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There's a Better Way Video Tips

Block-Cutting Guide

By Chuck Miller
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      Watch the video above for a demonstration of the tip and technique drawn below.

      Larry Haun from Coos Bay, Oregon, writes:

      This homemade device is one of those gadgets that makes me wonder “Why didn’t I think of that?” Designed by Andrew Kerley, the tool is a triangle made of 1/4-in. plywood. As shown in the video, the body of the guide is a right triangle with truncated tips. The length of the triangle’s legs is equal to the length of the block you want to cut, minus 1-1/2 in. As shown in the video, the 1-1/2 in. takes into account the distance from the base of a typical worm-drive saw to its blade. The guide shown here is designed to cut blocks that are 14-1/2 in. long in one position. Flip it over, and it guides the saw through a 13-in. block. You can modify the dimensions to cut blocks of any length and to accommodate the different blade offset of a sidewinder saw.

      Note that the fences each have a hook on one end. To use the guide, lay it on the material to be cut, and snug the hook to the end of the stock. Run the saw along the guide, and repeat as necessary. If you need to take a little off the length of the block, put a thumbtack on the hook.

      Drawing of a block-cutter

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      View Comments

      1. Fonzie | Jan 31, 2010 03:13pm | #1

        The hypo - caulk tip is great!!! I have those in the truck but never thought of that!

      2. JohnSprung2 | Feb 01, 2010 02:36pm | #2

        Another thing you might want to do with this is run the fence and hook piece a little long. Nail it off in the right place, and the first time you use it, the saw will cut the fence off exactly right. Then when you need to make those oddball shorter blocks, you can just line the cut end of the fence up with your pencil mark.

        -- J.S.

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