*Our beginners handheld routers course is now live! Check out the online course here ---> **bit.ly/3DcIeE3*

I already have a circular saw and was about to buy a table saw. I am a once in a while diy guy. After watching this video Realized I don’t need a table saw. Thank you sir!

Josh, this was excellent! I like your presentation style: no goofiness and silliness, no trying to act like a comedian, no eye bulging and foolish facial expressions; just straightforward professionalism and getting right to the point without a long and flashy “promo” introduction. And incredibly, you used no annoying, inappropriate, and ear splitting background music that makes your voice impossible to hear over. Friend, this is the first video I saw of yours and I’m liking what I’m seeing and hearing. I subscribed.

Good video. I use 1/4" fir plywood base, and another 1/4" strip (1 1/2" wide) as the actual guide, glued to the plywood base. Then attach to project by using two small 3/4" nails at each side of the guide. You're nailing into the rough side of the project wood (since the best cut is made with good side down); the small holes left are insignificant. After cut, remove guide, leave nails in guide for the next time. Fast, easy, cheap - been doing it for 50 years.

I've been moving and cutting plywood since I was 11, I'm 65. The lifter - very good, but I think you'll always do better with one from the bottom, so you can lift sheets onto the roof rack of your vehicle and onto tables. Your support sticks: Spot on. My only comment here is either cut a lot of these strips or use a standard dimension. Personally I use 2x3s because I already buy this size for a lot of my 'projects'. 3/4" is thick enough, I just use the 2x3s because I have lots of them. You'll always need another piece. Forget bootlegging the straightedge, unless you're roofing. I always use guides. To rip large sheets I have a 1 x 4" aluminum U-channel that's 9' long, I also made a 90 degree cut off square (about 3' bottom, and 72" tall. To adjust it I used the 3:4:5 measurement) The base drops down 1" and has two tabs on the top so I can just clamp it at this bottom end. There's a long diagonal brace. I made it adjustable (tripled the work) in case I needed to readjust the squareness - that was over 20 years ago, never had to adjust it since the first day. If I made another one I would do this: I'd make two. A cross cut one (has to be more than 60" for Baltic Birch squares) with a 3/4 in base, this would make it easier to clamp on the ply I'm going to cut. (I never go thicker than 3/4"), Then I'd make a 9' one for ripping, but the base here I would make out of 1.25" or thicker plywood so I can push the whole length along the bottom of a full sheet, and then let the saw blade cut into it.. You can get away with it hanging off the table because the length of the sheet counterbalances almost any weight you put on this over hang. To clamp these straightedges I use either big spring clamps, regular Bessler clamps, a Kreg clamp, or a large Visegrip Clamp with a big loop to go around things. I cut with a SkilSaw and a 40 tooth blade. I could go with more teeth, and if I set up a shelf making shop I might use a sidewinder on a guide (higher RPM cleaner cut). Always designate one edge of your sheet goods as the 'baseline' and measure from there. So I wouldn't measure over to the cut line and then measure back to the guideline - you're adding too much error to the system. If I used your notch trick I'd measure this new line from the baseline side of the sheet. And if you ever EVER wonder 'is that plywood square?' Check it, with a framing square but also measure it corner to corner. Sometimes it's off. Plywood for flooring and roofing are never cockeyed but hardwood ply sometime can be. I have shelves right behind me Baltic Birch 1/2" Over about a year every sheet of BB 60 x60" ply was not square. Once you know this you can clean it up. But if just assume.... big problems. And make your cutting table sturdy enough that it can support your weight, on some cross cuts you need to put some of your weight onto the table so you can reach. Develop a system that works for you and then stick to it. I also have a table saw that sometimes for critical things I'll run them through. And if I have a project with smaller pieces I will just cut them from remnant pieces on the table saw. For critical work I'll cut a little larger with the guides then make it precise on the table saw. I had a Clamp N Tool Guide for about two days. It adjusts from the side that is away from you, so you either use it backwards , but then you can't clamp it, or you have to repeatedly guess at the setting distance for that far end. Too much trouble. Plus you still had to measure everything to make sure your cut was square. Took it back. Hope this helps.

Great video. Really helped me decide that I’m better off going with a circular saw and those clamps rather than going with a big table saw

This is a good video. I really learn a lot. I'm a newby in wood working. I'm afraid in circular saw but with the help of your video it helps me to overcome my fear. Very detailed. And the eplanation is clear. 🙌

I swear; my phone 📱 listens to my conversations, the other day I was talking about organizing my garage, and this lady popped up on KZfaq how to organize her stuff, now I picked up two pieces of plywood at a yard sale, the wife and I were talking about how I’m going to cut it up for projects. And today you pop up how to cut plywood with out me looking it up that’s pretty cool!!! Thanks!!!

