Making a Much Easier Way to Break Down Plywood

[@ToddAndelin]

you got a good mix of tight engineering thinking w casual humor and stress free thinking... that combination is a gift.

[@tylermcgonigal6031]

Well said, glad I found this channel.

[@mxfern854]

"Any inconvenience makes me not wanting to do it anymore" amen, preaching to the choir. Glad to know Im not the only one

[@tomhendrick5254]

Agreed. I would go further by saying I would try to consider re-designing what I'm making so I didn't have to suffer the inconvenience...

[@windhelmguard5295]

that's me. i'll gladly help friend and family with what they can't do by themselves, but by this point i expect that which does not require my abilities to already be done. like when i am asked to move heavy furniture, i expect that it has been emptied out, and the path to it's destination cleared, before i get there.

[@czrider3999]

Glad I'm not the only one that felt this way also. I feel the shame slowly fading away.

[@vikassm]

Amen to that 🤘

[@huejanus5505]

When i’m making something out of sheet goods, i usually take advantage of the 2 free cuts per sheet at the store. I have them overcut the pieces by 1/8-1/4”, makes manhandling the pieces much easier.

[@CharlesSmith-io9fp]

It's been proven throughout history, that a lazy person can develop the easiest, usually efficient way to complete a project. Bravo sir.

[@megaglowz8540]

The more things you make, the more tools you need. And the more tools you have, the more things you can make :) Wonderfull loop it is. Great video!!! Might have to make this one.

[@sirBrouwer]

and Ryobi is happy to sell them to him.

[@xplaur]

@@sirBrouwer and you can pay 5x more for the same kind shit, but in a different color....like yellow, or red....

[@sirBrouwer]

@@xplaur wait Ryobi has more colours than green?

[@TheDigigram]

@@sirBrouwer Well yes, Ryobi One is yellow, but they are owned by TTI, who also owns Milwaukee

[@TheDigigram]

Mind you, for the first time today I see that the Ryobi One is also green and not yellow, just a very light green lol

[@Kodykenway]

This project alone deserves a subscription. Genius idea.

[@StratOvation]

Very cool Robert! I wonder if anyone has 3D printed the smaller components to build your rail/track system? Seems like 3D printed components (or maybe even billet aluminum) would outlast the wood in a situation like this where repeated compression could deform the mating surfaces over time and become less accurate.

[@JoshuaSmith-hr1yx]

Of all the woodworking videos I've seen, this was perhaps the most useful one for me.

[@dpfreedman]

Nicely thought out and executed alternative to the $200, $300, and $400 commercial solutions from Seneca Festool, and Woodpeckers respectively.

[@MrPizzapuppy]

Ahh, the Festering Stool, home of the high end wood elves and carbohydrate foam dabblers alike. (AvE)

[@mikevisser563]

Kreg Accu-Cut track/sled, amazing and

[@Goalsplus]

Your granite work bench is worth my subscription. And well done on the build.

[@markhedquist9597]

Agreed! There ARE those videos that merit more than a "like" :( This being one of them. I guess that's what the comment section is for. :)

[@cableline012]

Bought your plans. I know like most I would make it without plans but people who watch should support. Keep it up.

[@andrewfergcorpcom]

You and Wesley Treat have some of the best sawing, screwing, and nailing editing...always brings a smile to my face.

[@kcapkcans]

yeah, but Steve1989's spoon taps are unequaled

[@wr5610]

Fast becoming my favourite wood working channel!

[@DawgsChamp88]

Absolutely freaking genius!!!!! Your creation is in my top 5 of absolute favorite videos I've ever seen on KZbin! This build is so perfect. When I get my workshop set up, I want to try and make this along with a bunch of other stuff. I don't have a table saw yet, but I have the other basic tools and should be able to create something like this. Thank you for your time in making this video and sharing with us this awesome problem solving creation. Thumbs up and new subscriber here. I like your videos. You are detailed enough and entertaining to watch. Your videos are long enough, but not overloaded with extra time and talking on and on like some video makers do. It feels like we're hanging out in your shop with you. PS: I love your shirt with the smart car that says Not Smart. That's hilarious and awesome.

