4 Ways to Make Straighter Cuts With Your Circular Saw | Bora NGX Rip Guide Review 

This is basically an advertisement, but also.... I just checked my local store and they have one in stock so I'm going to become a customer! I appreciated that you tried the other methods I was going to attempt for my plywood cuts today. I have experienced guide shift when trying to clamp before on my table saw and it drives me crazy! Seeing this guide in action was really nice!

I just purchased a Bora NGX dual rail saw guide. My first time quick review with a Dewalt DW369 circular saw: *This device is made for light weight, battery powered circular saws. * yes, you can use a full sized circular saw. However, the rubber and plastic guides and locks cannot handle the weight. While the saw and device are just resting between cuts, on top of your board the top rail will slip out of the guide every time. There’s enough wiggle, just holding it, no matter how tight you tighten the saw guides (or firmly hold the guide rail) that your cut is not always going to be on your cut line. For my needs, I’m buying a couple of guide rails. And, if you just want to make a 1-1/2” cut, forget it. The rails and guide locks fail to firmly hold the saw, and guide together. At a minimum, the rails have to be fully inserted to at least be flush with the end piece.

Excellent presentation and comparison of the different methods of making straight cuts with a circular saw. I have the older Bora WTX clamping guide, and I have gotten perfect cuts with it. I second @Gene Whitesides recommendation. That is the method I use rather than measuring at 2 points. On longer/wider boards I use my framing square (which I confirmed is actually square) with stair gauges to draw a longer straight line. So that I don't have to measure the offset between the guide and the blade I created a spacer block. To use it, I draw the line at the position I want to cut off, align and clamp the spacer block to the line (making sure it is square to the edge), position the edge guide against the spacer block, and make the cut. Works perfectly every time. I also use this same technique for my router. I made 1/4", 1/2", and 3/4" spacers. I ONLY use these with wood that are actually those dimensions. It won't work on plywood, which is NEVER those dimensions. As an aside, you can make angled cuts with the clamping guide. Bora makes clamps that attach to either the WTX or the NGX clamping guides. You can see them here: boratool.com/bora-track-clamps-pair.html. For what it's worth, I picked mine up at Lowe's for $15.98 (not the $25.00 that Bora wants)...www.lowes.com/pd/BORA-Track-Clamp-Pair/1002780150

For more accurate measurements on the first two cuts, use of a combination square to set the distance from edge to guide would have been helpful. But nice presentation, glad it worked so well for you.

I bought the Bora guide and my first use was ripping 12" shelves from a very expensive 3/4" sheet of plywood. Flawless.....Not a table saw but a great way to get good results quickly.

I currently have the kreg rip guide.. I don't like all the plastic it feels very flimsy and weak if I don't try to firmly press it down

Thank you for the demonstration. I’ve had very similar experiences with these methods and now I want to try the Bora rip guide. 👍🏽

that bora rip guide is exactly what I'm looking for, nice demo

I made a straight edge jig specifically for my circular saw but it's only good for short cuts, so I needed something longer. That's why I purchased the Bora WTX bar clamp a while ago, but like you said, the parallelism is reliant on how well you measure and mark the wood, and then clamp it to your marks. Being on SS disability, a track saw is neither in my price range right now, nor do I have a place to store it, so I've been looking at the Bora circular saw plates that work with the WTX bar clamp. Great video Mike, as always.

Love Bora products . The three I have are awesome .

Great video and really helped me determine which unit to purchase. I was looking at the Kraig unit, but I think the BORA with a square frame would hold the position better. BORA it is. Thank you Mike! Numbers 6:24-26 to you and family.

Great video. Wish i saw this a few days ago. Tried the kreg system. Worked ok. But not perfect. About to try the bora system, i got the track kind but appears similar problem to the kreg in that it wont be super accurate. Im working on finishing my kitchen and counter tops. Had to do a lot of sanding to get the pieces to fit snug together. Guess thats the cost of the cheap ways. The rip cut looks awesome and the better option for that type of work. I have to do the sink cuts and I am thinking just old fashioned clamp a level on as a guide...and use a jig saw

I noticed that the first clamping guide was kind of dismissed for only being useful to make parallel cuts, but nothing was said about the Bora rip guide having the exact same limitation.

I am debating between some of these circular saw guides vs a true track saw and I am considering ease of set up to make a cut… like just putting your track where you want to make a cut… and making a cut such as cutting a 4x8 foot sheet of plywood in half lengthwise. I can see how when you have a wide cut and yiu are reaching that having the saw completely unable to move side to side would be greatly beneficial… but thise track saws certainly aren’t cheap.

Hi, I just got this guide and the first time use was a straight cut, but off on the measurement. I did everything how you said in the video and I set it to 6 inches but it came out to 6 5/16 inches. I will have to play with the adjustment of the saw on the saw plate. I am using a Makita 5007 mg circular saw. I can move the saw over 5/16 of an inch to the left but then it won’t be flush against the right side of the plate. I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

What’s the smallest and biggest cut you can make with this jig ??

Thanks for the tips. Looks like the beginning of the cut is consistently shorter regardless of guide or no guide. So something about getting started makes it off.

but you didn't include the 'Bora NGX Saw Plate Includes 55" Non-Chip Strip That Elimates Tear Out, Designed for Straight Cuts While Using The NGX Clamp Edge System, 544001' ? I think this might help plus i think it acts like a low budget track saw.

Sorry if I missed this, but can you use this guide while making 45 bevel cuts?

have you tried wolfcraft fks rail guide, it is universal, you can also buy extensions. for me it is too expensive, i have two cheap saws and this will cost more then them, so for me the priority is a new saw 😁😁

i'm a tad confused. You were cross cutting with the first guide, and cross cutting withe the "rip" guide. Did i miss something along the way? i realize that you weren't vutting lumber, but if you did, then what "wood" be the difference between the two?

I realized I don’t have to buy anything else. I can just follow the line I mark. I don’t need a track or jig.

I am wrong- called it a rip guide, but demonstrated a cross cut?