10' Straight edge

[racerboy832]

I have a project coming up that involves ripping random width boards into 6" wide trim boards. Some look like bananas others are ok but they all need to be 6" and fairly straight. What can I buy to keep on they shelf for a long time to use as a ripping guide? I have a 8' clamp guide but my project is 9'.

 

[MEngineer]

The few times I have cut straight boards from crooked ones, I have used a piece of aluminum angle stock I had laying around as a saw guide for my circular saw for the first cut and then my table saw for the second.

 

[Modern Jess]

I have a ripping guide (made by Empire) that is made from extruded aluminum in two 4' sections -- it has a joint in the middle. I'm not positive, but I'd bet that if I bought a second one I could join three sections for a total of 12'.

The big problem with this (or any bit of extruded aluminum, jointed or otherwise) is that it can still sometimes flex a bit at lengths like that. Pushing against the side does sometimes flex the guide off of it's line.

 

[Roobaix]

I have a ripping guide (made by Empire) that is made from extruded aluminum in two 4' sections -- it has a joint in the middle.

I've got the same thing and it works great.

 

[Know Wosad]

A chalk line and a six foot piece of 6061 at 2" x 1/4" thick. I'll cut you a board 50 feet long with that and a worm drive with a good blade.Split the chalk line.

 

[rlitman]

I have a ripping guide (made by Empire) that is made from extruded aluminum in two 4' sections -- it has a joint in the middle. I'm not positive, but I'd bet that if I bought a second one I could join three sections for a total of 12'.

The big problem with this (or any bit of extruded aluminum, jointed or otherwise) is that it can still sometimes flex a bit at lengths like that. Pushing against the side does sometimes flex the guide off of it's line.

I've used those. Yes, you can connect more than just two. Yes, they can flex a little. You've got to lay it flat, and then clamp it in several places. Not just at the ends.

 

[joe--h]

A piece of galvanized flashing like this --> http://www.homedepot.com/p/Construc...t-Galvanized-Steel-L-Flashing-LF44G/202093207

It's straight enough and 10' long. You can use some short screws through it into the backside of your bananas and run the edge along your fence if you're using a tablesaw.

Joe H

 

[racerboy832]

i was thinking of going for a ride to the local metal yard with a string and see if they had any 1/4 X 3 x 10 that was straight

 

[Major Ramifications]

Whenever I need a ten foot straight edge, I think about Molly Ringwald. Woah, there it is!

 

[joeysh03]

Metal stud. Cheap and straight

 

[astroracer]

I have a stick of 1 x 2 x 14ga x 10' lg. rectangular tubing I use for long cuts like that. it hangs on the wall with one of the ladders.
Mark

 

[harleybear66]

grab a length of metal stud track next time your at lowes or home depot-straight, lightweight and at $5.00 its cheap enough

 

[The Cobbler]

use one of the straight boards tacked to the bowed board to make your first rip cut. then size the width from the straight cut side.

 

[waynem]

40 Years ago when I worked in a cabinet shop, we had a homemade jig for cutting bowed hardwood straight. It was a straight piece of 1x6 or so that had a short piece of wood screwed on the end perpendicular. You would put this next to the table saw fence and place the bowed board so the bow was out ( ie two points contacted the jig). There were also some short pieces of wood screwed to the 1x6 extending over the hardwood to help hold everything in line. Push through the saw and you had one straight side. Make as long as you need.

 

[Voi]

40 Years ago when I worked in a cabinet shop, we had a homemade jig for cutting bowed hardwood straight. It was a straight piece of 1x6 or so that had a short piece of wood screwed on the end perpendicular. You would put this next to the table saw fence and place the bowed board so the bow was out ( ie two points contacted the jig). There were also some short pieces of wood screwed to the 1x6 extending over the hardwood to help hold everything in line. Push through the saw and you had one straight side. Make as long as you need.

I'm not exactly following your description but my ripping jig was one of my favorite table saw accessories. I never straightened a 10' board on one but it could be done I suppose. All sorts of examples online if the OP has access to a table saw.

 

[Rickss96]

Get a sheet of 4' x 10' plywood and use the factory-cut edge as your reference. The factory cut edges are VERY straight. Check it with a string and you'll see.

 

[racerboy832]

At my old work there was a stair shop below that has a straight line machine. You could feed banana board into the machine and the conveyor chain would hold the wood clamped as it went thought the blade. Now you had one near perfect edge. Once they had they all edged they'd set the fence and cut them to width.. I am looking for something that I can spend a little $ and have for many years. Plywood is good but if I cut a 6" strip of it and put on the shelf i'm afraid it's gunna warp...

 

[tarbellb]

If you are lucky enough to have a decent metal yard or scrapper, I would look through that.

I found some nice heavy wall rectangular aluminum tube in 10'+ lengths, paid scrap aluminum price which is probably 1/3 what a mfg straight edge that length would cost.

 

[bguerini]

http://www.toolbarn.com/dewalt-dws5...BrwPQ_pcrid_103905807974_pkw_PLA_pmt_b_pdv_t_

Pricey, but really quick set up. The blade cuts along the straight edge so you don't have to figure in the distance from the edge of your skilsaw plate to the blade when setting up a straight edge. I would assume you can add the 59" track to the 102" track with a splice kit. I don't have one of these, but definitely on my tool bucket list.

 

[Gttrucker]

I use a stick of 1.5 x 1.5 alum angle 1/4" thick.
I forget how long, but it's 10' or better

 

[rharman]

I have a 100" cutting guide (in two pieces) that I bought years ago. Works really well but, as others have mentioned, can flex a bit at full length.

What I do is clamp a 1x2 or 1x4 to tee into it as a brace to stop the flex.