[@deanford7407]

Excellent design! I would suggest that when you make the measurement to place the measuring tape turn the assembly over and measure on the flat side and not over the clamp rails. Then carry the measurement around to the top with a square.

[@MorningCarnival]

These need to be made commercially available. Good idea.

[@MrArcher01]

Absolutely love this! I wish I had checked this out much sooner! It would've made a plywood project I did recently a much easier job. Thank you for all these ideas! You're helping an old man set up his first woodworking shop with a far better outcome than originally planned!

[@slowpoke101_]

gl with ur woodwork shop

[@ZGryphon]

Neato. I have no use for such a thing myself, being a huge coward who would no sooner own a table saw than a live crocodile, but my father does a lot of woodworking, and I've seen him have similar struggles with plywood. As soon as this goes public I'll be pointing him at it. :)

[@buddyclem7328]

My dad has a similar aversion to power tools, but he does use a lot of hand tools. He still uses a reel mower on hills. I like power tools, but lots of things are better done by hand tools, like precise miter cuts.

[@ximono]

@@buddyclem7328 Reel mowers are awesome though! As long as you keep the blades sharp, as with anything that cuts.

[@v-dub1317]

Hahaa! That's hilarious, table saw/crocodile. :D I am on the opposite end of that spectrum, the more power tools the better.

[@nefariousyawn]

That is a very clever solution you developed to eliminating points for measurement error. I have the same problem with breaking down plywood. It takes me 20 minutes to get one cut done, making sure my guide is where I need it, making sure I accounted for the kerf and that I'm cutting on the correct side of my measurement, etc.

[@TracksWithDax]

Right! Breaking down plywood is hands-down my least favorite part of any project.

[@andyfinck6652]

You're probably my favorite wood working guy to watch. Keep it up buddy

[@shofarsogood7504]

Not only do I like the item made, I really like that you showed what the item was and how it works at the BEGINNING. Hate watching To the end to find out that's not really what I wanted or thought it was.

[@paullyons7621]

Yeah, absolutely agree. If I want to watch a mystery, I'll turn on the TV. I'm astounded by the number of people who seem to imagine that I want to watch a video of 47 pieces of wood being ripped, 63 pieces being cross-cut, 296 screws being inserted, 84 square metres (or yards - in this case, the unit REALLY doesn't matter) of glue being spread, without a word of explanation. Or, possibly, worse, an explanation in terms that make sense only to them: "Now, we want to be sure that the wurblesnark will seat properly against the trembletruffler without impeding the counter-linear movement of the inverse plotch-catcher." BAH! Humbug!

[@xaxis1200]

This guy never fails to brighten my day! cheers buddy keep up the good work..i see those 500k subs coming soon!

[@crouchvalewoodcraft]

The idea for using adjustable measuring rods for the track saw is brilliant. Makes so much sense. Nice one 👍

[@ichikedai]

This is a great design, will be building this! Also you gained a new subscriber with your dry delivery of 'Ta-Da'.

[@box0xB9]

I like the way you think - nice to have the quick detach feature.

[@Craftswright]

Not only is this brilliant, but I'm in the middle of shooting a video for mobile storage cabinets and I would have given my left pinky for an easy track rig like this. Great idea my brother in crafting!

[@oldguy1030]

Nice build. Effectively like the parallel guides for a track saw.

[@aeiounix]

Don't know if anybody else mentioned it but the only thing I could think of to improve this would be to use quick clamps on the ends of the guide or the stop blocks to make sure that it doesn't move around in addition to the sandpaper. Absolutely superb.

[@osgeld]

I already have the "homebrew saw track" but never thought of this, its brilliant!

