On 3/18/2012 7:02 AM, busbus wrote:
Hello,

I have the need to cut a piece of melamine shelf into about 16-inch pieces.
The shelf is six-feet long and 12-inches wide and it is a bit unruly for me
to hold on the table saw by myself. So I figured I should make 18-inch wide
piece with my circular saw then cut them down to final size on the table
saw.

I have three questions:

1. I do not have a melamine blade on either saw. Do you think I can keep
chipping to a minimum by running a piece of masking tape over the line I am
cutting?

2. Which side is facing up for the circular saw?

3. Which side is facing up for the table saw?


Thanks!
ray



Ray, the masking tape isn't going to hurt, but probably won't help much
either. You will get a good cut if the blade is fairly sharp. The chip
out will be on the back of the cut. It is possible to use the table
saw, set the blade VERY low to cut the bottom of the melamine, then
raise the blade and make the usual cut. This will work if you have a
good solid fence to allow duplicating the original cut line.

2. Good side up on the table saw
3. Good side down on the circular saw

So you don't need to ask again - You want the sharp teeth entering the
good side, so the table saw will be driving the teeth down



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___________________________________

Keep the whole world singing . . .
Dan G
remove the seven