Quick Tip 01 - Squaring Up Sheet Stock 180301

[@Toni-oy5gu]

Thank you Frank for showing us how to square up a sheet. I really needed this before I ended up with no wood left. It works so well and, as I don't have a table saw, I used my circular saw and guide and finally managed to get my wood square. 👍

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Thanks for watching Toni and I am so glad it helped you. I use this method all the time and never have any squaring issues with my projects.

[@hoosiered471]

Very helpful tip!!! Thanks!!!!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching my video.

[@michaelmathers6739]

Great job thanks

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

You are welcome!

[@roosegoose4]

By far the best/most helpful video I have come across in my short woodworking endeavors. My biggest struggle to date is squaring up that unsquare stuff from the big box stores. Thank you! Excited to try this method!

[@Frankswooddesigns]

Hi Brent, thanks for watching my video and hope it helps you to understand how to square up sheet goods. Too many people believe it's square from the factory, when most of the time it's not, nor is it intended to.

[@donnastein4946]

Thanks for sharing. Was having problems squaring my piece and this helped no end! Thank you

[@Frankswooddesigns]

Glad I was able to share some insight that helped you. Thanks for watching my video.

[@beckywebb1916]

Thank you so much for this! Best video explanation of all I’ve seen on KZbin.

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

You are welcome. Glad my video helped and thanks for watching it.

[@thefacelessbiz]

Thanks. I'm going to try this tomorrow.

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Thanks for watching the video and I hope it worked out for you.

[@rhdbuilderengineering]

Thanks buddy

[@djdanzy]

Thanks frank

[@OZheathen]

Great stuff

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Thanks Thomas.

[@johnmckell4362]

I was just about to cut a piece of ply sheeting and noticed it was not square. Used this method and it worked perfectly...Thank you...

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

You are welcome. Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching the video.

[@jfuite]

How thick is the foam insulation he cuts over?

[@Frankswooddesigns]

I'm cutting into 2" insulation board.

[@yaneznayu9997]

I am new to woodworking and as of yet, I have not found a single 4 x 8 sheet of plywood nor mdf from Home Depot nor Lowes that has 4 square corners, a true rectangle. Every panel I cut out of them, I need to true-up in just this way. That's life, I guess.

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

I hear you. They are massed produced and I have to always square up my stock before I start processing my parts from it.

[@dennisneuhaus2607]

Two things, I love your apron, wher did you get it? Second, does this method work for a already, previously cut, piece acquired from another project?

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Hi Dennis. Thanks for watching my video. That apron is a BucketBoss apron. But I've changed it out for my dream apron from Leather by Dragonfly. Check them out...you will love their customer aprons. And yes, this same method works for any sheet good, any size, even if it is previously cut. You just need to find or make the two sides I called Guide and Gripper exactly 90 degrees and the rest is easy.

[@2326TOM]

Thank you so mouch

[@pauld2502]

Great video. What if you don’t have a large shop nor a massive table saw like you have?I have a cheap little table saw that really can’t accommodate any large sheets. I might need to resort to a skil saw and possibly with a track guide like the festol you used. Would that work? I’m trying to cut square melamine for drawer bottoms for a double walled metal drawer box system like the Blum Legrabox and the Hettich AvanTech

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Hi Paul, A track saw is a great option. Do a search on KZbin for homemade track saw guide and there are some great videos on how to make one inexpensively. Or you can purchase any of the hand saw manufacturer's tracks for their saw...there are dozens out there. The squaring up process works the same whether on a table saw or using a track saw. I hope this helps...and thanks for watching my video.

[@pauld2502]

@@frankswooddesigns9346 Hi Frank, I appreciate your response. It was helpful. And I decided to buy the Krug AccuRip and their AccuCut products which will work with my Skil saw. Thank you

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

@@pauld2502 Great choice.

[@mabolzichjjl]

Thank you. I found out the hard way that exactly what you described is accurate. Bought a quarter sheet of 1/2" ply and assumed it was square only to find out that it was 3/16" off of the final dimension

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Glad my video was helpful. This process always provides a share sheet of stock for projects. Thanks for watching the video.

[@bijan4727]

Hi. This was an excellent demonstration. Can I use a circular saw instead of an expensive track saw or I have to use a track saw ? Second question what is the difference between a track saw and a circular saw ? Thanks for clarifying my problem.

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Thanks for watching the video. You can use a circular saw using a home made track saw. There are a lot of KZbin videos out there to show you how to make one. A track saw is basically a circular saw that has mechanical rails to provide zero clearance when sliding forward on the track. I hope this helps.

[@flowreader6755]

Hi - Thanks very much for this, very helpful. A quick question: I just bought a small table saw, and am looking to make an integrated table with out-feed like yours. Would you mind sharing what sort of fence setup you have, and if you have a build video as well? Thanks very much!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Thanks for the comment and for watching the video. I am using the OEM fence from General and works great for me. But...I did purchase the Very Super Cool fence as a secondary one that I love. Check it out on their website: vsctools.com/shop/product-category/table-saw-fence/

[@AndreaStevens2012]

Thanks for posting! Very helpful. What if I don't have a track saw? What is the next best saw to use?

