Quote:
It's called "ripping" - where you cut the wood down it's length instead of across it's width. Yes, it's possible & it's done all the time. BUT you have to either A: have the right saw or B: have the wrong saw but the strength & know-how to do it this way.
My husband ( a very experienced carpenter/home builder) takes the B route - he holds the wood in his left hand, picks up skilsaw (circular saw) in right hand, and he runs the saw down the wood.
Now, I would never in any ridiculous amount of years attempt this. For one, the saw is too heavy & very difficult to just hold up there. For another, I would probably cut my dang fingers off because my aim is not so great.
My advise would be to cut the pieces to the length that you want, then ripping them down to the right width. That way, your rip is not as long and it's a bit easier.
[Old wood shop teacher]
It sounds like you do not have access to a table saw. A pair of saw horses, a chalk line (chalk box), and a circular saw & rip to your hearts content. Many small circular saws come with a small T shaped affair that slides and locks into the shoe of the saw and can be used as a rip fence so you wind up with very parallel cuts even for the inexperienced.
Please don't try the hold the wood in one hand and saw in the other. The saw doesn't know the difference between wood and people. It even prefers people as they have built in blade lubrication. [/Old wood shop teacher]
*** edited 'cause it locks not licks! ***
Oh no...I have access to just about every kind of carpenter tool that I could ever desire to use. And I (not my circular saw wood ripping hubby) use a table saw whenever I need to make those cuts. I choose A, which is use the right tool for the job. My hubby uses whichever method fits his mood & set-up at the time.
It's called "ripping" - where you cut the wood down it's length instead of across it's width. Yes, it's possible & it's done all the time. BUT you have to either A: have the right saw or B: have the wrong saw but the strength & know-how to do it this way.
My husband ( a very experienced carpenter/home builder) takes the B route - he holds the wood in his left hand, picks up skilsaw (circular saw) in right hand, and he runs the saw down the wood.
Now, I would never in any ridiculous amount of years attempt this. For one, the saw is too heavy & very difficult to just hold up there. For another, I would probably cut my dang fingers off because my aim is not so great.
My advise would be to cut the pieces to the length that you want, then ripping them down to the right width. That way, your rip is not as long and it's a bit easier.
[Old wood shop teacher]
Please don't try the hold the wood in one hand and saw in the other. The saw doesn't know the difference between wood and people. It even prefers people as they have built in blade lubrication. [/Old wood shop teacher]
*** edited 'cause it locks not licks! ***
Oh no...I have access to just about every kind of carpenter tool that I could ever desire to use. And I (not my circular saw wood ripping hubby) use a table saw whenever I need to make those cuts. I choose A, which is use the right tool for the job. My hubby uses whichever method fits his mood & set-up at the time.
