Lay it on the line for precise cutoffs

Take a few minutes to build this cut-off jig in your shop, and you'll take accuracy with you anywhere. The jig, shown in the drawing above, was designed for 6" deck boards, but you can easily scale the concept to any size—or any miter angle—you need.

After building the jig a little oversized, use your circular saw against the fence to trim the end of the jig to final length. The end now represents the cut that particular saw will make.

Simply mark the board where you want to cut it, position the stop against the edge of your workpiece, and align the end of the jig with the marked cutline. Push your saw across the jig, and you'll slice the board right on the money.
—Richard Rose, Durham, Maine