Cutting up an 8' x 4' panel

[dale]

Do you have a friend that does woodworking? If so do they have a table saw.
I dont know how it would be in the UK. but many people here in my parts of Missouri do some woodworking. I had a 4X8 piece of Mahogany and dropped by the friends and he cut it up in just a min.

I have a contractor table saw but my father in law borrowed it about 3 years ago... I really need to go and pick it up now that im doing some scrolling.

bought some Baltic Birch ply wood the other day and need to cut it up.

dale

[Rivari]

I use a table saw and the eager hands of my youngsters to catch the material on the output side. With a smaller shop as you described it sounds like you definately need to do that sort of thing outdoors.

[GrayBeard Phil]

Chris:

Since you are from the city of London, and you claim little carpentry background:

The problem you will be facing is as you reach over to finish the cut on the plywood sheet, your balance is off. Add to that the problem of the wood wanting to fall down as as you cut, causing the wood to pinch the blade. The power of the saw, jig or circular, your loss of balance and thus your loss of control over the tool, plus the wood pinching the wood all add up to problems. Just how close are you to emergency medical treatment? 'nuf said!

As others have suggested, you need to make sure the wood is stable, and when the cut is finished, the wood is still stable and won't move to pinch the blade. Your balance, and thus control of the power tool, needs to be stable all through the cut also.

Only you can make the decision 'is this safe?' Just think what you are going to do, and double check under the wood. If you have a doubt, re-check and re-think. Don't barge ahead. Bill Wilson gave a lot of good ideas.

The point is you may have to sacrifice some 2 X 4 ( or whatever the metric equivalent to the imperial 2x4 is) or build some sort of low temporary table which can support the plywood sheet and you, so you are kneeling on the wood as you cut it. Just don't let the blade touch the dirt, as there will be stones.

Aside:
Plans for home made saw horse, this is in the "painter's sawhorse" style; tall, and top board is up-right. From the USA's Public TV show "The WoodWright's Show":
http://www-tc.pbs.org/wws/howto/imag...orse.pdf?mii=1

Most english 'carpenter's style' sawhorse have the top board on it's side and is made much lower so the craftsman can use his knee as a brace to hold the lumber when cross cutting.
http://www.benchnotes.com/Wide%20top.../sawhorses.htm
or
http://www.handymanwire.com/articles/sawhorse.html
but thses links, the saw is still to tall to be of use as a carpenter's style since the hight should be only up to your knee.

Sorry for the long post.
Phil

[Jim Rodman]

Hi Chrispuzzle

All the advice given is sound no matter how you do it.
My method is just like every one else, saw hourses and 2"x4"s.

One point that I did not see mensioned was is the finish side of the
Plywood inportant (meaning a clean cut)? If so you must cut the ply
from the under side or you will get splinter cut on the good side of the plywood.
Please do not mind the spelling

Ope this will help you .

Jim form Ontario

[Mackem]

hi! chris, if you can get your hands on a couple of old pallets,lay the pallets flat and just lay your ply on top with a gap in the middle and cut down the gap. hope this helps.