Flatbutts Inconvenient Truth

flatbutt · 10-06-2025, 01:19 PM

It's time to come clean...as a DIY carpenter...I suck. I can't cut a straight line free hand. I just can't do it.

I just finished a decked walkway and if you look closely you'll get dizzy.

masraum · 10-06-2025, 01:23 PM

What sort of saw are you using?

flatbutt · 10-06-2025, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

What sort of saw are you using?

Most of the cuts are with a DeWalt circular saw. The big cuts on the 6x6 landscaping ties are done with a chain saw.

masraum · 10-06-2025, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flatbutt

Most of the cuts are with a DeWalt circular saw. The big cuts on the 6x6 landscaping ties are done with a chain saw.

You would think that a circular saw would be easy to cut a straight line with, but that has not been my experience. I can get a mostly straight line with a CS, but I have to have a link marked out and a laser focus on the line. I've found that the best way to cut a straight line with a CS is by having some sort of straight edge screwed, clamped, whatever to the thing that I'm trying to cut that I can use as a fence.

What I really want/need is a track saw. Either of us could cut a straight line with a track saw!

Chainsaw, you're on your own. I know that hand saws can end up cutting a curved line if the teeth aren't right and they need to be sharpened and set. I would assume that a chainsaw may be similar.

flatbutt · 10-06-2025, 01:44 PM

+1 Steve but it is a mystery to me. With the chain saw I'm sure it's the unbalanced weight that causes my lines to waiver. No matter how much I try to compensate it's no joy.

With the circular saw my sheets are in the wind. I have no explanation.

red 928 · 01:51 PM

Worm saw.
You're welcome.

EDIT: I have trouble cutting straight with a conventional circular saw when using an aggressive carbide bit toothed blade with a large kerf.
Which most of us use, erroneously in many cases.
But with a worm saw, I've found it much easier to keep a cut straight.

A track saw works great also.

flatbutt · 10-06-2025, 01:50 PM

How does that make a difference?

rwest · rwest's Garage

I have a Festool track saw and dang is that thing wonderful. Any contractor that cuts doors down or cuts laminate countertops in the field would be foolish not to invest in one; clean cuts on all 8 edges and with a vacuum, minimal dust.

red 928 · 10-06-2025, 02:02 PM

TimT · 02:17 PM

Worm drive saw is heavier and more powerful... so it can reflect your unsteadiness more.. A guide is helpful, though I've seen Heavy construction carpenters freehand laser straight cuts.

Cross cut framing use a chop saw... or use a speed square as a guide for quick cuts..

Are most of these cuts rips or cross cuts?

flatbutt · 10-06-2025, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimT

Worm drive saw is heavier and more powerful... so it can reflect your unsteadiness more.. A guide is helpful, though I've seen Heavy construction carpenters freehand laser straight cuts.

Cross cut framing use a chop saw... or use a speed square as a guide for quick cuts..

Are most of these cuts rips or cross cuts?

Most are cross cuts. I have a small table saw for rips. I can't use it for the cross cuts as it is in a spot that won't let me X cut anything over 3 feet long and the gate is only good up to 22 inches.

edit: I did get a quote from a contractor but it was outrageous.

herr_oberst · 10-06-2025, 02:33 PM

Don't beat yourself up, flat. You showed up and made a thing using tools and your hands. Saved yourself a fortune in labor from an unknown source in the meantime.

You'll notice every mismatched corner and unused pencil mark.

but......very few others will notice. And if there's anything that just jumps out at you and you can't live with, step back for a few days and go through some ideas in your head to make the project work better for you.

There's a lot of ways to bury bodies in fab and construction work.

TimT · 10-06-2025, 02:42 PM

Just use a speed square for a guide.. set your blade where needed, square everything up.. and cut...

You can also use the circ saw on the 6X just use a speed square, flip 3 time, and just use a sawzall for the piece in the center if it doesn't break on its own

lindbhr · 10-06-2025, 03:12 PM

I use a speed square too. Makes life much easier !

oldE · 10-06-2025, 03:26 PM

I too am unable to keep to a line when ripping or cross cutting panels unless I use a square or batten clamped or fastened to the piece. Life got so much easier once I acknowledged that truth.

Dantilla · 04:03 PM

If you're watching the blade on the line, it's easy to get a wobbly cut.

If you watch the front of the base plate, your cuts will be much straigher, and you'll not have sawdust flying towards your eyes

Kinda like driving on the track-
Are you watching only the track immediately in front, or are you looking all the way to the next corner?

Look far ahead, and you're driving smoothly.

masraum · 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwest

I have a Festool track saw and dang is that thing wonderful. Any contractor that cuts doors down or cuts laminate countertops in the field would be foolish not to invest in one; clean cuts on all 8 edges and with a vacuum, minimal dust.

Yeah, but holy carp, Festool is PROUD of their stuff. I'm sure it's top quality though.

Actually, comparing the prices of festool to DeWalt and others on Amazon they aren't that much more.

There are also so universal tracks that can be used on most circular saws, but they get mixed/moderate reviews which isn't surprising.

sc_rufctr · 10-06-2025, 05:00 PM

Woodworking doesn't have to be prefect. Just think "fit for purpose".

rwest · rwest's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by masraum

Yeah, but holy carp, Festool is PROUD of their stuff. I'm sure it's top quality though.

Actually, comparing the prices of festool to DeWalt and others on Amazon they aren't that much more.

There are also so universal tracks that can be used on most circular saws, but they get mixed/moderate reviews which isn't surprising.

It’s not just having a track to guide it, it has zero clearance methods built in so you get very clean cuts in veneers and laminates too.

They aren’t much more than the lesser brands in track saws, so why go with one that isn’t as good? Oh and my friend wasn’t using his, so he gave it to me for nothing- wouldn’t take anything for it, so I got that going for me!

They make a real cool track saw especially for crosscuts in framing lumber, but you would need to be doing a lot of building to justify the cost. Probably “pay” for itself if you were building a deck or addition though.

rockfan4 · 10-06-2025, 05:10 PM

How old is your circular saw? I have a old Craftsman one, couldn't cut a straight line to save my life. Turns out the bushings (too cheap a saw to have bearings) were worn and the blade wobbled around. Picked up a different saw, and no issues at all.