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Comment by xxs | Hacker News Reader

I was thinking the same, the only issue would be cutting the sheet to the exact size which requires a table saw that, I suppose, she had no access to (I guess, a circular saw with another large plywood for a guide would do as well). Perhaps, it could be ordered, too?

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Or use a jigsaw. The cutting tool, not the cardboard pieces.

Or sheet of hardboard and a stanley knife, which is probably the most sensible option in context.

Jigsaws make rather poor cuts (can use router afterwards but that's significantly more involved than a circular saw). Personally, I'd not use the jigsaw for pieces I'd hang on the wall, esp. not use jigsaw free hand. On hardboard - no direct experience with, yet I'd expect it doesn't like moisture, so it has to be properly sealed.

Jigsaw cuts look like garbage IME. The boxcutter knife would work, I've done that to trim plywood before and while it takes a while the cut is sharp and precise.

Better blades go a long way towards not splintering your workpiece. The Bosch ones are excellent if you get the "clean cuts in clean wood" ones. Note that there are two incompatible shank styles: T and U. Get the ones that work with your saw.

For sure. Couple other issues, one, the blade tends to wander, leaving not-perfectly-straight sections. You can mitigate by going slow and careful. Second, it needs a straight edge guide offset to the blade, which is harder to set up than direct.

All in all when I needed a one-off cut I used a box cutter knife, and when I needed a series I used a circular saw with a plywood blade. The setup is similar (needs an offset guide) but the cut is much straighter, faster, and less error prone. I think the only time I'd use a jigsaw is for making non-straight cuts like some curved artistic shape or something.

Rail saw would do it easily too. The framing place would probably have something suitable.

If by rail saw you mean a track saw, I heartily agree. Many people who have no room for (or are intimidated by) a table saw should look into purchasing a track saw. (Still a spinning, sharp blade though and not to be trifled with.)

I would not have enough room to install a proper track saw but circular one is mobile and can even cut on the floor with polystyrene foam below. Well, technically I can install the guide rail on the floor in the same fashion.

(Like mentioned I did have it in the reply as well)

The track saws that I am describing are in fact simply a circular saw + guide rail. And cutting on the floor with foam below is exactly the way to get into it.

Proper track saws though tend to come with finer tooth blades with a thinner kerf so that they cut cleaner than a circular saw. They also retract within a kind of housing so that they're safer — only plunging down when you lean on them to make the cut.

Once you use one, you'll not go back to your circular saw unless, for example, you're trying to cut some framing lumber in place.

I have a Makita [1] which I like a lot, but my sister, wanting to save a little dosh, got a Kreg [2] and is happy with it.

[1] https://www.amazon.com/Makita-SP6000J1-Plunge-Circular-Stack...

[2] https://www.amazon.com/Kreg-ACS-SAWBB-Plunge-Cut-replaces-AC...

I did have the plunge saw (another name) as an option but then removed in favor of a easier solution of circular saw + plywood.

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