My Proven System For Cutting Plywood With A Circular Saw

All professional carpenters develop simple, dependable systems for efficiently doing repetitive tasks. That's part of what makes them a professional. In this video I show the system I've used for many years to cut plywood sheets (large and small) on the jobsite, and in my workshop. And here are some helpful show notes to go with this video presentation...
Check out this UA-cam video in which Tom Silva shows how to make a cutting guide pretty much just like the one I use in this video.: • How to Make a Circular...
Tom's use of hot-melt glue to make the guide is NOT a good idea in my opinion. Use yellow glue and weight the two pieces until the glue dries.
Here's an Amazon link to the Model #6201Hanson 7" self-adjusting locking C-clamp pliers with swivel jaws that I show in this video: amzn.to/2JHpVHF
HOWEVER, you'll notice that the pliers are quite expensive. Too expensive, in my opinion. I bought three pair in 2012 for $16.38 each. Then, when I saw how useful they were, I bought a couple more for the same price. I think the price is now so much more because CH Hanson has apparently stopped making them. I can't find the #6201 clamps in their current catalog.
Other companies make similar-looking pliers, but some of them are NOT self-adjusting, which is a GREAT feature. Also, some of them don't have the easy-to-use unlocking lever that I show in this video. They have an unlocking lever like found on the typical Vise-Grip pliers.
The good news is that I was able to find the Hanson 6201 pliers at www.ToolDiscounter.com for only $13.99 each. A great price! I bought a couple more for myself. How long ToolDiscounter will be selling this item if it truly has been discontinued? I sure don't know. Here's the link: www.tooldiscoun...

[@peterbarlow8912]

The problem with gluing your fence to your guide is blade flutter will eventually make your base short of the cut line. My guides have aluminum fences attached with flathead screws and wing nuts so I can periodically move the fence to get an accurate fresh guide edge. These type of guides help reduce tear out in the front surface so you don’t have to have to do a tricky inverted layout from the back. If the fence is longer than the base your saw can be well registered to the fence before it gets to base and workpiece.

[@zhilaxfow7888]

But I need to buy the most expensive tracksaw know to man in order to be a good carpenter.😂Lol

[@steveholman5978]

You forgot to add a quarter inch to your saw depth to allow for the guide thickness.

[@xucocy]

Wow thank you man!Going copy your tooling process..

[@clem24u]

I have an aluminum straight edge I bought 40 years ago and for a decade I would clamp it 5 1/4" from my mark to run my saw along until 20 years ago when I figured out I could just attach it to a piece of luan and cut an easier to use straight edge. I'm glad to see someone else with a version of what I used for many years.

[@danielpittman889]

I have a similar saw guide, some folding sawhorses, and a cordless circular saw.
My vehicle is too small to carry full sheets, so I break everything down in the Home Depot parking lot.

[@brucewelty7684]

Sweet

[@Newslies1]

I've been looking for those clamps for welding.

[@ourv9603]

I have made myself 3 of those guides. 30" & 50" & 96". They work just as well as you said.
!

[@wanderingwade8877]

Take a bow and go out on a high note!

[@jlaw8882]

I have been needing to do this for a long time. All that time wasted setting up a cut... thanks for the kick in the pants 🙈

[@leighco9]

Glad to have found this video. Remember you from back in the Whiz Bang days. I still have the book. Thanks for sharing.

[@richardmonson8657]

Love it.

[@charleywalker2982]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and keep your videos coming please.

[@charleywalker2982]

👍

[@ruidadgmailcanada8508]

What a great system. Accurate, lightweight and convenient.
Thanks for sharing.