I don't understand how this has any type of thumb down. This was a very well done tutorial video. Thanks for this!

I just watched some other videos on how to cut plywood. I really was dreading the task ahead..... until I saw this. This is brilliant. Thank-you.

Awesome! I have sheets of plywood that were a pain to cut with the circular saw. I really suck at cutting a straight line, so having a guide is just spectacular.

Just beginning my exploration into carpentry and your videos are among the best! Love how you show everything you're talking about and make it so easy to understand, and see you go through the process instead of just explaining it.

This is the best video I’ve seen on cutting plywood without spending hours on an over engineered elaborate set up or spending a fortune. Easy, cheap and quick. Best video so far. It’s has made my very short list of saved videos.

Perfect! I was looking for the way to cut and support a whole sheet of plywood in half without worrying about binding issues. Thanks!

Great explanation, I've used all these methods before, but I finally bought the Kreg ACS Track Saw with dust collection. Yes its more expensive but the accuracy, zero dust (when attached to dust collection) and no clamping pretty much makes it the final cut. I too hesitated for years because of cost, now I am so glad I have a track saw, especially the awesome dust collection when working in an enclosed garage. It will definitely save time and minimize the dust you breathe in the years of use for anyone.

Great video, especially on how to clamp some wood quickly, always struggle with getting that setup just right and check it 3-4x every time, this should help a lot!

Josh ! You are in my prayer everyday since I started to wach your videos because , using these tools has to be careful, a mistake would be fatal and you have no idea how much iI"am Learning with your videos. !🙏thank you ! 🤗

As usual very loud and clear to the point videos without loosing a word ! Well done , and thanks for your instant response to my question about metric sizes too , well done !

Thanks for the tips! They were very helpful in making sure I stayed safe while ripping a sheet of plywood.

Thank you so much! I'v been looking for this! Everyone shows us how to make stuff but doesn't show how to cut if you don't have all those fancy tools!

Awesome, now I can build my work bench top with confidence!!! I bought the Kreg jig yesterday ❣️Great video, I'm so psyched ❣️❣️❣️❣️

Thanks for the video, very informative. It's always fun watching someone trying to 8' stock on the floor, as as they try to crawl and keep the saw moving at the same time.

Incredibly useful, no-nonsense advice to get started. My circular saw is sitting waiting for me to get the courage to use it, and this is the first step in getting ready. Thanks!

Clear, simple, intuitive and very useful info. Super ideas for a straight cut. Thank you for the idea with insulation and how to carry...also how to make and accordion from insulation. Great video!

This.....was...awesome! Thank you! I work solo diy and don’t have big surface. Solo me in my garage floor with insulation = success! Thank you!!

Wooow! I've just found your channel a few days ago, and I'm looking the videos one after the other, every time I have a minute of spare. They've given me support enough to open mi first circular saw, and make a few cross cuts in plywood... Hopefully, it will turn out to be a toys chest, folowing your examples! Thanks, from Argentina! Keep posting great videos! Cheers!

I wasn't sure how to cut a large piece of wood until I saw your video. Thank you so much for the very useful advice and information !

Best explanation for this subject on KZfaq. Big thanks!!

Great clear explanation. The accu cut (first Kreg product) has clamps for it, and as a newbie I love them.

You learn something every day. Loved every minute of your video, thx.

This is such a good video and I’ve come to realise that all your tutorials are equally good. No nonsense; just straight to the point. As I’m sure you know, you can make a cheap jig with a straight edge screwed to a piece of mdf. Just run the saw along to cut the mdf and you have a kind of track for your own saw. It has worked well for me for many years.

This was an excellent presentation. No fluff or filler, just some great explanations of your options if you don't have a panel saw. Really dig the insulation backing trick, going to use that on my project.

WOW!! I had never considered the option of cutting the rigid foam board in half and then taping the two halves together for storage. That's brilliant! Thank you.

I just recently made a cut guide with plywood that worked great. Take a piece of plywood about 4" wide by however long you want the guide. Then glue that to another piece of plywood the same length making sure that you oversize the width more than the offset of both sides of your saw (mine was 1.56" on one side and 4.3125" on the other side). In this example I would leave 2" offset on one and 5" on the other side Then take your saw and cut the bottom piece on both sides using the opposite side of the shoe using the top piece as a guide. Now the bottom piece is a direct straight line of where the saw is actually cutting and it is not limited to only one side of the saw. Hope that makes sense. Found the idea on This Old House.