[@HaasGrotesk]

I've needed that thing in my life! Hate ripping plywood!

[@andymarshall2201]

Well done Robert, you are very talented.

[@robertunderwood6788]

Love that super fancy push stick you have. No really, practical and gets the job done.

[@garrysmythe]

Brilliant video, great device, love your presenting manners, thanks for posting from Garry in the UK

[@RottieRumbleRacing]

I'm thinking of buying your plans just cause I like your videos.

[@locsipocsi1]

To Be Honest Robert. I think they are a great set of plans, I like them they are simple and easy to follow. what you said in your video is pretty much what you wrote. I love it Sir keep up the craziness

[@bmay8818]

Great idea! Also, you should get a pair of Saw Buddies (I think that's the name). They're one-way wheels you mount on the table saw fence. They're conical, so they both keep the part sliding in only one direction and they also pull it against the fence. They're absolutely fantastic for cutting plywood! But this is still quite a clever setup you've made.

[@briansadler5460]

Dude I just found your videos. Been doing wood working for years. Was never able to have my own shop though. Recently that gas changed. I aquired a 12x20 bear shed that will now be my shop. First build will be the table saw cabinet you built in anouther video. As I have the exact same saw. Working on a very limited budget. Which im hoping this shop will change to a degree at least. Limited space is going to make this build be my second build after all my work benches, out feed table etc.... LOL. Really like your videos so far. Looking forward to seeing more, and supporting you on anouther level when my finacial situation improves. Thanks agian man.

[@tuoppi42]

Nice "how to basic" take on the assembly 5:55 Scheppach brand has handy circular saw guide system, there is a rubber strip edge that is cut with the saw traveling on a track on the guide. Next cut, just place the rubber edge to the marks and cut. Easy as that. Comes with price.

[@b.r.3232]

Duude, I love your vids!! I'm definitely buying your plans. I've looked at a lot of diffetent ways to rip plywood and yours, hands-down are the best ones I have found, and not break the bank. Keep 'em coming, I really enjoy your vids!

[@bigbawls81]

Genius idea. Thanks for sharing. I still can't help but notice but that is the most awesome granite top work bench. Very cool.

[@JJPetro]

Very nice. Wouldn't be surprised if one of the manufacturers pick this up.

[@brianjennings3172]

Interesting way to solve your dilemma. Makes a lot of sense & cents if you sell enough plans. I feel that even tho you added the self adhesive sand paper on the underneath, I'd still try to use clamps too. Maybe I'm just paranoid of the track slipping somehow. Great job!

[@PaganWizard]

This just made it's way to the top of my "to do list" Very nice project!!!!!

[@v-dub1317]

Great plywood cutting jig. Just ordered it from your Etsy store. Can't wait to make, and start using it.

[@Sly_Wolf_1]

Fantastic and I couldn't agree more about inconvenience! They now sell this for track saws so even less inconvenience, I'll just buy it all pre made😉😂😂

[@christopherstewart5443]

Love this idea. One question, how the heck do you make this if you don't have a table saw? Also have you had any issues with slide back? i.e. the jig sliding back away from where the stop blocks go?

[@TheT2eL]

I love this! Similar to something I used a long time ago but for different reasons. I would clamp down those stops to stop the guide from bowing when cutting long 8 foot lengths. Back then my saw had to be pushed into the track to keep it straight and I sort of had a tendency to push too hard and I would get a 1/16 to 1/8 in width difference in the middle. These are something I wish I’ll done back then. They would have saved me sooooo much prep time between cuts. Great work, great presentation!

[@saulpenilla778]

I've been needing a cutting guide for my saw and I've viewed many videos. I like yours very much and I'll be purchasing your plans. Thanks. One thought was while watching you rip the plywood I saw you holding the guide track to keep it in place? Perhaps adding finger holes at 3 or 4 spots may help. Great video.

[@TylerWardhaha]

I’ve been struggling with these Kreg jigs and what not, and I think this is the answer!

