What is the proper tool to make long cuts?

House Repair Talk

Help Support House Repair Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

farmerjohn1324

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2016
Messages
963
Reaction score
103
For example, to cut these pieces of wood lengthwise. The longest are 12'.

Is a circular saw not appropriate for this?
 

Attachments

  • 0330181558.jpg
    0330181558.jpg
    23.5 KB · Views: 21
I use a table saw all the time, except for the few times that a circular saw is more convenient.
 
Depending on what you are cutting, how wide and what you are using it for. A lot has to do with ability and experience on a saw type.
 
For rough carpentry, a circular saw with a fence ill usually does the trick. For cabinetry a table saw, followed up with a trip through a jointer to make the edge really smooth, especially if gluing it up.

On short pieces of wood, a table saw is safer, having the blade in a fixed position and using a pusher stick to push the wood through the cut is safer than trying to hold on to a piece of wood while you rip cut it. Given a choice, I would always use a table saw but you don't always have a choice. To make rip cuts for a short piece of wood, I'd start with a longer piece of wood, rip it and then cut it to length. Anything to keep my fingers away from the rapidly spinning blade.
 
Get a portable table saw. A used on is inexpensive and will do the job. Build an outfeed table or roller setup. It will surprise you with accuracy and capacity. Just make sure your rip fence is carefully aligned.

DEWALT SAW.jpg
 
Once you acquire and get used to using a table saw, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Learn how to use it safely and always give it great respect, for it cuts humans more quickly than it can cut wood.

Phil
 
How can I make this cut? I don't think a table saw or mitre saw can do it. This is for the wedge shaped piece on the right of this shelf.

The wood is 6.5" wide and 1.25" tall. The angles are 79 degrees on top-left and 11 degrees on bottom-right.
 

Attachments

  • 0422182344.jpg
    0422182344.jpg
    35.2 KB · Views: 20
I would do it on the end of the long piece with a skill saw with the board on edge,
Or on a chop saw with a table built so the board and be set at 90 degrees from the fence
Or with that small piece glue some 1 1/4 to the bottom side so it will slide on the fance of the table saw and the pencil line would be straight with the fence.
 
When I have to cut something sort like that, I always start with a much longer piece so I have something to hold onto.
I mark it as you did and then eyeball the cut on the table saw. After getting it cut and smoothed I trim to length.
It doesn't have to be 100% perfect because you can use some caulk to fill in a gap.
With a bit of practice on the table saw you can do eyeball (freehand) cuts pretty well.

Dave Mason
 
I'm having some problems with my circular saw. The cuts are not aligned with the notches in the base of the saw. I had to basically guess, and then try to plane smooth this bifold door that goes on a hallway closet. It came out okay, but I'm worried about being accurate with my saw because I have to install this French door next.
 

Attachments

  • 0424181454.jpg
    0424181454.jpg
    32.8 KB · Views: 14
  • 0424181507.jpg
    0424181507.jpg
    21.1 KB · Views: 15
  • 0424181518.jpg
    0424181518.jpg
    32.7 KB · Views: 13
Measure from the outside of the blade to the outside of the saw plate. Mark your cut points on each end of the door and measure up from those points the distance you just got from your saw. Clamp a full length straight edge (metal or wood BUT must be straight) across the door at the points you just measured up. Then use the outside of the saw plate as a guide against the straight edge and cut. Voila...a straight line cut.
 
Back to the table saw...

I glued it to another piece, but it seems like the 2 mitre grooves are not close enough to the blade to allow me to use them. I guess my only option is to eyeball it? And I can only just barely get it under that black plastic piece that's over the blade.
 

Attachments

  • 0425180108.jpg
    0425180108.jpg
    33.5 KB · Views: 5
Back
Top