Crosscuting sheets of plywood

MJ · 03-22-2001, 12:27 AM

I posted a question in the "around the shop" forum and received 1 answer. It was useful but not exactly what I had in mind. I have a 24 inch rip capacity on my table saw, but when crosscutting on a full size sheet of ply, I run into a problem. My fence stops at 24". I am thinking that I will probably have to buy an alluminum fence clamp from Rockler and use a circular saw to cut follow the clamped fence for a straight cut. Is there a quicker or easier way to get that cut. Perhaps setting some kind of jig for my table saw. Thanks for any info.
MJ

Kelly · 03-22-2001, 01:35 AM

MJ,

I went to the other forum & read the response that you got. I've heard of people doing it that way, but I've never done it myself. Using a straight edge & a circular saw is probably the way most people would go. It might be time to invest in a new fence system with a wider 50" capacity. If you don't have the funds for such an upgrade, I saw "Norm" make a portable table saw station that used a clamp as a fence. It looked like it would work okay. Maybe a bit of a pain making sure that the fence & blade are parallel, but it seemed to work for him. Here's a link.

http://www.newyankee.com/col/9908.shtml

Good luck.

Kelly

**WoodMangler** · 03-22-2001, 08:48 AM

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Mar-22-01 AT 08:49AM (CDT)[/font][p]I'm glad my answer was useful...but it's not "what you had in mind"? Tell us...what did you have "in mind"? Your choices pretty much are; Use the method I described or crosscut using a circular saw. Since I'm broke all the time, I usually suggest the cheapest way to do things. If you've got around $350.00 a new Beisemeyer 50" fence would certainly do the trick. :)
Marc

Sonny Edmonds · 03-22-2001, 10:18 AM

Marc & MJ,
I thought Marc's answer was fine.
Personally I NEVER put a full sheet on my TS, and I have the capacity to do it. Why?
Because it can get out of control too darn easy. Most of what I've been doing calls for ripping lengthwise from sheet material.
But I always start out on a pair of 2x4's on the ground and rip the sheet's in half, then begin the ripping on the Tsaw. For control, so I don't waste any material.
I snap a line down the center (or near center) and use the halves. For cross cutting on a sheet accurately I use a piece of 2x2x1/4" angle iron 48" long for a straight edge to run a circular saw agianst.
You could easily use a 2x4 or whatever Ya got that's straight enough and long enough, with a pair of clamps.
You could even use a couple of old pallets for support. Just make sure you aren't headed for the nails.
Think & think again. Then, if you feel you need to, do your squareing up of the cut pieces on your table saw.
It ain't no rocket science to work smarter and not harder. And it don't take no gagitry to rip a sheet up.
Save your back for more enjoyable activities. And keep your fingers where God put them, on your hands.
My two cents worth.
Sonny
http://home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/

**WoodMangler** · 03-22-2001, 01:21 PM

as the Fonz would say..."exactamundo"! I try to get the mill or Home depot to cut them in half for me...(Home depot actually beats the mill I use (price-wise)on sheet goods sometimes...) The mill always cuts them for me, but Home Depot is hit and miss...sometimes they're too busy and I get tired of waiting (about uhh...hmmm..2 seconds is my limit )
Wow! I just re-read my post above...I sound snotty as hell! Sheesh...must be an acquired art to post the same way you are in "real" life. I'm not snotty in real life...I'm an A**hole! Hehehe...sorry...couldn't resist :)
Later...
Marc

MJ · 03-22-2001, 03:15 PM

Hey thanks to all of you that responded. And for "Woodmangler" (Marc) I didn't mean it like I typed it. It was not "what I had in mind" because I didn't want to have to use my table saw, but sorry I didn't put that in my post. I can't afford a new fence. I wish for day that I could afford a Beismeyer (however you spell it) fence. I think I will use a straight edge and a circular saw. Anyways, thanks to ya'll (A little Texas slang there, you all). Thanks
MJ

**Sonny** · 03-22-2001, 05:59 PM

Marc,
Naw friend, I didn't think snotty applied.
On the part of Home Depot, I had one bad experiance where the kid missed the measurement by an inch. Rather than make him eat it, I just went ahead and took it anyway.
Now I will always do it myself. Free or not, I can make my own mistakes.
On the A**hole part, I had two ex-wives tell me I was an A**hole.
So OK, I'm convinced, I am an A**hole.
But my 3rd and currant and last wife tells me otherwise. In fact she doesn't like it when I tell someone I'm an A**hole and chimes right in to the contrary.
But all this is way off topic, sorry Y'all.
Sonny

**Burt** · 03-22-2001, 09:14 PM

MJ,

The best solution is to use a sliding table attachment for your table saw. Excaliber makes several. One is a 49" and gives just enough capacity to crosscut a 48" sheet of plywood. It is a super tool but also costs about $500.