Squaring

[suds]

That's the setup I've been playing with lately and it seems to work.  If the board you placed in this square reference had not been cut to size, to me I would simply mark my length/width dimensions...extend the lines till they intersected and check the diagonal result to make sure the intersection was at that point and I should have a square panel.

Since I'm setting up repeated cuts for drawer bottoms I'd either use Jerry Work's method (VERY EXPENSIVE/NICE) with the MFS or John Lucas's method of double ruler so I could feed the boards for the repeated cuts to dimension.  In the past I've marked boards for cuts and when I ended up with a number of boards, they all were close in size but not exact (which really caused problems for me).  This MFT and this setup should solve that problem?

 

[Qwas]

There is a couple of ways to do this. You can stack the boards on top of each other before cutting to insure they come out to the same size. If you have many of them you can also start another stack beside the first stack.

The other way is to install a "stop". The easy way to do this is to move the guide rail to the cutting line while you are setup like the photo above. Of course the saw will make a new cut into your table top but that's why you have it anyway. If you don't like lots of cuts in your top and prefer not to move the rail, then you have to come up with a new stop. The board will have to slide away from one set of dogs so the cut line will line up with the guide rail. Now install a clamp behind the board to use as a stop. Another stop could be a board of the exact size to sandwich between the bench dog and the cutting board. With either method, once the cut board is removed, a new board can be slid in its place for the next cut.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I thought I would mention that it is often the layout that causes things to become unsquare.  Using a ruler and tape measure or say a drywall T square is a good way to insure an un-square result.  This is a good reason to make story sticks and a good square vs using a tape measure and carpenters square.  Also you can draw perfect squares all day long and come out with unsquare panels if your tools and technique are off.

The first step in creating a square panel is developing a method for ensuring a parallel cut.  Without that you will never have a square result.  Next you need to get square crosscuts.  Don't ever assume that factory edges on plywood are perfectly square, they often are not.  It seems like the Qwas dogs are one good method of giving you a square crosscut, though the factory MFT fence works too.

I agree with Dan that you can spend days perfecting your system for getting perfect squares, or you could just build some cabinets.  Face frame cabinets are more forgiving of unsquare construction.  Also, drawer bottoms and cabinet backs are not as important to have perfectly square as you usually want your rabbit to have some play.  Having them square does help with the assembly process though.