Thank you a lot for this video. I needed them a lot to do my projects concerning outside of our house.

After planning my project, I have the big box store cut down my plywood to smaller sheets. I get the value of buying full sheets, transportation is easier, hauling into my workshop is easier, it doesn't cost me anything, and the cuts are always perfect. I still use your tips for the smaller cuts, but getting a 8' cut into 2 48x20 and x 48x28 is a great start!

Thank you for the tips it will help very much. I'm a person who is beginning with wood work for the first time

I surely like your presentation, there are no adds or long talk, you are straight to the point.

Your directions are so simple to follow. Thank you 😊

Thank you. You are an exceptional instructor. You have really help me get started safely.

So basically I need another Kreg tool. Yep, sounds about right.

This is the most informative, no bullshit, and efficient tool video I've ever seen. I made three purchases while watching this. Excellent work. Give this man some commission.

Thank you so much. This tutorial is great and a much less expensive alternative to buying a table saw for straight (cabinet) cuts.

Really useful, thanks. I'm just about to cut an 8' ply sheet and will follow these instructions (guide piece and clamps).

This was EXTREMELY helpful! My M12 5 3/8 circ saw kept stalling out when I was trying to rip 3/4 plywood . After trying the rigid insulation sheet trick I was able to do it quite easily . I had been using saw horses to support the plywood with little success.

Thanks. That 5:40 part was good for wood working noob like me. I've always measured distance and I've been thinking that I need to scribe it to my Makita as I always tend to forget measurements, that tip there is so ridiculously obvious that I've somehow missed that possibility completely. Though I've been thinking about getting that saw track as I'm usually cutting large pieces.

"You are good at what you do ,,,,TOO GOOD! Its obvious you know your stuff,. I would DEFINATLY learn from your tips and demonstrations Thanks

Oh this is so useful!!! Thank you! Im a "just now" beginner. Been wanting to make my own shelves but idk what tools are best - specially on the saw - and really needed this info about what "accessories" the circular saw needs for precise cutting that i seen in some carpentry videos. They never really explain those "rulers" (guides) and i thought they were part of the package when you buy circular saws. I haven't bought any saw cause i was looking for one where the guides are included. 🤦‍♀

Thank you, Josh! Going under the assumption that I didn't know even half of what I think I know, I searched for this before cutting some OSB and found your video. Perfect cuts first time around. Wish I could say that about every endeavor. Well done!

Very useful stuff. Very clear english even for non-native english speakers like myself. I clicked the "subscribed" button after watching only 20 seconds in the video. Thank you for the video and keep up good work.

You are amazing! I get lost with all the measurements, but I am a newbie. Please keep posting these videos.

Thank you so much! This answered all my questions about how to cut a 6’ long table top with a circular saw. That rigid insulation tip is 👍👍👍 for someone trying to do work working in a apartment.. or out on my balcony.

Just starting woodworking. I have a track that came with it's own set of clamps. Still cut it wrong. I'm going to try marking where the shoe is. Thanks for the tips!

i love the tip on how to measure the distance of the blade on the saw. thank you. always learning something new!

I just happened upon this site and I am engrossed with your training. Thank you. I am just getting into routing and will be viewing all your videos. Thanks again!!

When cutting long lengths I always check where I am standing or kneeling and plan ahead so that when I move position I do not lose concentration on the cutting process. Sometimes it is just better to stop the saw, move position and then start the saw again and continue the cut. The electrical lead also must not get caught up so allow plenty of slack and position it conveniently for a long cut.

I love your trick to put the saw down on the side you want to cut and use the the shoe to put a mark down which is where you are going to clamp your straight edge. I have had a tough time doing it the other way with the tape measure and my cut would often not be accurate. I am looking forward to trying your method the next time I have to cut plywood. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this video! It’s very informative and to the point. I’m not bored watching LOL. I’d like to tackle my guest room closet and put in a wood organization system this weekend. This video gives me confidence on ripping down boards without a table saw. This is great.

Wow, very helpful for me. Giving me exact information I need. Thank you very much.

O wow! That was genius, thanks for sharing this technic.

Great tips and tricks. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Awesome! Love the rigid floor idea! Fixes my problem of not being able to reach across the plywood pieces! Thanks a bunch!😀

Fantastic! I just panicked realizing I only have a circular saw and need to rip plywood lengthwise. Thank you.

