What else can you use besides a table saw to make straight cuts?

[Subst4nce 10+ year member]

Hey guys, unfortunately I have no money or access to a table saw, have you experienced box builders used a circular saw or jig saw to make straight cuts with success?

I'm going to try to start building a new enclosure this weekend, but unfortunately being in college and working part time does not leave too much extra money to spend on tools/wood....

Any advice for this?

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[Buck 5,000+ posts]

you can use the guy at lowes...

 

[Subst4nce 10+ year member]

Yeah i was considering that... I just want the cuts to be as precise as possible.... idk how good those guys are.

 

[Buck 5,000+ posts]

Yeah i was considering that... I just want the cuts to be as precise as possible.... idk how good those guys are.

They cut my box pretty **** good. And it's like 25 cents a cut or something. It's definitely worth it.

 

[ARSkemp 10+ year member]

I just use a long straight piece of mdf clamped down on whatever i'm cutting to use as a guide, then I use a circular saw.

you can use the guy at lowes...

I've used both lowe's and home depot, and the cuts never came out as accurate as i had wanted. It's really a hit or miss depending on where you live

 

[alvitae 10+ year member]

Clamp a straight edge on the board. Like a level or something.

Measure the distance between the edge of the saw foot and the blade. On my worm drive it's 1.5 inches. Thats how far back from the length you want you clamp the straight edge.

Support the wood/mdf with scrap 2x4's or something underneath so you don't get a bend and let your saw foot go under the straight edge.

I cut just as straight as a table saw doing it that way.

 

[IA2 10+ year member]

They make a clamp that you can buy specifically for this purpose

 

[Subst4nce 10+ year member]

They make a clamp that you can buy specifically for this purpose

Any idea what its called/where I can find it?

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

Any idea what its called/where I can find it?

circular saw straight edge cutting clamp? Look at home depot or lowe's they have them there

 

[Subst4nce 10+ year member]

Thank you, that'll save me a lot of money, thanks for all the advice guys! any other considerations wouldn't hurt!

 

[SPY 5,000+ posts]

Any idea what its called/where I can find it?

I have one of these. I got it at Homedepot. they are in the same place as the levels and stuff.

About $20 and is a little over 8' long so you can cut the full length of a sheet if needed.

 

[scoob8000 10+ year member]

Just look on craigslist for a tablesaw. I picked one up for $35. This was after I wasted money on clamps and various pieces of wood and metal trying to build my own jig..

 

[Subst4nce 10+ year member]

Something like this?

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100142943&N=10000003+10401001

And I looked on craigslist but I couldn't find anybody selling one near me that was cheap enough

 

[Pioneer~Saturn 5,000+ posts]

Yea, with a nice, straight board clamped to the board you're cutting a good circular saw it will amaze you at how good of an edge it leaves you

 

[wu501 10+ year member]

circular saw will work fine. Just use a guide as others have stated. No need for a table saw unless your going to be building a lot of boxes or other woodworking. You can use a jigsaw to cut out the circles but a router and jig make it super easy and accurate.