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

You are welcome. You can make an inexpensive track saw using any circular saw. Get a 5 foot long piece of 1/8th inch of plywood. Also get a 5 foot long 1” x 3” pine board that is perfectly straight. Glue it to one end of the 5 foot plywood. Let it dry. Then cut the plywood 1” wider than the width of your circular saw (approx 6-7”) from the edge of the 1 x 3. Next, place this track down on a 4 foot wide board. Run your circular saw along the 1 x 3 as it will cut the plywood to the exact cutting width of your circular saw. You can now use that as a track saw. There are videos on YT showing these being made. Hope that helps. And thanks for watching my video.

[@bijan4727]

Hello Frank. You are just awesome. This has been my Delma for the last six months. I can not wait until tomorrow to test this. 01-Do I have to have a tack saw or I can do it with circular saw. ? 02-What is the difference between track saw and circular saw ? 03- If I have to get a track saw would any track saw do the job? 04- By gripper do you mean your original base line ? Once again thanks

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Hi Bijan Thanks for watching my video and for the compliment. 01 - You can do it with a circular saw, but I suggest making an inexpensive track for your circular saw. There are lots of good videos on KZbin showing how to make one. A simple one I've used in my past is from a good friend and Maker, Jon Peters. Here is his video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnuVg6hmpLSnnpI 02-They both are a circular saw except the track saw base has specific grooves that fit into that saw makers track to keep the saw straight and to know where you are cutting. 03-Most track saws on the market are pretty good. But they all range in price as you can imagine. I believe Festool was the first to come out with a track saw which is when I bought mine and love it. Now they are several out there that are excellent.

[@bijan4727]

Hi Frank. Thanks foe responding. Can you make a video to square a piece of wood that all four sides are not square? Also can you elaborate more on how track saw makes a more precise cut. Thanks

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

@@bijan4727 Let me see what I can do after my current client project.

[@Coleslawbreakfast]

I’m currently trying to make a platform for a radial arm saw. Is MDF required?

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

No not required but MDF is a good flat stable wood to use for wood shop surfaces. It’s usually dead flat unless it was stored improperly.

[@dlt205]

What if both gripper sides are not close enough. In this video one side was close and used. Thanks

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

dlt205 There is only one gripper side and one side guide side (which is always 90 degrees to the gripper). When ensuring the gripper and side guide sides are perfectly 90 degrees, and you use those two sides against the fence to cut their opposing sides, you are guaranteed to have a perfectly square piece when finished cutting (as long as your fence is square to your table saw). Hope this helps and thanks for watching my video.

[@mundlkalli4396]

Hello, I am totally new with doing woodwork.Bought a 8x4 1/4 inch sheet of plywood. I asked the guy to cut it square into 8x2 and then 4x2....Well,it was all &^%$*. None of the pieces were square.it fluctuated from 1/16 to 1/8. I am looking at your demo I dont understand why you put your square on top of the stock instead of the edge.Plus what is the line for on the plywood. Thank you again !!!!!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Hi Mundi, thanks for watching. The square I am using is a special square that rests on top the stock so it’s easier to see your opposing edges. The line is the 90 degree mark which is used to cut it off creating a perfect 90 degree angle to take to the table saw to totally square up the sheet. Hope this helps.

[@mundlkalli4396]

@@frankswooddesigns9346 Thank you very much for your reply and yes it definitely helped .Thank you very much again !!!!!!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

@@mundlkalli4396 Glad to help!

[@ryanwilson8293]

Thank you. Very helpful.

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Ryan Wilson I’m glad it was Ryan. Thanks for watching.

[@Sotexmafia]

I’m confused you used the side that was closest to square but still off, then cut the square factory edge with a track saw and then called the non square end square now I’m confused

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

It really doesn't matter what edge of the sheet good you cut off. The important part to understand is at 6:55 minutes of the video; creating a perfect 90 degree. Then use those two sides to run along your fence to cut the opposing sides of the sheet good. That will provide you with a perfectly square sheet good. Thanks for watching.

[@eisted]

That confused me at first as well. You have to remember all cuts are straight just not necessarily at a perfect 90 degree. So at 6:55 when the short side of the square was on the straight edge it gave him a perfect straight and 90degree line to cut on the other part of the square

[@Miller-bp3ww]

Great trick thanks!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Miller 6216 Glad it was helpful.

[@robertb7362]

on 9:10 you took the measurements from corner to corner on both side and both come up the same and than you said you guarantee that peace of lumber is NOT square!

[@frankswooddesigns9346]

Robert B I actually said this is now perfectly square.

[@bruce1106]

@@frankswooddesigns9346 I heard "now" 😊 Assume one of those Kreg circular saw guides will work as well as track saw. Don't have one, but considering. Thanks for this video!