Cutting board for straight cuts to balsa & styrene

After ruining lots of costly materials with the ruler slipping mid cut I searched the odds & soda box for a solution I thought of a pan brake without the bend facility.
I came up with a bit of 6mm x 9mm carbon steel bar with 6mm holes about 300mm apart a piece of 19mm chip board 2 x 1/4w bolts & 2 captive nuts to suit.



After some time the knife marks in the chip board became rather deep so I cut an old cutting mat in half it has worked well for several years.

After using the holes drilled in steel as a quide for holes in the base board the back wes recessed to take the captive nuts.



With a card writhing book cover to show assemlbled for use.



Not pretty but functions well, in hind sight 1/2" steel angle would be better than the hardened steel I used as it tends to lift in the middle if over tightened.

I hope this will be useful to some fellow modellers.
Damien

Quite a neat solution. Well done.

I used to G clamp a steel bar at each end to the bench but your idea is much better.

Thanks,

Ken

I once nicked an old planer thicknesser blade from a machine at work.......about 22 inches long...........it was surplus to requirements as the planer had been condemmed........it makes a superb straight edge for cutting because of the bevelled cutting edge......sad thing is I have to clamp i to anything as it would be too hard to drill through, being carbon steel..........but I like the idea damien.



neil

Do you know anyone with a welder that could add a tab on each end for the screws ?

Hi Damien,

I would go for Wing nuts and hex bolts. I use this idea on my bandsaw guide. Ideal for quick setting up.


I was looking at my aluminium ruler that I've been using for the smaller stuff and found it's been wearing away so as to Not give a straight edge any more. Tends to ruin the lining up after cutting. Ho Hum.

Cheers

ken

It's a shame that our tools keep pace with us as we age.