Ripping mdf with circ. saw- WHICH FENCE GUIDE? (1 Viewer)

[KyleGS]

I've recently acquired a nice new Makita circular saw and want to use it to cut my panels for my cabinets. I have seen the following three "fence guide systems."

Rocker SAW GUIDE
MLCS Boomer + SAW plate
Penn STATE IND> - Panel Saw System

Anyone used these?
Any comments on which would be more useful for making sub boxes?

THX

 

[BrianW]

The Boomer Bar Clamp guide is REALLY nice. No clamps to get in the way, and it clamps securely, ensuring no sliding while you're cutting.

The nice things about the other two guides, though, is that they can be mounted on a piece of masonite which is then trimmed (with the saw you intend to use) so that the trimmed edge of the masonite marks the exact line of the cut. This way, there's no measuring from where you want to cut to where you need to mount the guide - just put the masonite edge on the pencile mark, clamp, and cut.

 

[Mattak]

/me needs to pick up one of those

I used a generic aluminum straight edge when I built my box. Pretty big pain having to measure every time and then with the clamps getting in the way. Otherwise it was a great help and it would be nice to have one specialized for that task

 

[Allen Ross]

I got one from Amazon that works like a charm, i forget the name of it, it came in 2-4-8 feet, the 4 foot one was around 60 bucks i think. clamps like a mofo. my only qualm, its a little tricky to get a prefect 90, but after some practice its really easy.


After looking at the formentioned ones its very very similar to that boomer blue one, it was a little tricky making my base but its rock solid and has very little play in it.

 

[TimForman]

I've used a design similar to the Boomer and was very pleased with it. If you don't have a table saw it's a great alternative. If you use a square along with it you can get reasonably accurate cuts.

 

[LanceEAR]

I'm going to try this out this weekend. Seems like it should work very well.

h t t p : / / members.aol.com/woodmiser1/sawbd.htm

(sorry about the link - still can't post)

 

[Wayne Ernst]

Here's a "fixed" link for those who like to click: Saw Board

 

[Frank Carter]

I just made me a couple saw boards, they work wonderfully...and they're cheap.

 

[Pete Mazz]

Sawboards are great.....but I would use something stronger than a spring clamp to hold it in place.

Pete

 

[Michael Warner]

I used a circular saw with a sawboard to cut MDF for my arcade cabinet but after a few cuts I didn't bother with the sawboard anymore. Once you get started on a straight line the saw just keeps right on that line through the MDF. Must have something to do with the lack of any woodgrain to fight against.

Be sure to wear a mask and safety glasses and cut outside if possible as MDF dust is very fine and awfully hard to clean up.

 

[perry web]

I use a alum. sheetmetal wall stud clamped to the work piece for a straight edge guide. Get the heavy gauge one for pennies a foot. works great