Circular Saw Edge Guide

Sometimes it's easier to cut a full sheet of plywood with a circular saw than it is to balance it on the table saw. To get accurate results while crosscutting with a circular saw, I use a shop-made edge guide, see photo at right.

This edge guide has an added benefit as well. It can also be used as a guide when cutting with a hand-held router, see Cross Section in the drawing below.

CONSTRUCTION. The edge guide is simple to build. It consists of two parts: a hardboard base (A) that serves as a platform for the circular saw (or router), and a plywood fence (B) that guides the base of the tool, see drawing below.

In order to crosscut a full sheet of plywood, it's best to make both the base and fence 48" long. Also, start with an extra-wide base. After screwing the fence to the base, both sides are trimmed to final width. You’ll want to cut one side with the circular saw and the other with a router and a straight bit, see Cross Section below.

USING THE JIG. To use the jig with a circular saw, simply place the edge of the base on the layout line and clamp thejig securely in place. Then run the metal base of the saw against the fence to make a cut.

If you're using a router to make a crosscut, the idea is basically the same as using a circular saw. Just make sure that you use the same diameter bit that was used to trim the edge of the jig.

Using The Tenoning Jig

Step 1: Adjust Blade Height.

First, lay out the tenon on the workpiece. Then butt the workpiece up against the back stop and clamp it in place with the ho/d-down bar. Next, adjust the height of the blade for desired depth of cut (length of tenon).

Step 2: Adjust Back Stop.

Now you can adjust the back stop. To do this, slide the tenoning jig so the back stop is over the blade. Then lower the back stop until it just touches the saw blade at its highest point.

Step 3: Se! Stop for Inside Cut.

To set the out for the inside cheek, slide the platform so the blade aligns with the inside layout line. Then thread the left coupling nut against stop block and tighten the wing nut.

Step 4: Setstop tor Outside Cut.

Now, move the platform so the blade aligns with the layout line for the other cheek. Then adjust the right coupling nut, tighten the wing nut, and make a test cut. To complete the tenon, remove the workpiece and make the shoulder cuts.

TABLE-SAW TENONING JIG