Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Self-straightening Circular Saw

Just remember that you still need to hang on.
  (+11)(+11)
(+11)
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Portion 1 - a special chalk-line fill which incorporates UV-reactive particles.

Portion 2 - a small, motorized set of wheels built into the saw, along with a pairs of photocells and a UV lamp along the front edge.

After snapping a fancy glowing chalkline, the saw is set at the edge of the board, with each of the pair of photocells straddling the chalk. When the saw is powered on, the UV lamp comes on, and the wheels start pulling the saw forward. As the glowing line moves beneath one of the photocells, the wheel on that side of the saw speeds up, pushing the saw in the opposite direction until the line is centered once again. The tolerances would need to be pretty tight if you wanted to use it for cabinetmaking, but I'm sure it would still do a better job than I, personally, am capable of doing freehand.

emswookiee, Feb 25 2005

beginning wood working http://www.sawdustmaking.com/
[ato_de, Feb 26 2005]

Woodsmen http://www.5ad.org/hurtgen.htm
For the sake of citizen Ryan [mensmaximus, Mar 01 2005]

[link]






       Interesting idea, ems. [+] Welcome.
contracts, Feb 25 2005
  

       Measure the distance between the blade and the left edge of the base plate. Take an offcut of a sheet with a (factory cut) straight edge down one side and postion it on the sheet you wish to cut exactly that distance to the left of the chalk line. Clamp the offcut down. Run the saw through the sheet, keeping the base plate pushed up hard against the offcut. Admire your perfect cut. Go inside and see what's happening at the Halfbakery. Welcome [emswookiee].
wagster, Feb 25 2005
  

       I suspect that the draft from the saw-blade would blow the chalk away. Not bad though.
angel, Feb 25 2005
  

       Wagster, your method is the most used but not good enough. My circular saw is not the best and when I applie your method the back of the saw-base tends to run away from the offcut so that the cut I'm making becomes broader than the blade. If I want to correct this by holding the saw-base tightly to the offcut the blade goes astray and cuts at an angle more accute than 45 degrees. Maybe I would not have this problem if my saw was better.   

       They sell aluminium thingies at the store to guide the saw, but I find it difficult to align these kinds of gadgets.   

       I can imagine this idea marketed with laser technoloy. Easy to work with light weight for onsite work. Bun.   

       -the fishbowl moves-
zeno, Feb 25 2005
  

       Well yes, without a good saw it doesn't matter what method you use, you still won't get a good cut.   

       //I'm sure it would still do a better job than I, personally, am capable of doing freehand.// I doubt this [emswookie], even if you suffer badly from the shakes - I just can't see a device like this having anywhere near the necessary level of accuracy. I can't bone this idea though, it's well halfbaked.
wagster, Feb 25 2005
  

       My thoughts exactly, bought a tablesaw or whatever it is called in english. It is so good... really, it is so good...<starts drooling>
zeno, Feb 26 2005
  

       Thoroughly mad, add some rudimentary decision making circuitry and turn it loose to make it's own sculpture [+]
normzone, Feb 26 2005
  

       nicely halfbaked. +   

       As to your cuts, I agree that your main problem lies in your cheap saw. A good quality skill saw will fix most of your problems. Also, setting up the saw blade depth and lubricating the guide properly will greatly contribute to a true cut. Choosing the proper blade has some impact as well.   

       (link)
ato_de, Feb 26 2005
  

       I thought carpenters work in a 30% error zone, that's why they are carpenters.
mensmaximus, Feb 27 2005
  

       A self-straightening circle is the shortest distance between two radii.
FarmerJohn, Feb 27 2005
  

       A carpenter friend once said that if one walks into a room that he has renovated, one can't notice that 30% of it is flawed workmanship.
mensmaximus, Feb 27 2005
  

       The carpenter was from the Black Forest region of Germany and apparently that wood is more difficult to work with.
mensmaximus, Feb 28 2005
  

       Oh, for a 4 X 8 sheet of 3/8" mahogany/softwood/red cedar ply and a bag of miniature solid brass clasps and hinges made by an Italian shotgun shell company.   

       The authentic round-sided Cuban cigar boxes with embossed lettering and insignia, I could make.
mensmaximus, Feb 28 2005
  

       Just went through a twenty day battle description of Colonel Lanham's transcendental experience with the infantrymen of the the 22nd Regiment under the light of the exploding 88's in the Huertgen forest. Men with three days battle experience leading new recruits with one. Every officer down to the sergeants gone. 9300 casualties in eleven months.   

       The trendy used furniture/antique stores will buy the contents of a home carpenter's half-ton van that holds items of his stressing/antiquing business on a one day tour. I've been offered $20 a cigar box at a garage sale once. A local jewellery box maker wants me to source the parts to co-build these.
mensmaximus, Mar 01 2005
  
      
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