A possible improvement on Barb's saw guide?

[Kerry Blue]

I made a similar guide to Barb's (featured at the moment on this site!) some time back but made it with a wider "base" board. This meant when the jig was finished that I had "overhang" on the non-sawing side where I could place the clamp well out of the way of the path of the body of the saw. My old jig was like Barb's but I never seemed able to avoid catching the body of the saw on the clamp - even with the saw set to slightly more than the depth of the timber plus the base plate! Maybe it is just my Aussie saw that is the problem!!!!!!

PS With a wider jig like this you need to mark which is the side for sawing so that you don't accidentally use the clamping side and make an expensive error!!!!!!

[barbsiddiqui]

Some of these saws are different dimensions, and with the edge guide described, I found a narrow bar clamp worked better than a C-clamp sometimes, if I was making a shallow cut (as on 1/4" plywood) for saw clearance. You are right; more wood on the "non-business" side of the guide will prevent problems, no matter what depth of cut you have to make. Thanks for bringing it up!
(Folks, for those of you who don't know, Kerry is talking about my monthly column accessible off the WIWW homepage, 'Starting Points.' If any of you ever have comments or suggestions on those writings, be sure to post them! -Barb S.)

[handi]

Kerry and Barb,

I use a very similar straight edge with one twist: Mine is two sided. One side is for the saw, the other for the router. Not only is this very useful, but the opposing side is an out of the way clamping position.

Nice work Barb.

Ralph