Cutting 8 x 4 sheets

[Karl]

I know that most folks with a small 'shop cut their sheet material outside. But i've figured a way of cutting sheet material on my 8 x 2 'bench.

Basically it is a sacrificial sheet of 18mm MDF ripped down to 900 mm clamped to the bench. The workpiece is then dropped onto the sacrificial sheet and both are secured together with clamps to the 'bench. The sheet is then ripped to length. It can also be used for crosscutting boards.

My 'shop is a single garage - 8' wide. But with this set-up it means I don't have to wait till the rain has stopped so I can get outside to cut up a board.

Cheers

Karl

 

[wizer]

I spent a lot of time trying to think of a way to get full sheets up on to a table using the least amount of effort. In the end the easiest way to do it for me is on top of 2x4s on the floor out on my drive. The only downside is that it has to be a dry day and I have to be there when they are delivered and cut them down immediately. So planning is needed.

Actually, this has reminds me that I want to sell my EZ Smart Table.

 

[toysandboats]

I cut sheets on the floor of my single garage / workshop. Resting on four lengths of 2 x 1 - you don't have to go outside.
Then you can kneel on the boards and not have to worry about catching the piece you are cutting off - it only drops an inch

David

 

[Mike Wingate]

I too use the 3 x 2's on the ground, with either a Japanese pullsaw, or a battery powered jigsaw often in the carpark of the timber yard, otherwise it wont go in the car.

 

[Karl]

The only problem with cutting it on the floor of the shop is that you have to have a space large enough to put an 8x4 on the floor. In a small 'shop (mine has useable space of 16 x 8), having an 8x4 floor space free isn't possible.

Cheers

Karl

 

[KeithS]

I put a 8x4 sheet of polystyrene ( 25mm thick) and lay the board
being cut on top of this and just cut into the poly about 5mm, supports the board being cut and no need to try and catch the piece being cut off.

 

[wobblycogs]

I can't believe I'm the only person to have thought of this but I cut 8x4 sheets resting on a couple of old pallets. If you arrange the cut so that it passes up between slats you can use the pallet time and time again and it provides excellent support for the sheet so it doesn't drop at at the end of the cut.

 

[matt]

I can't believe I'm the only person to have thought of this but I cut 8x4 sheets resting on a couple of old pallets. If you arrange the cut so that it passes up between slats you can use the pallet time and time again and it provides excellent support for the sheet so it doesn't drop at at the end of the cut.

Aren't pallets full of nails? I realise you're describing aligning the cut with a space but there remains a risk, surely?

I've been using the same pair of 50" lengths of MDF for about 8 years - clamped in a couple of workmates. Plenty of partial cut marks but nothing that stops them doing the job. I suspect I'll still be using the same pieces in another 8+ years time... I work outside though so not realising the benefit of the OP.

 

[devonwoody]

I have used supermarket type trolleys has a workbench to cut sheet material in the past with handsaw in diy store carparks.
We have now got a B & Q in Torbay with an upright panel saw and 4 free cuts.

 

[wizer]

It'd be lovely to have the room to cut up sheets inside the work shop, but alas wishful thinking.

My problem with using ploystyrene or pallets, is storing them for the 95% of the time I'm not cutting sheets. Oh for more space!

 

[JohnBrown]

Does a plunge saw with a rail enable one to cut sheets vertically? I also have VERY limited room, and although I can go to Homebase and have the board cut free, they are quite a bit more expensive than other suppliers.

 

[devonwoody]

Does a plunge saw with a rail enable one to cut sheets vertically? I also have VERY limited room, and although I can go to Homebase and have the board cut free, they are quite a bit more expensive than other suppliers.

I have seen a post I think on this forum where someone made such a jig against his fence in the yard outside.

 

[wobblycogs]

Pallets do have a lot of nails but I've yet to hit one (I use a construction blade that came with the saw so it shouldn't be that much of a problem as long as it's rare).

The slats have about a 100mm between them and the piece the cross piece the slats rest on is nail free. The way I see it if I can't get ensure the blade falls inside a 100mm gap I probably shouldn't be making the cut anyway. It's also a good incentive to make sure the blade only protrudes a few mm through the board I'm cutting so it doesn't cut the cross slats.

I've tried using lengths of 2x4 etc and it works well, trouble is I always end up building something out of them and forgetting to replace them . I think I'll probably build a knock down vertical support one day.

 

[toolsntat]

Doing rips with the sheet vertical using uprights....
Clamp the sheet your cutting to the top of uprights
Clamp ends of straight edge at correct position
Use biscuit jointer to do plunge & rip cut with vacuum
The top clamps stop the piece you require dropping onto the blade and binding at the end of the cut :wink:

Andy

 

[Cicero]

I have made two collapsable saw horses,then cut sheet roughly to size then finish on my TKU saw.

http://www.jacks.co.nz/page/scheppach_sawbench_tku.html

 

[chippy1970]

This is like the one I have just built I copied it from an idea on the Festool owners group forum. It is portable and you just load it up then flip and lock and your away. I bought the stands about 2 years ago to build it but have only just got around to building it.

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-t ... ing-table/

 

[wizer]

I looked at that setup a few years ago. However, my Triton stand must be a lemon, as it couldn't take the weight of half a sheet of 3mm MDF, let alone a full sheet of 25mm! I used to use it as an outfeed support or side support on the SCMS, but it would just sink under the slightest weight. It's been relegated to the garden as an impromptu BBQ table.

 

[chippy1970]

I looked at that setup a few years ago. However, my Triton stand must be a lemon, as it couldn't take the weight of half a sheet of 3mm MDF, let alone a full sheet of 25mm! I used to use it as an outfeed support or side support on the SCMS, but it would just sink under the slightest weight. It's been relegated to the garden as an impromptu BBQ table.

I loaded mine up today with 2 x 18mm 2 x 6mm and another half a sheet of 18mm mdf it was wobbly but it took it. I noticed that the central pole does sink as you say, until it hits the floor I dont think the thumbscrews tighten up enough on any of the joints. It does say on each stand that they can take 100kg.

I am sure with a bit of tinkering I can perfect it, otherwise I have to try to lift sheets on to my metal saw horses without smashing lights and hurting my back in a 3.5m x 4m workshop with a low ceiling.

 

[wizer]

yes I wonder if a 'pin' can be drilled through and inserted when at the desired level? Obviously not something necessary for it's original intention, but presumably you will want it at the same level each time for cutting sheets. Oh, unless the ground is uneven....? :-k

 

[OldWood]

I have a garage attached to my workshop (what is attached to what is a question of the relative importance !). I can throw my wife's car out to use it.

What I couldn't do was to carry sheets of any size, until necessity triggered the memory that up amongst the rubbish on the garage roof beams were 4 old sets of roof bars, and wasn't one of them the sort that hooked into the car door frame ? Yes, success, and only a minor (2mm) and temporary distortion of the doors, so when needed I can now get 8 x4 sheets from the likes of Band Q, cut in half if necessary, but at least I can get them home.

£14 for 18mm mdf as 8 x 4 and £11 for a 1/3 cut sheet !!

Rob