[@charleselkins4546]

Great cost effective tracksaw substitute. Nice jig.

[@redsquirrelftw]

Wow that's a really neat idea. I always use a straight edge and clamps but like you said, need to line it up with a line etc and account for saw blade distance to edge, this eliminates all of that.

[@tomowens2720]

Hello Robert, I just finished watching this video, thoroughly enjoyed this adventure! However.......I so wish I would have caught this vid several weeks ago when I sold my Kreg saw track and made my own. Works so much better but the locking guides you made for yours are superb. I can't retro fit my guide so now.....I have a new project for this week! enjoyed the chicken house as well AND the appearance of she who makes you whole. I think your viewers would enjoy more cameo......project collaborater appearances of her. Carry in good health!

[@dudelookatree]

12:45 a man who truly appreciates that he has made two smaller rectangles from a larger one

[@GavinFish]

This is the first time I've seen one of your videos. Really enjoyed it. Very happy to subscribe.

[@daviddavis5689]

I have similar for my plunge saw. There are videos showing them for years now. They work with plunge saw guides and have measuring tapes to set them.

[@robertd1p2]

With each and every subsequent video, I find myself more and more enamored. Thank you - Robert; for an inspired channel for the rest of us.

[@Smedleydog1]

This is the best alternative i've seen to spending hundreds of doll hairs for over priced tracksaws by Makita, Festool or (Insert company name here). I love it. Bought the plans.

[@thisoldman7142]

Love it. Started collecting needed parts using your recommended links. Going to try to make it 112” long so my circular saw starts an finish’s off of an 8’ sheet. Maybe 2 pieces, one 48” another 64”. Need to come up with a way to connect them so they attach firmly and stay straight.

[@keningilbert]

I just finished an unrelated project that left me with the same dilemma. The solution was that I used a 1” rabbet joint to connect them.

[@vashon100]

and finishes vs an finish's

[@markhedquist9597]

Nice job! The toggle clamp usage with the sliding dovetail wedgie dealies----- excellent! I'ma wanna build one!

[@trevortimmreck]

If you get a chance to upgrade circular saws, the ryobi brushless 7 1/4 saw is a gigantic improvement in power and usability over the non brushless ones, coming from someone who had both

[@1mSharkster]

Very cool idea and design. Stumbled across your channel recently and I really it! It would be cool to see an inbuilt clamping system on the next version

[@jrkorman]

Nice - and as you noted, more useful than the guides I'm using right now.

[@brentrenaud784]

I must say that I LOVE this one and I do enjoy your videos

[@brentrenaud784]

OH am from the Caribbean Trinidad and Tobago

[@atomicsmith]

I think you could also make a different set of measuring rails that would allow you to make accurate cuts under 16". This is a problem that has plagued me when I'm on site somewhere with a circular saw but no table saw.... Great Project!

[@dholmes3307]

You need a saw rip fence.

[@cooleshaka]

Great design, even better explantion. Thank you for sharing.

[@rufinocabrera8164]

Wow😮, talk about ingenuity! Thanks for sharing.

[@ncot_tech]

I just be happy being able to transport that much sheet material home. The smaller cut pieces are so expensive in comparison.

[@alfredoibarra9825]

Home Depot rips for free.

[@themeat5053]

You're a very smart young man with a pleasant disposition. I enjoy your videos. I only have one question: where do I store this setup? My shop is about a third the size of yours. BTW, your work top granite table top is better than my kitchen layout. Keep up the great work!

[@michaelchapman8359]

I like this especially for repeating rough cuts. The only think I question is that, right before you made the cut you pulled the track tight which means it’s not clapped down. I can see a need for some way to secure the track in place once you pull it tight.

[@dashcammer4322]

YES. This was exactly what crossed my mind at the time. He was concerned (understandably) with the saw guide moving earlier, and I wondered why he wasn't as concerned about this saw guide + tracks moving on him.

