Saw Small Pieces Safely with A Workmate

I needed some 3 inch squares cut from 1/4 inch plywood. I had access to a Black & Decker Workmate and a circular handsaw, but not to a table saw or a radial arm saw. Cutting small pieces like that can be dangerous with a circular saw because it is difficult to secure the wood and things can get out of control very soon. I used my Workmate both to secure the wood and to guide the saw safely.

Step 1: Get a true edge

This is some scrap 1/4 inch plywood. Neither of the two edges visible is straight and true. I used my tri-square to mark a straight line so I can trim the plywood for a true edge. See this Instructable to make this tri-square 

Comments

[nyx702]

Ah interesting! Very useful tip. I hadn't thought about running the saw along the top like that.

[Phil B]

Thank you. It is something I needed to do for one specific job, but really will not do often. Still, it is a handy thing when needed.

[rimar2000]

Good work as always, Phil.

[Phil B]

Thank you, Osvaldo.

[bfk]

The term I use for creative ideas like this comes from my military days "Field Expedience" Excellent use of what you have to get what you need. Kudos, Phil.

[Phil B]

Thank you much.

[pfred2]

That is an awfully big router you have there Phil!

[Phil B]

When the saw is tipped up like that it does look like a router.

[pfred2]

In a way a circular saw tipped on its side is a router. One with a big slotting bit in it!

[Phil B]

True.

[coolbeansbaby68]

Nice Job Phil

[Phil B]

Thank you, James. Anyone who has ever tried to cut something small with a circular saw while trying both to hold it and keep fingers out of the way can appreciate this. Thank you for looking.

[coolbeansbaby68]

I'm getting ready to build a cabin on my property and the only tool i hate to use is a table saw . So i use saw horses and my circular saw with the slide in guide quite a bit .

[Phil B]

That would work. I had a homemade table saw once. It was a plywood table with a circular saw hung underneath. My Instructable on it is linked in the right panel with this Instructable. I liked it and enjoyed using it, but my wife made me get rid of it when I got a radial arm saw 40 years ago. I am thinking about making another, but space to keep it is limited. It is probably good I no longer have the original one I made. The blade size was 7 inches, and those are very hard to find now. Everything is 7 1/4 inches.

Something must be wrong with the counter on this Instructable. It was at 228 views. Then phred2 commented and it went up to 229. You have viewed and commented twice, but it is still stuck at 229.

[coolbeansbaby68]

you have to clear your cookies ... Go to tools and the top of your browser

[Phil B]

Thank you. I cleared the cookies and restarted the computer. The problem is still there. I have had this problem on three different browsers and four different computers since Monday..

[Ninzerbean]

It looks like you could mount that circular saw upside down and it would be a table saw. No?

[Phil B]

Yes, I did an Instructable on that once. See this link. But, this time I needed to saw a little before my workshop is set up again. (We are in the process of moving.) I no longer have the saw in the Instructable linked above. I wish I did still have it. Thank you for looking and for commenting.