I think I know the answer to this question but would appreciate any thoughts you might have. I have laminated two pieces of 3/4″ plywood and the glue up did not go as planned. I am left without a square edge. Should I run this through a jointer to get a square edge or do the best to cut it square with a circular saw. The panel in it’s present form could not bear accurately against the fense of my table saw. I guess alternatively, I could affix a straight edge to the panel and bear that against the table saw fense.
Thank you for your time.
Rick
Replies
Depends on how big it is and how off the two pieces are. I'd draw a straight line then freehand it on the tablesaw without a fence. Then joint the sawn edge.
Free handing on a table saw doesn't sound good to me. Too much
chance for a bad accident. I could see doing it with a band
saw if the pieces were managable.Rod
I would clamp on a straight edge and run a router with a straight bit and either a collar or bearing to true the edge.
square with a circular saw.. YEP.. AND a straight guide helps ALOT!
It will work out.. I NEVEZR make mistakes.. Just HUGE Blunders!
It's your jointer. If you want to beat up the knives with plywood, that's up to you. If you can only stand to take off 1/16" or so, a saw blade may want to run to the unsupported side. This isn't where most portable circular saws shine. You could also get a lot of tearout on the edge of the plywood. I would use a router with a straight bit and clamp a straight edge on the piece to guide the router. Whenever I use the router against a straight edge, I replace the round base plate with a square one. Some routers already have a flat spot on the base plate to run up against a guide. Once you have an edge that is straight and even, you could do the opposite edge with a good blade on a table saw, if the panel isn't too large. Again, if the panel is small enough, you could square the adjoining edge with your crosscut sled, or go back to the router and straight edge. The jointer will even up an edge but it won't square to the adjoining edge. You may want to add a backer piece to prevent the bit from blowing out a chunk as it ends the cut on the panel. I'd use a strong router bit, maybe a 1/2" straight with 1/2" shank. Of course, you will have to determine how much size you can afford to lose on the panel, when you even things up.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
You could also get a lot of tearout on the edge of the plywood.. I agree! BUT a 'score' with a razor knife helps alot! Do both sides...
The hard part is scoring just a whisker on the very edge and then having your saw land perfectly on the score, especially crossgrain on plywood. It's a lot easier when you can cut off a 1/4" or more, but right on an edge, the router would be my choice. Not that I've ever glued up anything that was out of square or had to correct a cut with a minimum of damage!Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
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