What should I use to saw straight?

[Sofia79]

I like doing small projects. Mainly in MDF but also other materials. I am completely hopeless at cutting straight. I have a jigsaw and regular saws.

What should I buy? I saw that there was some gadget for the jigsaw that looked like a guide rail or a simpler jigsaw? I don't have space for a large jigsaw with a stand, so some simpler version that I can have on a small folding table like this https://www.bauhaus.se/arbetsbord-r...gidw2i0-Onl31sHNMjgmfCA06IrR--Q4aAlXWEALw_wcB.

Grateful for tips so I can cut straight when I'm building.

 

[mexitegel]

Plunge saw and rails are the most suitable. Unfortunately, you'll never get it really good with a jigsaw - in that case, a really good handsaw is better.

 

[Sofia79]

Plunge saw and rails are the most suitable. Unfortunately, you'll never get it quite right with a jigsaw - then a really good handsaw is better.

Thanks! Do you have any tips on a good one that's easy and not too large to handle?

 

[Svante Svenson]

It's completely impossible to cut straight with a jigsaw. The easiest way is with a plunge saw or circular saw on a rail, or by running it against something. However, this something must be completely straight (which the planks you buy usually aren't, which took me quite a while to understand...)

You can also cut by hand; in that case, I would recommend a Japanese saw, for example, this one: https://www.clasohlson.com/se/Japansåg-Gyokucho-Razorsaw/p/41-1867 (this one is a new model with a plastic handle; I have one with some form of bamboo handle). That manufacturer is very good. If you're cutting by hand, though, you need to learn the technique. Start with a line that you preferably score with a knife. Then cut more along this line on one side, turn it and cut along the line on the other side, meaning the saw should be at a very slight angle to whatever you are cutting into. Then remove the material between your two cuts, then repeat this until you've cut through what you're working on.

For the large cuts on MDF, you could let the store where you buy the material do it? For example, Bauhaus has a cutting service, and at least in theory, those saws are very good and should be able to make precise cuts. Think about the order of cuts so that all cuts with the same measurement are made in sequence. It will never be 100% accurate, but if all measurements meant to be, for instance, 100 mm end up 101 mm, it usually doesn't matter. It's when you change the position of the blade that it can go wrong. If you're calculating on the cuts beforehand, I guess the blade is 3 mm on the hardware stores' saws.

 

[mexitegel]

I myself have a BOSCH GKT55 with tracks; https://www.toolab.se/produkt/GKT-5...jq2qAv_vMWYsn6NRuyxv2nIunnHj2dm0aAkxEEALw_wcB

It's good to have clamps as well to lock the track onto the board.

If you don't want to spend that much money, I believe the Einhell saw should be OK; https://www.bygghemma.se/verktyg-oc...g/sanksag/sanksag-einhell-te-ps-165/p-1205684 though I'm not sure which track fits it off the top of my head.

 

[segv]

A plunge saw or a circular saw are really your only sensible options for cutting sheet material. A track is not absolutely necessary since you can fasten a board to use as a guide rail.

 

[justusandersson]

The choice of saw blade considering the material you are going to saw in is very important, i.e., toothing and set. Crosscut blades and rip blades look completely different. Attaching a straightedge with C-clamps as an extra stop is another good trick. You can never use angle squares too often.

 

[Sofia79]

It is completely impossible to cut straight with a jigsaw. The easiest are plunge or circular saws on a rail or run against something. However, this something must be completely straight (which planks you buy generally are not, which took me quite a while to understand...)
You can also saw by hand, in which case I would recommend a Japanese saw, for example, this one: [link] (this one is a new model with a plastic handle, I have one with some form of bamboo handle) That manufacturer is very good. If you are sawing by hand, however, you must learn the technique. Start with a line, which you can cut with a knife. Then saw more along this line on one side, turn and saw along the line on the other side, the saw should be at a very slight angle to what you are now cutting. Then remove the material between your two cuts, and repeat this until you have gone through what you are cutting.
The large cuts on MDF can you let the store where you buy the material do? For example, Bauhaus has a cutting service, and at least in theory, those saws are very good and should be able to make precise cuts. Keep in mind the order of cutting so that all cuts with the same measure are made in order, it will never be 100% accurate but if all measures that should be 100 mm become 101 mm it usually doesn't matter, and it is when you change the position of the blade that mistakes can happen. If you are calculating the cuts before, I guess the blade is 3 mm on the DIY store saws.

Thanks!

Yes, I have had them cut for me but it gets very expensive, and now when I just want to make a small extra thing I want to do it at home.

I will read up a bit and try sawing as you wrote. Thanks!

 

[Sofia79]

I have a BOSCH GKT55 with rails myself; [link]

It's also good to have clamps to lock the rail to the board.

If you don't want to spend so much money, I believe the Einhell saw is supposed to be OK; [link] but I don't know which rail fits it offhand.

Thanks

 

[justusandersson]

There are also different types of blades for jigsaws. Make sure to use a blade intended for sheet material if you're going to cut MDF.