How Do You Cut a Straight 90 Degrees With a Hand Saw? I Am Not a Skilled Woodworker. So Making a Magnetic Cutting Guide Help Me Do It Perfectly

by vgearsworkshop in Workshop > Woodworking

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How Do You Cut a Straight 90 Degrees With a Hand Saw? I Am Not a Skilled Woodworker. So Making a Magnetic Cutting Guide Help Me Do It Perfectly

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⭐ Excellent Tip for Cutting Straight and Square with a Handsaw

Cases

Hand tools always necessitate a high level of skill to use smoothly. In my case, I intend to cut with a handsaw. The cut is extremely straight. However, it is not square.

A magnetic saw guide can assist with cutting straight every time. They are also good to have available for those cuts you can't afford to mess up, such as dovetail shoulders.


Thoughts

This magnetic saw guide is ideal for straight rip and cross cuts. It's a useful little addition to my DIY workshop tools and jigs.

I was worried about whether the saw blade would cut into the guide's stem. So far, this has not been a problem. Having a saw with well-aligned teeth will undoubtedly help. A stray tooth could derail everything.

I'm hoping that with more practice, I'll develop the muscle memory to saw straight without a guide. Until then, I'll continue to use this saw guide for critical straight cuts.

Supplies

Materials

  • Hardwood of medium to high density. The dimensions I used are 50mm x 30mm [1 31/32" x 1 3/16"]
  • Neodymium magnets (rare earth) 12mm x 3mm [15/32" x 1/8"]. I used 3 for only one side, but we can extend 6 for both two sides if you want.
  • Wood glue or epoxy
  • Wood finish 

Tools

  • Saws (I used a table saw and a miter saw in my case. However, I believe the work can be done with a table saw or a handsaw.)
  • Electric drill
  • Chisel
  • 12mm (15/32") Forstner drill bit
  • Wood planer (Although it may not be necessary for you, I needed to smooth the old wooden stick in my case)

Make a Plan for Your Design.

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I usually design first, using 3D drawing software such as Fusion 360. It allows me to think and design everything aesthetically and logically without having to waste materials if the finished product is not as expected.

You can found the 3D design I shared here https://grabcad.com/library/magnetic-saw-guide-2


To Begin, Ensure That Your Length of Wood Is Straight and Square.

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Sand the Wood Surface (this Step May Not Be Necessary Depending on the Surface of Your Material)

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Measure and Mark the Positions That Must Be Cut or Be Created Groove

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Make a Dado and Cut It Out (groove) or Use Mitersaw Like Mine

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Smooth the Groove With Chisel

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Glue the Stem Into the Main Part of the Guide. I Used Titebond 2 for This But Any Woodworking Glue Will Be OK.

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Drill Holes for the Magnets With a Forstner Drill Bit Sized to Match Your Magnets

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Insert the Magnets Into the Holes With Glue. Super Glue Works Well Here, and You Can Tap Them Into Place With a Mallet. (If You Cut Holes to Fit Magnets Like I Did, You Won't Need Glue.)

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Use Sandpaper to Remove Sharp Corners, It Will Be Safer for You Later. Wood Finish to Keep Your Tools More Durable

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Enjoy Your Work, If There's Any Step You Don't Understand, Please Ask Here or Watch and Follow My Video