I'm wondering about the best way to square up a panel of plywood for my cabinet and box projects. Currently, my method involves using a T-Square to square off one edge and draw a line, then measuring a 3-4-5 triangle from that line to the base before making the cut. I feel like there's a better way to do this, so I'd love to hear how others approach squaring up their plywood panels!
3 Answers
I like to use a 4-foot metal straightedge as a guide for my circular saw, paired with a speed square to check the corners. Just be careful not to apply too much pressure, as it can introduce a slight bend.
For squaring, I measure the sides, angles, and diagonals. Using a circular saw with a guide helps ensure everything stays square as I cut.
I typically start with a tracksaw using a track square for rough cuts and then finalize everything on a tablesaw to get precise dimensions. If you're working with a lot of panels, you don’t actually need to square the entire sheet. Just rip off one factory edge to get it clean, and use that straight edge for cross or rip cuts on the tablesaw to ensure you have square pieces.
That’s great advice! I’m also getting a track saw and was considering a square attachment. Good to know it can help with accuracy!
Using the track saw setup makes total sense. If you build a jig to secure the track, you can make repeatable 90-degree cuts easily, kind of like a crosscut system!