Alternative Edge Guide for a Circular Saw

[bffulgham]

Here's my poor man's version of an edge guide.
I've got 1 that's about 66" long for cutting Baltic Birch sheets and another that's 96" long for cutting standard plywood sheets.
Show face down.
Place the edge guide on top of the 'keeper' piece.
Edge guide is a ZCI for one side of the blade.
Use a good, sharp, appropriate tooth count blade for the job at hand.

Made from 1/4" tempered hardboard

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Zero-Clearance Insert

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Another thing that helps prevent tear-out on the top side is to run a strip of masking tape down the cut line.

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[charlese]

I've been using one similar to this for years. It works very good. Yes, tape on the saw line prevents most tear-out.

[masonsailor2]

Ditto here. A great tool for fitting doors. Also have one for using a router which comes in handy.
Paul

[robinson46176]

That is what I use as well.
Mine is just 1/4" OSB and has served me well. I do want to make a shorter one, maybe about 52".
I keep promising myself that I am going to start cleaning up my jigs (and replace a few tired ones) and give them a coat of paint / varnish.
Sometimes I am not as good as I would like at keeping those promises to myself...

[Ed in Tampa]

The shop made guides are fantastic. However the track system is also very very nice! First saw is captured so you can' t steer away from the guide. Also since the track is metal and sectionable you can store and use it easier and don't have to worry about weather.

Plus you can renew the cutting edge of guide easily.

My biggest problem using the shop made guide is I tend to overreach when cutting sheet stock and the saw pulls away from the guide edge. The captured saw solves that problem for me.

[keakap]

I have trouble even with something like that. I mean, I can hit a bird in flight with a stone, but I can't cut a straight line with a circ saw. Go figure!
So I consider a circ saw just a faster way to make a hand saw cut. Then clean up edges with a plane, as usual. Sorta like bandsaw, same same- cut close to the line.
And dang if it aint more fun, too.

[davemcghee]

The next best thing after a saw guide you can do to help get a straight cut with a circular saw is put on a new quality blade, and adjust your blade height to barely cut through the wood. If you are still cutting with the blade that came with the saw then it's time to change it out for a new one.

Currently I am using Freud Diablo blades on my Mark V 500, my table saw, my compound miter saw and my circular saw. They are slightly more expensive than the cheapest blades but not so much that they break the bank. They are worth the extra.