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Yet another... COCKTAIL - the quick, quiet, cheap, couth, cock cab
emb:
--- Quote from: jmike on October 15, 2012, 01:08:24 pm ---I'm with Le Chuck,
circular saws are pretty cheap. Here's a Craftsman Evolv 7 inch saw for $30.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-18780-evolv-12-amp-corded-7-in/p-00918780000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
Of course there are better ones but are definitely more expensive. I have a craftsman and it works great.
BTW you should be using a circular saw for long cuts, definitely not a jigsaw.
:cheers:
--- End quote ---
Consider purchasing a router and flush trim bit if you are having troubles with straight cuts. Rough cut it, then route a nice straight line with a flat-edge and a router. I suck with cutting strait square edges with a circular saw, even with a jig. This has worked pretty well for me.
Keep in mind that this is only one way to do it, there are many different ways to cut a perfect edge.
Ond:
Welcome on board xefned, don't worry about your first wonky cut, it's no big deal. You are going to need to get clean straight cuts at 90 degrees to your panel surfaces before getting too much into your build though. All the tools recommended here by others can be run along a straight edge. A straight edge can just be a (straight!) 2 x 4 clamped down. If you are super new to power tools I'd recommend starting off with a circular saw and straight edge and add a jigsaw when you can. Once you have a bit of power tool confidence a router and flush trim bit really can’t be beat for all round usefulness and accuracy. That piece you've cut already? Practice on it to get a clean straight edge before committing to your cab panels. Stained timber can look really nice as you've seen. One small thing with stains, you need to avoid inadvertently sealing the surface near joins with glues as stain won't penetrate those areas as well (produces a lighter blotchy look) as raw timber. Just sand everything well before staining to avoid that problem.
Plenty of help here available keep us updated with your progress.
xefned:
Thanks for the support guys. You are the men. It's a big confidence boost to have advice from people who've been there.
Yaksplat, it was a circular saw. I was freehanding. And when my reach was extended so far I could no longer see my line, I restarted from the other side and met my line in the middle, offset of course. :)
Le Chuck, jmike, circular saw purchased! Thanks for pointing out that bargain. Earlier in the day I went searching at Menards and the cheapest they had was $50. "Tool Shop" brand. The Craftsman was a no-brainer. Despite being their entry level model with a rubberized plastic body, the guard is metal and the overall saw is very heavy. It feels solid.
emb, thanks for the suggestion. I didn't realize you could actually cut a board with a router. I actually have a router that's only been used a couple times in 10 years so I'll be putting it to good use. If it still works. :)
Ond, I clamped a 4 ft. level to the board, a voila, a straight cut!
Of course, despite painstaking measuring and re-measuring, the end result was 1/8" too short. But hey, it's worthwhile practice. I've still got enough stock to try again, and this board can be cut down for the base and control panels.
I'll keep you guys posted. Thanks for the interest. I'll check out all of your builds and try to learn a thing or two...
Pre-cut preparation:
TopJimmyCooks:
--- Quote from: xefned on October 16, 2012, 08:36:55 pm ---
Of course, despite painstaking measuring and re-measuring, the end result was 1/8" too short.
--- End quote ---
Wise carpenter always say: "measure twice, cut three times"
Wise carpenter's wife say: "ya cut it three times and it's still too short"
emb:
In regards to the router: you will still want to rough cut your wood with a jigsaw or table saw and then trim/smooth it off with a flush trim bit and straight edge.
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