Shopsmith Forums

terrydowning wrote:I have good results with a circular saw and high quality (Freud Diablo currently) carbide tipped blade. with a straight edge.

Then the table saw again high quality, sharp, carbide tipped blade with a Zero Clearance Insert.

That's actually how I do it too, but only on larger pieces. Unsure what sizes the OP is considering. I guess I was thinking smaller stuff, which I don't use a circ saw for.

dusty wrote:... when I am concerned about chip out, I first make a very shallow cut and then go back and repeat the cut at the proper depth.
....

Wow- I forgot about that. Very Good point!
I'd heard that, but always forgot it, until recently I read a casual yet precise essplanation of what exactly tearout is. Since then have had enormous success using that pre-cut (and even pre-score) with ply and wood, even without ZCI (which I still try to use at every opportunity).

Blade! Blade! Blade! If you don't have a good quality sharp blade you not going to get a good quality cut.

If I were buying a Jig saw today I would find the blades I wanted to use and buy the saw that would use them. I have an old Craftsman jig saw that will use any blade I've ever seen even broken blades.

The hardest thing about cutting with a jig saw is controlling the vibration. I have gone so far as to clamp straight edges on both sides of the saw to keep it on track.

It's much easier to get a clean straight cut with a quality circular saw and blade. Be sure your saw blade is square to the edge of the saws base. If it isn't you will get a rough cut.

OK, I'm sort of rambling around but that's how my brain works.

rlkeeney wrote:Blade! Blade! Blade! If you don't have a good quality sharp blade you not going to get a good quality cut.

If I were buying a Jig saw today I would find the blades I wanted to use and buy the saw that would use them. I have an old Craftsman jig saw that will use any blade I've ever seen even broken blades.

The hardest thing about cutting with a jig saw is controlling the vibration. I have gone so far as to clamp straight edges on both sides of the saw to keep it on track.

It's much easier to get a clean straight cut with a quality circular saw and blade. Be sure your saw blade is square to the edge of the saws base. If it isn't you will get a rough cut.

OK, I'm sort of rambling around but that's how my brain works.

Thanks for this tip. I have one circular saw that doesn't cut so very cleanly. This may be my problem. I suspect that it would not take a great deal of misalignment cause do this.

I use a circular saw with a Matsushita saw blade. I found mine in Hartford, CT at Coastal Tool. It is a 1/16" kerf. Makes a very nice cut. Also, make sure you cut from the back of the sheet. Try cutting from the back on a scrape piece with the blade you have now, it might do the trick.