Project by Bearpaw | posted 09-01-2017 04:53 AM | 5217 views | 15 times favorited | 9 comments | ![]() |
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I cannot believe that I am doing two post in one week. Too much time on my hands.
I have made a number of edge guides for my skill saw and have lusted after one of the fancy track saw sets. My eyes are bigger than my billfold. So I looked around and found people making them from scraps. Now I am a scrap person, so here is my version.
I have an old skill saw , so it is now my track saw. Some people used flat aluminum bar stock, but I did not have any. The big box stores only carry 1/8” thick and I wanted my glide to be thicker – 1/4”. I did have some old plastic counter top material. This is the thick white material you see on food serving lines. A food equipment company is your best source or Rockler for precut ones. I like milling my own. I get a better fit in the track groove. The material works very well in a thickness planer, joiner and a table saw.
I ripped a piece of 3/4” plywood about 8” wide for the track part. Use a good grade of plywood. I placed the saw on the plywood strip to located the dado for the plastic strip to slide in. I used a 3/4” router bit for the dado set at 5/16” deep. Make sure that you position the skill saw so you will have material to cut off that will be your reference edge.
After machining the plastic to a snug smooth sliding fit in the groove I put double face tape on it. This helps hold the material to the saw. I drilled 1/8” diameter holes for a #6-32 flat head bolt on each end of the saw base. All the parts are made. That was easy.
I bought a new 60 tooth, carbide tip blade for the saw. I used my digital angle tool to make sure that the saw was set at 90 degrees. If you do not own one of these tools – go buy one. Cheap and accurate.
The last thing to do is to cut your reference edge. I set my saw depth for 7/8” past the track guide board. I messed up on my first attempt to make the track, but there was enough good area for me to cut a length 4’-6” long and then I made one 8’ long. I took a short section of the scrap of the first track to make a base for the saw to set in. You will have to put another piece of plywood under that to protect the saw blade.
I am thinking about cutting a “t” slot on the underside of the track to use a “t” bolt and knob with a hold down clamps to attach the track to what I will be cutting. I would like to know what you think of that idea.
Well, there is my version. Now back to the shop.
-- "When we build, let us think we build forever." John Ruskin
9 comments so far
helluvawreck
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32122 posts in 3916 days
#1 posted 09-01-2017 01:36 PM
This is very creative and resourceful.
helluvawreck aka Charles
http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
-- helluvawreck aka Charles, http://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com
fivecodys
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1728 posts in 2686 days
#2 posted 09-01-2017 03:17 PM
I like it. I too do not have a budget big enough for the high end track saws.
I added this to my favorites.
Thanks for sharing!
-- A bad day woodworking is still better than a good day working.
Bernard58
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126 posts in 1894 days
#3 posted 09-01-2017 08:50 PM
Creative, simple, cheap and efficient. What more should it be? I have the exact same Skil saw lying around somewhere, and never use it. I was thinking of buying a track saw but also found the cost too high. Think I will convert my old Skil saw as well. Thanks for sharing!
-- Bernard Delaey, Belgium - http://www.delaeywood.be
woodbutcherbynight
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8726 posts in 3459 days
#4 posted 09-02-2017 01:56 AM
Cool idea, what you thought I did not have enough stuff to make in this lifetime???? ROFL
-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.
Don Broussard
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4012 posts in 3301 days
#5 posted 09-02-2017 03:26 AM
Good thinking, Bearpaw. I have a UHMW cutting board just waiting for something to do, and I found at least one use.
-- People say I hammer like lightning. It's not that I'm fast -- it's that I never hit the same place twice!
Jacksdad
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249 posts in 1474 days
#6 posted 09-02-2017 03:30 AM
I liked the one I made but I like yours better
Bearpaw
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#7 posted 09-02-2017 03:37 AM
Jacksdad, I showed you mine, now you show me yours.
-- "When we build, let us think we build forever." John Ruskin
a1Jim
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118161 posts in 4627 days
#8 posted 09-02-2017 03:38 AM
Looks like a low cost winner.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
Grumpy
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26811 posts in 4901 days
#9 posted 09-02-2017 10:40 PM
Bearpaw , great jig and congratulations on your ‘Daily Top 3’ award.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
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