bushwacked Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 Now that I'm getting a circular saw I was curious on people's setups for breaking down sheet goods. What do you prop it up on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I use St. Augustine but I've seen where others use 4x8 Ridgid insulation board or saw horses if you plenty and substantial. Even some 2x's on the driveway will work. Depends on your space, weather, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 My fave is 2" foam board. Just always keep an up face and down face as rocks can get buried if you lay it on one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I have been thinking of trying the foam route but am concerned about storing it when not in use. Even (2) 4'x4' pieces of 2" foam would be hard to store out of the way in my shop. My usual method is 2x4. I have (4) 2"x4"x 4' pieces that I space out and shift around under the sheet good depending on how I'm cutting it up. It stores easily which is important. I used to use strips of ply but they don't hold up as well after numerous cuts on them. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I use 4 2x4's on the driveway method. I usually get a few studs to help haul home sheet goods anyways so I can leave the tailgate up and not worry about them sliding out the back. Last weekend I made a saw track out of melamine to aid in the process. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 Look up nesting saw horses... there are several kind and they're easy to make and easy to store. and they do a good job for breaking down sheet goods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 Ya I was thinking of making zero clearance track to help with this. I got some spare 2x4s I guess I can start there and see how it goes. I've seen the foam once or twice just not sure where I'd actually store that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted November 23, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I use 2x4s across saw horses. Kneeling in the driveway ain't as easy as it used to be. Or maybe its the getting back up part ... 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I had the lumber yard cut my plywood for me. Don't remember how much, but I thought the price was reasonable and they cut it to my specifications, very accurately. I have since bought a 4 x 8 sheet of foam board which is very awkwardly stored in my shop waiting for the next plywood project. I have to admit, though, I am a little curious. If breathing sawdust is bad for you how much better can it be when it's mixed with foam insulation dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted November 23, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 13 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: Kneeling in the driveway ain't as easy as it used to be. Or maybe its the getting back up part ... I have started to realize that each year older you get the ground gets farther away. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 Agree with Chet. I use the table saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 7 minutes ago, mat60 said: Agree with Chet. I use the table saw. I'm not sure that's what Chet alluded to. Breaking down a sheet of 3/4 ply on a ts can be quiet cumbersome, if not dangerous, especially without a helper. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan G Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 34 minutes ago, wtnhighlander said: Kneeling in the driveway ain't as easy as it used to be. Or maybe its the getting back up part ... I should have been more clear in my post also. I break the sheet down on the 2x4s with it laying across my runoff table and table saw. I don't have floor space in the shop to break a 4x8 down on the floor. Also it's easier for me to do it at a decent working height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 22 minutes ago, K Cooper said: I'm not sure that's what Chet alluded to. Breaking down a sheet of 3/4 ply on a ts can be quiet cumbersome, if not dangerous, especially without a helper. Ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I guess just because I been doing it on the saw for years its best I dont say it.. I agree it could be dangerous also. Sorry. Its just alot more easy for me but I dont no how much longer I can do It . I can break down the sheets if I am ripping 8' it's when I get to the cross cuts on an 8' I have issues with since my saws fence doesn't give me much more than 32" to the right of the blade 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I know the feeling bud! I gave it up a couple of years ago. I don't have an outfeed table, nor room for one. Being Mr. Macho,. I decided my sub-standard outfeed stands would suffice, I ran it thru without an aide and the happenings could have been worse. Just be aware be of your surroundings and your capabilities! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 17 hours ago, bushwacked said: I can break down the sheets if I am ripping 8' it's when I get to the cross cuts on an 8' I have issues with since my saws fence doesn't give me much more than 32" to the right of the blade I see. I would never tell someone to cross cut a full sheet on the table saw. That can go bad fast. I know first hand. The projects I do can almost always be ripped first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushwacked Posted November 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I see. I would never tell someone to cross cut a full sheet on the table saw. That can go bad fast. I no first hand. The projects I do can almost always be ripped first. Haha. Ya I never do unless it fits on my crosscut sled. I normally take a jigsaw or handsaw and just cut wide and then clean up on the tablesaw. I'm just tired of wasting wood on that process. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 2x4's on the garage floor works for me. Easy to store and set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ_Engineer Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I use a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" foam I split into quarters, so I will stack the two quarters together for 1" of foam thickness. I should have just went with a 1" thick foam but that's what I have. With my circular saw I made two poor-mans tracks out of MDF. One is 5' long and one 8' long. I have the shorter one because I damaged the first one I made on the end. A wide solid piece with some self adhesive rubber strip on the bottom and a narrower piece glued & screwed into the bottom. The narrow top piece acts as my fence and is wide enough for the saw motor to pass with a f-style clamp attaching the track to the plywood since the rubber doesn't really prevent sliding, it's not sticky enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brendon_t Posted November 23, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 1 hour ago, K Cooper said: I'm not sure that's what Chet alluded to. Breaking down a sheet of 3/4 ply on a ts can be quiet cumbersome, if not dangerous, especially without a helper. Just get a 200 t blade 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 For as often as I use sheet goods the foam board is cheap and lasts and lasts. I am still using the original 2' x 4' pieces I bought a decade ago. Silly me, I thought they were "wearing out" so I bought a few more. Three is generally enough for any full sheet work; two to support the main blank and one to catch the keeper. I have three that have never been used and just stay in my way waiting for the original pieces to finally weear out ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 To you guys that use foam board; how to you deal with the fine polystyrene dust that floats around & then sticks to everything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 It gets sucked up by the vac attached to the track saw. I'd personally use the extruded pink stuff might make less of a mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 23, 2016 Report Share Posted November 23, 2016 I break down outside (until I sell this boat) and blow things off after cutting. Breakdown is early in the process with lots of opportunity to wipe etc, just like for the other dust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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