[@dashcammer4322]

In lieu of a slicker solution, I'd just trigger clamp each one to the panel. It'd only take a few seconds.

[@philgray4780]

Yes Indeed , I agree with Tor Chris , Very Nicely Done

[@PaulinesPastimes]

It IS magic, the whole thing. Brilliant.

[@ELCADAROSA]

Nicely Dunn! Only thing I might add would be clamps on or with the stop blocks to ensure the guide stays tight against the edge of the plywood while cutting. Maybe make the stop blocks in three levels; first two to lock on to the rail at the desired point, and the third to clamp the plywood against the rail?

[@christianholmstedt8770]

Best video on KZbin.

[@gizmobowen]

I like you and your videos very much. Glad I found your channel.

[@debvoz]

Brilliant! That is a brilliant solution to a common problem. Thank you so much for sharing

[@davetaylor2088]

Bloody genius mate. Love your work. All I need now is a way to transport whole sheets of plywood...

[@paulrowley71]

Superb solution. Very impressed with that. You’ll have to patent it.

[@kevinarnold4250]

Awesome man!! I have a set of aluminum track guides and when I'm ripping an eight footer, it can bend in the middle and mess up my rip a bit. I may have to get those plans!

[@lesblack413]

Brilliant mate. Thanks - will definitely be making one myself. Now, how can we eliminate or reduce the dreaded sawdust produced from the cut?? Cheers for the Sunny Coast of Australia.

[@darkmagician1184]

I like it, innovative. I also prefer to breakdown plywood on the ground (on top of foamboard), so I'm not having to stretch to get that last 2"

[@Zogg1281]

Nice!! The track saw set up of my dreams.......... tonight....... because I this is the first time I've seen a track saw like this!! No more measuring, re-measuring, then cutting the piece to the wrong size becuase I had a maths brain fart 😥 Definitely one to make, thanks 👍👍👍👍

[@bobd.]

Ingenious design on the clamping mechanism. I can see application of that on other shop jigs. A short set of stops that could reach under to contact the edge of a workpiece and allow you to cut to less than 16 inches is the next step. I think only a set of modified stops blocks are needed. The gauge bars are fine but maybe a little long for making narrow cuts so a pair that are 24 inches long would be a useful addition to this excellent shop-built jig. To set you gauge bars to exactly the same distance set one to the desired distance then put them face to face so the stop blocks on each bar butt up to the end of the other bar. Then move the stop block on the second bar to match the first bar.

[@keathpolyak6469]

Very nice idea to a common issue...simple and easy

[@kevinambrow5139]

Dude, 3 min in and I'm hooked!!! Subscribed!!

[@malcolmgee2983]

Great video! Always informative and entertaining. I bought a 3-pack of self centering drill bits and they have paid for themselves over and over. Standard DeWalt stuff, I think, at Home Depot. I think it was 12 bucks. Anyway, I see a few things in this video where that might be helpful.

[@danielmee2564]

More a question. When you're pushing the saw along the track doesn't the perpendicular force (I.e. at 90 degrees to the cut) push the ends of the measuring bars away from the piece you're cutting? Even with the sandpaper I would assume that when leaning over the piece for wide cuts I would shove the measuring bars off square?

[@joedance14]

Love your design! Question: how are the parallel guides kept perpendicular to the circular saw guide?

[@NeilBlanchard]

Excellent stuff - finding a reasonable priced circular saw track is not easy. One addition I would make is clamps to hold the track or the measuring rails, in place during the cut. Another would be to have a "positive" track - that prevent the saw from wandering in *either* direction.

[@Dingbat217]

Great idea, thanks a ton for sharing the video. Just one question, hoe did you make sure that the guide rail and clamp rain were absolutely paralel, if they are not then the two measuring sticks will be specific to the end and position they were measured against so if they move then the measurements will be off I think! It's a great idea though. :-)

[@sirBrouwer]

I think that you will find that with in the plan.

