ripping wood - Woodworking Talk

JMendez035 · 07-18-2008, 10:45 AM

since my table saw is sometimes too small to rip some boards, i was wondering if using a hand saw then planing the egde straight was a good substitute till i get enough money to buy a bigger and better table saw

Terry Beeson · 07-18-2008, 11:14 AM

Hand saw or power saw? Personally, I would use something similar to Niki's jig for straightening edges of warped boards and use a power saw. But it's tricky to keep it straight even with the jig.

Of course you could build something along the lines of a panel saw adapted for ripping. But then you'd probably have enough invested there to buy a good table saw... LOL...

woodworks · 07-20-2008, 04:06 PM

I have used a cheap $20.00 straight edge and circular saw and then jointed them and glued them up. No problem. As long as you keep the straight edge secure and don't let it move around, you shouldn't have a problem.

joesdad · 07-20-2008, 07:28 PM

Jake I keep one of these in a 50" and 96" http://www.ptreeusa.com/edge_clamps.htm for site work.

They're great for ripping full sheets of ply material so long as you have a nice clean sharp blade in your circular saw, and a couple of sturdy horses with a few sacrificial 2x4s underneath your material to keep it from sagging as you make you pass.

I also used the 96" one to start my first edge on long, rough sawn boards from the saw mill.

woodworks · 07-21-2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joesdad

Jake I keep one of these in a 50" and 96" http://www.ptreeusa.com/edge_clamps.htm for site work.

They're great for ripping full sheets of ply material so long as you have a nice clean sharp blade in your circular saw, and a couple of sturdy horses with a few sacrificial 2x4s underneath your material to keep it from sagging as you make you pass.

I also used the 96" one to start my first edge on long, rough sawn boards from the saw mill.

How short with the 96" clamp go? Will it come down to zero, or is there a point it won't pass?

joesdad · 07-21-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodworks

How short with the 96" clamp go? Will it come down to zero, or is there a point it won't pass?

To 0. The piece underneath that determines your length slides all the way back to the large locking tab if needed. It's also a few inches past 96 on the one I have.