Cross cutting Plywood- Techniues

[skysharks]

Thinking out loud in the Shop today, after screwing up a piece walnut plywood. What whys do other use to croos cut panels of plywood.

I have not problem ripping plywood on the table saw, however cross cutting is a different story.


For years I have been laying it flat on my table, measureing it out then cutting it with a guide, and a circular saw. Until I get it down to manageable pieces that I can take it to the table saw.
But then I might have an edge that I need to be square, and it could be off by a bit.

Problems that I get with this is that I can be out of square at times by a 32nd or more. a 32nd over a longer distance of course grows.
It just ticks me off, I know there has to be a better way.

Oh yeah, I don't have the money for a panel saw I think.

Looking for suggestions and techniques, thanks

[skysharks]

I want to thank you all for your response.
I have been using some/all of these techniques minus a few.

I would like to build a jig/cross cut sled for panels etc.

AMY- I would really like to see that router squaring up jig, that would be great.

Like I said in my original post ripping is fine it's the cross cutting that can be a problem at times.

Thanks for the links to the panel saw link.

Festol system, I'm not familiar with, I'll have to research that one.

MAC

[adowden]

Mac,

Here is a picture of the router jig.



It is really simple. You can make the side piece from plywood, but the bottom should be solid wood jointed or ripped with a really good edge. Jim Tolpin made his jig 58" long including the overlap with the plywood piece. You can clamp it on the plywood and piece to be squared as well as on the right side of the solid wood and the piece to square. Use a bit with the bearing on top so that it rides against the solid wood. I love this jig when I am close but not perfect.

Here is a picture of my circular saw cutting jigs. I wish I had made these years ago. If you use the same blade, the edge of the thin plywood is your cut line, just plop it on you line and clamp it down. The long one is for ripping, the short one for crosscutting. Ideally it is better to have the whole circular saw supported with the plywood, but my old craftsman circular saw has a rivit that would interfere. Instead I double stick tape a piece of the same thickness to the part of the saw off the jig so it cuts square to the piece I am cutting.



Here is a great link to a similar jig from FWW.com. This is what I want to do next.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki...F.aspx?id=2659

Amy

[Tarhead]

Prior to getting my Festool saw and guides I would have the place where I bought it make a couple of cuts with their panel saw and then clean it up with a finetooth blade on a Skill saw with straight edge. Pre-planning required when you get it cut in advance!

[Travis Porter]

I crosscut my plywood on my sliding tablesaw. Very easy and very accurate.

All the comments you got on crosscutting in general are right on. Cutting plywood is one of the reasons I wanted to go to a sliding saw. It can be made easier, but it is still a hassle. Several people commented on Festool, and it is some amazing stuff, but it costs an amazing price. You might want to check on some of the eurekazone stuff as a cost effective and comparable alternative.