Source
r/HomeImprovement•
uxp

In need of some wood strips 1/4"x3/4". How do I not cut off my fingers without a tablesaw?

The nearly 100yr old house my wife and I bought a little less than a year ago needs the screens replaced on a number of our windows. Unlike aluminum screen frames with a spline and groove, these are just a wood frame with the screen tacked on the face, and a small 1/4"x3/4" mitered strip covering the tacks, and then it's all painted white. Nothing fancy. To replace them the screens, I'll need a couple of new tack strips cut to replace broken ones, and to also replace the ones I'll inevitably break trying to take them off.

I have some 1x4 poplar and cedar stock that both measure 3/4" thick, which would both work well if ripped into 1/4" width strips. I have a circular saw, a jigsaw, a reciprocating saw... just not a table saw. Without turning this into another couple-hundred dollar tool purchase that my wife will complain about, what suggestions does r/HomeImprovement have to cut these boards that isn't going to cut my fingers down to a politician's length?

http://cloud.selectivebyt.es/3M2a3O381J2V

Posted Jun 3, 2016, 11:48 PM UTC

2716
Tolenkanor•

Consider just getting some pre-made screen molding from a lumber yard or big smock store.

26
uxpOP•

Oh, geez. I feel like an idiot. There's literally a shape of moulding designed for this purpose, and it's even named "screen moulding".

24
stay_at_home_daddy•

Don't feel bad. I'm getting ready to do the same thing and it didn't even dawn on me to check the molding department.

7
mrptwn•

We all do it.

3
RugerRedhawk•

Also for future reference your local lumber yard should have a quality table saw, they charge $0.50 per cut at mine (Ace Hardware).

1
rojammelborp•

As stated by others, screen moulding, but in a pinch mount a skilsaw to a piece of plywood and pierce through the ply, turn it over and clamp on saw horses and you have a poor mans table saw.

10
uxpOP•

Not a bad idea. I'll have to keep this in mind when I need something like this in the future.

1
LeifCarrotson•

Or, if you want to overdo it - build a Mathias Wandel Homemade Tablesaw: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSnvVtM4lBIV6RpdePEuat1-wYUzHfshj

1
toast_related_injury•

like everyone else said, you can buy this stuff pre made. you can even go to a window shop and they'll just make it for you.

...however, if you want to buy a new tool (and table saws are a fucking blast!), then go for it. the first thing you make is a push stick or push shoe. by using this to push you stock throw the blade, you get to keep our fingers far away from the blade. some people also make a feather board to keep the stock snug against the fence. however, i'd say to make sure you get a table saw with blade guard and blade knife instead. go visit the fine folks at r/woodworking for more info.

2
uxpOP•

When I've needed straight cuts before, I've just clamped a 4ft straight edge ruler to a sheet of plywood or whatever for a crappy track saw setup. I've been able to get by for now. Someday I'll actually get a table saw. This project just wasn't enough of an excuse.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
shecky•

Yes buy the screen molding. But to answer your question. You can buy a 1x4 which is typically 3 1/2" wide. Set the fence to 3 1/4" to the LEFT side of the blade, thus the waste will be 1/4". You can then safely cut the wood off a couple passes, moving the fence each time. Switch to a push stick once you're closer than 3" between the fence and blade, or more if you're nervous. (nervous is good)

-3†
12LetterName•

hey...

HE DOESN'T HAVE A FUCKING TABLE SAW.

Have a nice day.

9
uxpOP•

Yeah. I was looking for a way to cut the 1x4, which is commonly found to be 3/4" X 3 1/2", as you stated, into the 1/4" width strips without a table saw. :)

I just went to big orange and picked up some feet of the screen moulding. Thanks though.

3
vote100binary•

This is good advice, but OP said without a table saw! :)

2
shecky•

Oh....nevermind. :)

1
abhikavi•

Looks like you've already solved this problem, but in the future if you find you need a table saw, you can get a brand-name one off craigslist for well under a couple hundred bucks and can avoid taking your fingers off by watching a bunch of youtube safety videos.

Table saws, like circular saws, are one of those tools that send people to the emergency room on a regular basis. If you can get away with not using one, good :)

-4