Cutting down a 1400 guide rail for cross cutting

[tazprime38]

Hi

I need advice on the best sizes for a cut down 1400 rail for cross cutting.

I am thinking either 800 and 600mm or 900 and 500mm or in-btween 850 and 550mm.

Has any one already cut down a 1400 rail for cross cutting? What sizes did you cut down to and was it the right choice?

regards

tazprime

 

[upscale]

I need advice on the best sizes for a cut down 1400 rail for cross cutting.
I am thinking either 800 and 600mm or 900 and 500mm or in-btween 850 and 550mm.

I'm a little confused here. A 1400 guide rail is 55". If it's cross cutting 4'x8' sheets of plywood, then that's 48" you'd be cross cutting. You *wouldn't* consider cutting, modifying or combining smaller sizes at all to make up your needed size, not if cross cutting 48" is your primary purpose. Sure, buy some smaller sizes, but keep at least one 1400mm size available.

 

[tazprime38]

Hi Upscale

I have 3 1400 rails and I wish to cut one down into two smaller rails for cross cutting smaller size material and it would be easier than lugging a larger rail around.

tazprime

 

[Kev]

800 + 600 makes sense to me.

 

[tazprime38]

800 + 600 makes sense to me.

I agree that is looking like the most appropriate way to go. I'll do this later today, but untill then other views and experiences are welcome.

 

[frodo]

I cut one down just as you described. I have been happy with it and not regretted the size differences.

 

[rmwarren]

I have been toying with the same idea, but also adding a piece of 1/4" by 2" aluminum bar at 90 degrees to the guide rail to make a semi permanent cross cut guide.

The way I figure it I would want the cross bar at about 6"/150MM in from the end of the rail to give the saw room to sit so as to not plunge into the material being cut. At the far end I lose about 5"/125MM, again to keep the saw fully on the rail during the entire cut. I have not measured this recently so these #'s are approximate.

Based on measurements above this would give a 600MM rail an effective cutting length of +/- 325MM/12-3/4" and the 800MM rail would be +/- 525MM/20-1/2".

RMW

 

[builderbob]

I'd go 850 & 550!

 

[tazprime38]

Thank you all for your input. I went for 800 and 600mm. Cut it earlier using my Evolution metal cutting sliding compound saw. The cut was ok just some burr which was filed off.

I then attached a parallel guide to the 800mm rail and used it as a square guide. Done a test cut and it seems to be almost a perfect 90 degree cut, the error being negligible over 12" material. Only downside is that I cut through a nail but luckily my new blade is undamaged.

tazprime

 

[sancho57]

why cut a 1400 down to 800 when you could sell it and buy a 800 rail.

 

[rmwarren]

why cut a 1400 down to 800 when you could sell it and buy a 800 rail.

Because you already have it, & because you still need the 600?  [doh]

[big grin]