Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
These homemade sawhorses, made from scrap lumber, make it easier to cut your own lumber at home.
Sidney used to have an old hand-me-down circular saw that had been at his family's place forever,
I think. Once we had kids I insisted that we invest in a newer saw with all the modern safety
features and guards in place. Look for a quality saw that has a finger guard to protect yourself from
accidental cuts, and a safety lock feature that will prevent the saw from accidentally turning on.
These functions provide greater safety when using your saw.
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Always wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from flying sawdust and chips of wood. If you're cutting
sheetrock or painted lumber, wear a face mask as well to protect your lungs from inhaling particulates
from the air. Watch out that you don't accidentally cut the power cord and be sure the area where the cut
lumber piece will fall is free from children, pets, or feet.
Mark your lumber for cuts carefully! Nothing is worse than the feeling you get when you place
that board up and it's the wrong size. It's such a waste that could be avoided by carefully double-
checking your measurements prior to making the actual cuts.
When you're marking a cutline on a short piece of wood like a 2×4 or fence post, you can use a
square or level and simply draw a straight line end-to-end in the appropriate place. For a long board
like a sheet of plywood, the marks can be a little more complicated. Your square won't be long
enough to allow you to draw straight down the edge with a pencil.
To mark a board like this, measure one side and make an arrow or notch drawing with the point
at the exact spot to cut. Then measure the other side of the board and make a similar mark. Use
a chalk line stretched taut between the two marks, lift it up slightly, and let it go to “pop” it so a
