Lessons Learned #5: Cutting guides make the world go 'round

As a beginning woodworker without a large shop full of tools, I’m was at first skeptical about my ability to get by and produce interesting things without tools like a table saw or band saw. One of the things that’s really helped me get by is the cutting guide.

I built a massive 8’ long cutting guide for my Ryobi circular saw, which makes it about 1000 times easier to chop up plywood without being dependent on the table saw I don’t have. I decided this evening that I wanted to make a small guide for my jigsaw as well, for smaller cuts or situations where I don’t want to throw dust everywhere. So I took a few pictures and thought I’d walk through the (very simple) process of creating one. Hopefully this isn’t too basic or common knowledge…

1. I chose a relatively straight piece of 1×3 pine to form the “spine” of my cutting guide, and a 48” wide piece of 1/4” ply for the base
2. The pine is what guides the straight cut, so to ensure that it’s straight, I clamp it to my level until I can get it attached to the ply:
   
3. Flip the whole deal over and attach the ply base to the pine. I used some #6×3/4” screws here, about every 6”
   
4. Flip it right side up and run the saw along the guide to trim the ply to size. I put some blue tape down here to limit chip out on the top face (the jigsaw blades I use leave a very clean bottom face)
5. Finally, we’re left with a beautiful new cutting guide. Don’t forget to label it so you know what saw it goes with
   

If you look closely, you’ll see that the whole thing is resting on the base for the workbench I’m finishing up right now (to be posted soon)
Thanks for reading

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio