stiff. I trimmed it down to an "L" shape on the table saw to about a 1" X 4" angle so that my skill saw sits on just right.

Having used similar guide techniques in the past I knew that the best method was to have the saw ride on the angle rather than against the straight edge.
I have 2 'edges', one long for 8ft cuts and another for 48" cuts.

Recently at a tool store I saw 54" straight edge clamps being sold as a plywood cutting guide. They also had a longer version for the 8' cuts. Somewhat pricey, but great for field work.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I built a sheet good cutting bench, out of scrap, so I can move full sheets easily from bed of truck to bench. I use a circular saw and cutting guide to get pieces to size I can handle on my table saw.





Here is my sheet goods storage cart.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Use an edge clamp. Quick and easy. Mine does angles too. They go to 50"or more. If you're tired of measuring make a jig to your preset measurements. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=454480"/>

They have them over 96", I have one for ripping full 8' sheets.

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[GPintheMitten]

Large table extensions sound good to support 4 x8 sheets. How do you guide the sheet to get a precise cut on the cut line? Thanks.

 

[Deere Dude]

Use an edge clamp. Quick and easy. Mine does angles too. They go to 50"or more.

If you're tired of measuring make a jig to your preset measurements.

View attachment 454480

Great idea. I just put one in the cart at HD.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Issue 254 of Fine Homebuilding had a track saw test. Of course, the Festool was rated the best overall. The Makita came in as best value but still pricey at 520.

I have a couple of straight edges for cutting sheet goods. My first was in two pieces with a tapered channel that another piece would join the two together. To much flex. The next one I bought was extruded, 3/4 of an inch thick and strong enough not to flex. It has two clamps that slide in the ends. For my needs, I can put up with aligning the tool on my pencil lines and moving back and forth to tighten the clamps.

I never used a track saw but I see these tools as a way to get precision cuts on the job site where you do not have the benefit of a stationary shop setup.

Your idea sounds good but if it was me and I had the room, I would set up a table saw to handle the sheets of plywood. While what you are building is not cabinet grade, you still want nice even cuts. Can't beat a table saw for that.

 

[PILOON]

Another trick for sheet cutting with a table saw.

I obtained an 8 ft or so Arborite counter top bull nose strip that was going the way of trash.
It was about 4" wide X 96" long.
I added a 1 x 4 just behind the bull nose to strengthen the strip.
I fitted a leg to one end equal to my bench saw surface and clamp the other end to the side of my table saw top.
That handy device eliminates the need for a helper when I need to slit 4 x 8 sheets lengthwise.
My only tricky part then is the hefting a 4 x 8 sheet onto the setup but do able .
The Arborite is slick enough for any ply to slide easily.

 

[Egon]

Table Saw? You want one with a sliding sled.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I used to do a lot of site built cabinets and bookcases. I used my Delta contractor's saw which I have had for 25 years, with extended table and special fence. See pic, mine is exactly the same. I put a 4 ft outfeed table and a 4 ft infeed table with formica top over plywood. Spread a little sawdust, your plywood will just about cut itself. That fence is highly accurate, with adjustable gauge, you can cut within about half a hair width every time exactly the same. That is not an exaggeration. I dunno what that setup costs today or if it is even available at the same level of quality. But that solved my 4x8 sheet problems completely. I preferred it over the Delta Unisaw because it can be set up anywhere, easy to take it apart into manageable components and transport where you need it.

 

[joefromga]

I used to do a lot of site built cabinets and bookcases. I used my Delta contractor's saw which I have had for 25 years, with extended table and special fence. See pic, mine is exactly the same. I put a 4 ft outfeed table and a 4 ft infeed table with formica top over plywood. Spread a little sawdust, your plywood will just about cut itself. That fence is highly accurate, with adjustable gauge, you can cut within about half a hair width every time exactly the same. That is not an exaggeration. I dunno what that setup costs today or if it is even available at the same level of quality. But that solved my 4x8 sheet problems completely. I preferred it over the Delta Unisaw because it can be set up anywhere, easy to take it apart into manageable components and transport where you need it.

I have the same setup. I have a same height catch table as well. Works great. Slide 1"mdf by myself.

 

[BoylermanCT]

Whenever possible, I have Home Depot or Lowes cut the plywood for me. If I need to cut it at home, I have two 4' aluminum straightedges that fasten together to form an 8' guide which I clamp to the plywood and run my skil saw along.

 

[bamboozled]

Once you get a tracksaw, you'll never use a table saw to rip sheet goods again. They are that good.

The beauty in them is the amount of space they DON'T take up. You spend the time setting them up and take good care of the tracks and you will love it. It's one of my favorite tools and I am very particular about cutting things precise and straight. I've got a 104" fence and a 54" fence (or thereabouts) and it has saved me so much time since I've gotten it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Using a track saw is MILES ahead of a straight edge and circle saw.... Anyone that says they are the same thing, don't know what they are talking about...

SR