I'm learning a lot from watching your video that really appreciate everything that you're posting thank you so much I have never really cut plywood I've only done it maybe once or twice maybe a few times for my father and so this is really helpful I thank you so much for all the knowledge and wisdom that you show us

Great break down. See you next Tuesday.

I'm only 2:37 through the video and I already learned so many little BUT helpful trics. Thanks

One of the best how to videos over seen. I’m not a super handy guy, but this video made think I can safely do this! 😊

For a noob like me this video and the manner in which you can get the point through is worth its weight in good. But since I'm a poor man, sir you have my gratitude 🙏 in spades.

You just saved me hours of fiddly work Josh with your Kreg tip. Anad finally a use for that extra piece of drywall.

Thank you for this video. There's a local place that gives away plywood free at the end of the week. It's too big to fit in my car so I've been working out the best way to cut it to size there.

Great video!!! I was cutting a sheet of plywood with my new Table saw with no support on either side and it got jammed halfway through I thought the Table saw was garbage but no it was pinching like you stated---obviously I need to have a tablesaw Table capable of supporting big sheets on both sides

I really like how you explained these methods from the simplest and least expensive to more technical and advanced tools! Thank you!!!

I bought my first circular saw today and this will be a huge help thank you apppreciated

Never occurred to me to use a sheet of insulation. That’s brilliant!

This has been very helpful. Thank you so much for making this vid and sharing your knowledge.

Absolutely brilliant presentation and incredibly helpful. Thanks so much.

Okay, so I'm about to embark on building 2 shed doors. Honestly, I'm scared as Hell. This video helped tremendously, calmed my nerves and helped me decide which tools I will need. Thank you very much, sir! :)

I’ve always wondered how people handle sheets of plywood on their own. Also how the Kreg systems work for cutting plywood. Thank you.

Thank you for the tip man!! Laying down new plywood in my bathroom

Love the tip to cut the insulation in half and then tape it for storage in half the space. 😋

This video really helped me out, it's very well done. I bought the Kreg Accucut and rip guide, but it doesn't fit my circular saw very well and setup is time consuming, I think I'll return them and just go with a simple straight edge. I really like the hard insulation for supporting the plywood and the folding storage idea! Thanks.

Thank you! I just learned a hell of a lot!

Boom!! 💥 Video so helpful as a beginner Josh. Thanks man!! I just added the handle grip for AND the accu-cut to my cart. Few more days 🎂

Excellent training video :-) Thank you so much for your direction

Learnt a lot from this video. Thanks for sharing.

Always great tips! Thank you!

Great tutorial! I really appreciate the basic instructions.

I was looking at circular saws which brought me to your channel to which I subscribed. Great video and well done for spending your time presenting a video. That takes dedication and passion. I'm not a big fan on placing sheets on the ground. I guess there isn't much option of you are limited to space. My trade as a plasterer we had board stands as the husband of my grandmother's sister had a welding factory. I have a festool plunge saw and used a sacrificial board underneath to support the sheeting. This has often worked real well . Later I bought an mft table. Since I don't have enough room inside my work is half outdoors meaning it has to be dry days when I can do work from home. I welded a table to place a full sheet. That's my work table. I have a formwork ply. This table is okay. I then made a steel mft table. The steel mft table is a gem and dismantable. It's 900 mm by 1200 mm so larger than the mft table, twice as heavy although a lot more stable. I then built a lower table for my kapex saw so the top is level with the other two tables. I have not yet used it. I plan to be able to make consistent cuts of one size or to set a ruler for accurate cuts. That will take a bit of planning. It's not that I do a lot of multiple cuts on timber, although it will be nice to have a good setup which is efficient. I should actually present a video so it will be more self explanatory. Great video regards.

Great info for a beginer like me. Thx

You have answered a beginner very well, perfect actually. Cheers Josh 👍👍

Great video! I feel confident now to try cutting myself! Love your style of teaching.

Excellent. Thanks for taking the time to help others by sharing your expertise. You are an outstanding instructor. thanks again.

Great no.3 option,these I want use for my cutting plywood...thanks for tips and great useful explaination...stay safe

I have the Kreg Rip Cut (the last one) and it works great. Worth the investment.

Really well done! Love your presentations!

Soooo many great tips!

Extremely clear video. Awesome job. Thanks.

Great information and guidance. Thanks

great demo thank u

Best video about circular saw.. Thanks!