Hey folks! I'm working on a walk-in closet and need to cut out some plywood panels sized 24 x 42 inches. My main challenge is to achieve consistency on the 42-inch side with the tools I have, which include a table saw, a circular saw, and a track saw. I was considering using a crosscut sled that has a 25-inch capacity or possibly renting a sliding miter saw to flip the board for each cut. I'm wondering if there's a safer and more efficient way to tackle this since I need to produce 12 panels. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
What size are the sheets you're starting with? If they're 24x48, you can set up a clamp stop block on your crosscut sled about 6 inches past the blade. This way, every cut removes the same amount from the end. If your sheets are bigger, you could stack them and cut multiple at a time with the circular saw. Just ensure you're careful with the setup!
Using a table saw could work well if you have adequate rails. However, a track saw setup might be more straightforward. Just make sure you're clamping the workpiece against some rails so everything stays in place. Do you absolutely need the panels to be exactly the same size? A slight variation, like 1/8 inch, might not matter depending on how you plan to use them. Are they going to be framed or stand-alone? That could simplify things a bit!
I planned on cutting full sheets down to 48 x 24 for easier handling, so using the stop block on the sled makes sense. It seems like the best option for me.