Hartville Tool - Red-Line Cutting Guide Circular-Saw Edge Guide

Editor's Review: Can a Circular-Saw Edge Guide Replace Your Tablesaw?

Red-Line is short money with long value, so it gets the best value sticker. It does make you work a bit more than other systems, which can add up in production situations. But work it does, and most likely you won't lose the thing, even in the dark.

To begin, you have to supply your own zero-clearance plate (a 1/4-in.-thick piece of 10-in. by 12-in. plywood). To align the guide, you have to measure back from the blade to the fence for each cut. (This is also true of any guide system where the carriage is to the side of the fence.) Slick plastic inserts promote a smooth movement. Unfortunately, the carriage has to slide on and off the end of the fence. Joining fence sections together involves tightening six setscrews. The fence is basically an I-beam that comes in two 55-in. lengths, which are heavy but sturdy. These can be connected for longer cuts.

The cam-lever clamp system is easy to adjust and solid. And setting up to use a router won't cost you anything; it's just a matter of fitting another plywood insert on the carriage.

Editor Test Results:

More In-Depth Information

Can a Circular-Saw Edge Guide Replace Your Tablesaw? These systems offer a safe, precise way to cut sheet goods by Michael Standish