Changed my mind about using a 2x4 as a straightedge for cutting plywood

I was building a workbench in my garage last week and grabbed a spare 2x4 to guide my circular saw, thinking it was 'good enough'. The cut ended up being off by almost 3/16 of an inch because the board had a slight bow I didn't see. What's a cheap but actually reliable method for getting a perfectly straight cut on a 4x8 sheet?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery38910d ago

Honestly, just screw a factory plywood edge to your sheet.

avery38910d ago

My old boss used a chalk line and a level clamped down for years on job sites. I mean, 3/16 of an inch is what, the thickness of a couple pennies? For a workbench leg, that's probably fine. I get wanting it perfect, but sometimes I feel like we overthink this stuff. A factory edge is smart, but even that can get beat up if you're not careful.