[@timmietimmins3780]

By far the easiest way to do that, I would say, is to clamp the measuring sticks and the track to a large square, and then apply glue and butt the dovetail sections up while the square was clamped in place. Really, though, this will be relatively insignificant. If you are cutting a 30 inch section, and your rail is out by 1 degree, that's FIVE THOU (for reference, a single layer of painters tape is more than that.). For reference, 1 degree out of square would be like having a 24 inch try square be HALF AN INCH off at the end. As in, so bad you could see it from across the room, probably. The reality is that it's just not that important and using whatever method comes to mind is probably fine.

[@Crewsy]

They become parallel to the cut edge once he ran the guide through the saw to cut the dovetail edge on it after he cut the zero clearance side with his circular saw.

[@Dingbat217]

@@Crewsy The edge on the guide became parallel with the centre guide strip but not necessarily with the edge of the rail that the measuring sticks references to as far as I can see? As long as the centre guide rail and the edge strip are absolutely parallel then the outcome should be also be parallel! :-)

[@alans1816]

@@Dingbat217 You can ensure everything is parallel by order of trimming. First cut the reference edge with circular saw against guide, then bevel rip to width on the tablesaw. As long as your primary guide was glued down straight, everything should be aligned.

[@1averageamerican]

Great idea. I usually just break ply down oversized freehand then clean up on the table saw. This will save quite a bit of waste over its lifetime. With the price of Baltic birch ply, saving waste is a very good thing.

[@deejayduy]

best track saw i've seen so far.. i like the idea..

[@dlindner0]

I had to go back and watch the test cut again to see your reaction!

[@idbuythatfora4223]

Dang, this is actually a really good and original idea.

[@1980JPA]

Great idea and great job on the build video 👍🏽. I am watching your woodworking channel progress and get better with every vid. I'm right here with you man, all the way. Keep up the good work.

[@pharaohacura3618]

excellent idea! i built a stand similar to the stand that Home Depot has on their panel saw so the plywood is vertical but on an angle them attach my track…that way i dont have to reach out to cut the end farthest from me…

[@garlicbad]

Clever idea! I can adapt this design to my track saw parallel guide.

[@woodstream6137]

Very entertaining and informative. New sub even though I don't have workshop or a table saw. Seems like you have a lot of fun with that pin nailer, the editing was hilarious.

[@drippingwax]

I have a table saw. It is the second-smallest ones that Home Depot had. I put it on our printer stand from the 80s, but I never attached it. I have never used it, either, because I would only feel comfortable cutting small pieces of wood on the small table, although I am less comfortable cutting those with my circular saw.

[@jazbuilding]

Nice video as always. I appreciate the humor and cadence. Can you get 8" sheets of Baltic Birch plywood? I'd be curious to know where, or is your 8' version made of conventional plywood? Thanks, and my apologies if you've already addressed this. Thanks again.

[@MarkSWilliams27]

I think this is a great idea. Possibly make the dovetailed parts wider? Or perhaps racking side to side is not really a problem. This is an A+ idea, my friend!

[@MatthewKrieger]

Very cool. When you want to do a crosscut, how do you decide to take the approach you took in this video vs. aligning the saw track at the same offset but just perpendicular to the long edge?

[@dzee9481]

Robert this is great piece of equipment designed and developed. Awesome Job, plus safe to use. I have noticed you made your own riving knife for the table saw. That would be something I like you to put on here for those of us that do not have $1,500 to $8,000 table saws.

[@CeeJayThe13th]

He mentions it in the series of videos where he rebuilt his table saw. I'm pretty sure it's just a thin piece of hardwood glued into the zero clearance insert he made himself. Also, I'm pretty sure what he's got there is referred to as a "splitter" rather than a "riving knife/blade". I'm not totally clear on the difference but apparently is a difference. As far as the expensive table saw though, I've owned two different table saws. One was $100 and the other one was $400 and both came equipped with a riving knife.