I've been diving into woodworking for about five months and am planning to buy my first table saw soon. Currently, I can only transport 2' x 4' sheets of plywood, so I often use my circular saw to cut down 4' sheets into multiple 24" pieces.
When I get my table saw, I want to know the safest way to cut these large panels. Is it acceptable to put the 24" edge against the fence with the 48" side sticking out to the left? Or would it be better to build a crosscut jig for the 24" wide panels instead? I've read that placing the short edge against the fence can be dangerous because of potential twisting and binding.
For reference, the saw I'm considering has a compact design with a 22" fence and a table surface of 23" x 22", so the 24" plywood will actually extend beyond the fence. Looking for some advice on the safest cutting methods!
3 Answers
As a rule of thumb, always have the long edge against the fence. For large panels, you should build infeed and outfeed support, or keep using the circular saw if you can't manage that just yet. A crosscut sled could be a great investment for those wider cuts you have in mind!
Using a large crosscut sled is your best bet for consistent results and control. Make sure to set up an infeed support to help stabilize the sled as it goes through the cut, plus an outfeed table for safety when it comes out the other side.
You can safely put the short side against the fence for larger pieces. Just keep in mind that the risk comes when cutting narrower strips that might twist. If the wood reaches the riving knife, you should be good to go. For smaller cuts, using a crosscut sled is a wise choice or just stick with your circular saw.
You're spot on about the risks increasing as the size of the piece changes! A 2" wide strip is definitely trickier and can twist more easily than a wider piece. Glad you found the riving knife tip helpful!
Infeed and outfeed support make a big difference! Building a stand for your saw with good outfeed support is a smart move. You might want to consider an infeed setup later on, especially as you start cutting larger sheets.