Plywood panel ripping

   / Plywood panel ripping #1  

jpr62902

Platinum Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2003
Messages
545
I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here, but I'm looking for a cheap, portable, small jig to rip plywood. My table saw is a little under powered for this. Currently, I have to rip a small strip off of the plywood, then use the factory edge to cut the rest of my pieces. I could just keep the small strip for other sheets, but its a pain to store, and eventually it warps. I could make a jig that would be more substantial, but again, a pain to store. I just tried a cheapie 2 piece aluminum straight edge, but the joint was too flimsy, and my cut curved in where the joint flexed. I'm looking for a sturdy, collapsible jig to rip 8' plywood sheets. Any suggestions?
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #2  
When I can't use my table saw I use a Tru Grip Clamp "n" Guide. These are a two sided clamp that comes in lengths up to eight foot. A couple sets of folding plastic horses and my cordless saw and I am good to go.
I find that these clamps won't flex but you do have to support the sheet of plywood to keep it from sagging. Just do a Google check on Tru Grip clamps for pricing and a picture.
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #3  
I bought an 8' straight edge at Lowes that works pretty good. It's made from two 4 foot pieces of extruded aluminum and seems to be pretty ridgid. The joint seemed to be sturdy enough. I don't know if that's what you've been using, but mine's worked fine. I just lay the plywood on two wooden sawhorses, clamp the straightedge on and set the saw shallow. I just cut across the tops of the horses (They have a piece of 1" sacrificial scrap glued to the tops).
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #4  
I just keep a 5-6" wide strip of panelling or plywood around and use it as a straight edge, clamping both ends, and making sure the plywood below doesn't dip in the middle (away from the straight edge). Its worked great for years, and have no problem with getting a good straight edge with a good electric saw and good quality blade (kept sharp!).

Doesn't get any cheaper than that.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #5  
I can vouch for the True-Grip, but it does cost some cash...and it can get damaged if not treated nicely.

For a cheap solution that really makes not only cutting but lining up your cut a cinch, get two pieces of plywood. Glue & Screw one on top of the other. The top one must be straight on at least one side (both is preferable). Attached is a drawing that should reduce confusions some...

Cut the bottom oversize (for me that would be greater than 1.5 inches for one side of my saw, and greater than 5 inches for the other), and using the top guide, trim the bottom. Now the bottom will show you exactly where your blade will be...no offset measuring /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

The reason you should set up both sides of the guide for the different sides of your saw is for clamping/cutting ease when getting close to the edge...you can reverse your "normal" cutting direction. Afterthought: I'm not saying to cut backwards! Really what I meant to say was that this allows you to cut the same direction (for righties, from right to left) with the clamp on either side of the saw. Sorry about any confusion!

I know this still might be confusing, so let me know if it is and I'll try again....

Sam
 

Attachments

  • 403918-PanelCutter.jpg
    403918-PanelCutter.jpg
    31.8 KB · Views: 354
   / Plywood panel ripping #6  
As a former carpenter by trade, my favorite ripping guides were created from a straight 2X6X8 ripped down the middle and nailed together in an "L" shape. If you chose good quality stock it would never twist nor warp, the cost was about $10 even if you had to buy a pair of C-clamps. One problem, hard to store. I did make several of these that I sectioned in two 4 foot lengths and used a 4 foot length of angle iron and carriage bolts with wing nuts to join the 2 sections. For ripping big sheets of plywood, we would just place some 2X4's on a level surface and put the sheet atop them, clamp on the straightedge and go at it. If your saw is powerful enough you can usually cut through several sheets at once up to a total thickness of 1 1/2 inches.
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #7  
I have a straight edge from leevally made by veratis(sp?) it works great but it is a little expensive. cost about $100.00 cdn
but I have used it 100 times and always get a great cut.
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #8  
I use two pieces of 1/8"x1 1/4" flat iron bar stock, one 4ft plus, one 8ft plus and two small c-clamps. Cheap, easy to use, stay put while adjusting it and stores out of the way. It may take some sorting to find good straight pieces but as I said, cheap.

Harry K
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #9  
I've been looking for a good ripping jig for years but most that I find are pretty expensive. At present I use a 8' aluminum straight edge clamped to the sheet and it works well but this spring a friend showed me his jig for cutting sheet plywood. It was along the lines of sl3uths's jig. It was 2 pieces of 8' x 3/4" plywood hinged together. The width of one piece was the exact offset of his saw blade. He lined the edge of that piece up with his cutting line, clamped it in place and flipped it up. He was left with a straight edge the exact offset for his saw. It looked as if it would be quick, easy, cheap to make and most of all, easy to use. I don't think I explained this very well but I hope you can visualize it.
 
   / Plywood panel ripping #10  
I have a 8' level that I use 2 C clamps to hold in place. It was given to me by a carpenter that was going to toss it because it was no longer accurate and not worth the cost to have it re-calibrated. Works great as a straight edge and the price was right. When I need a 8' level, I just set my 4' level on top of it.
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2017 Bad Boy Outlaw XP 61in Zero Turn Mower (A48082)
2017 Bad Boy...
Land Honor Quick Attach Vibratory Plate Compactor (A50514)
Land Honor Quick...
2015 CIMC 40FT CONTAINER CHASSIS (A52141)
2015 CIMC 40FT...
2011 Nissan Titan SV 4x4 Crew Cab Pickup Truck (A50323)
2011 Nissan Titan...
2020 New Holland 105 Workmaster MFWD Compact Tractor with 632TL Front Loader - Poultry Special (A52128)
2020 New Holland...
2018 FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA TANDEM AXLE DAY CAB (A51222)
2018 FREIGHTLINER...
 
Top