I’m in the process of building some kitchen cabinets and using plywood for the cases. I’m having some problem getting the sides back and tops square. I have tuned up my table saw and everything looks square. The tune up was done using a machinist indicator dial, all measurements were to the miter slot. The blade was within .002″ from front to back and the fence was spot on. However, when I cut the panels the diagonal are off about 1/16″. I have been using the finished edge of the plywood as my starting point. I also use a cross cut sled to make the “cross cuts” on the plywood and have re-calibrated my sled as well. An article in FWW, A Game Plan for Big Cabinet Jobs, discusses sizing up plywood. It states not to use the factory edge but to make a new one, so I’ll try that today. If there are other suggestions I would love to hear them.
RCSCW
Replies
Never trust a factory edge for true or square.
i build cabinets a lot from sheet goods, and the first step is always too "joint" an edge, i use a LV edge guide with a skill saw(well tuned with a really good blade an then square up an adjacent edge by the same method
most of the time i have my large sheets cut down by my supplier, slightly oversixed and then true them up via the same method
Manuvering sheets of ply on a TS is not condusive to a good square. Make a straight edge and use your skillsaw to cut down the ply to manageable pieces that are easier to rip and square up. I always use the factory edge on the fence and a Freud F80 blade to joint one edge, then use that edge on the panel sled to square up the perpendicular edge. Then just use those to rip to square.
You can make a straight edge for your skillsaw by cutting a piece of 1/2" MDF about 18" wide, and another about 12" wide, and both 50" long. Glue and brad the narrower piece to the wider, so as to make a "fence." Clamp the work to the bench, put a good new carbide blade in the saw, and rip the 1" or so off of the MDF, holding the saw tight to the fence made by the narrower piece. Mark on the jig the blade you used. Mark out the ply with the good side down, clamp the guide to the ply with the cut edge on the line, and rip. Mark all the factory edges before you cut it up as they are good for a starting edge. You can also use this for shortening doors or jointing with a router.
TomT... Your not that Tom T Hall has been nicknamed "The Story Teller," are you?
I think your post is 'spot on!'
Nope.
TomT the "BS'er..."
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