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Just a little side thought for building a layout:

When cutting out the various arcs of subroadbed for your grades or cookie cutter layout it can get a tad tiring pushing a jig saw while trying to hold a drawn line.

Plus the occasional need to change blades so the sawing effort comes from the sharp blade and not your muscle.

Something to consider,  not too many folks are aware that it is very quick and easy to use a circular saw for cutting circles.  It is much easier to follow the line and you can slice of a sheet of arcs in a matter of several minutes.

Couple of things to remember,  use a new sharp small diameter blade, set the saw blade no deeper than the kerf between the teeth, block the sheet off the floor or table with sacrificial spacers, safety goggles and just go for it.  You will be surprised how quick you can knock out a ton of subroadbed with nice consistent edges.  You will need to have a firm grip and not kneel behind the saw.  Always hold a circular saw to your side.  Worm drive is the most stable circular saw IMO.

Depending on the grade and type of sheet goods chosen the edge finish and amount of chips flying will vary.

For perfect circles you can mount a circular saw on a trammel and simply guide it around.   Inside circle edges clean up nicely with a 5" diameter 100 grit sander.   The tighter the inside circle the rougher the initial finish.

I have lost my source for dished blades but I used to be able to buy dished blades for circle cutting.  I am guessing too many folks simply use a conventional blade and the market was not there.   With  a range of ease any circular saw can be used.   The easiest saw is the small DeWalt trim battery saw with 1/2" plywood.  I find this to be the best application.

We did cut a very large layout with a load of 3/4" Birch using a 7  1/14" blade.  Cut about six complete circles in a couple of hours.

Circular saws are not for the faint of heart.

Last edited by Tom Tee
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Wow!  Well, that was my response when it was first proposed to me.  I learned this trick from Harry Hieki.

About twenty years ago we were both working on the new Cherry Valley RR benchwork.

We were given the task to cut some subroadbed.  So I picked up my trusty Bosch jig saw and set about to cut some plywood.  Harry glanced at me, smiled and said "...don't waste your time...watch this."   At that point Harry grabbed a circular saw and cut an 8'  double track arc out of a 4  X 8 sheet of 3/4" plywood in less than 5 minutes.

One the the other guys standing there then said "You can't do that!"  To which Harry smiled and simply went on to cut out more long arcs.   Ever since then I have been doing the same thing with subroadbed arcs.  Granted indoors in a more finished setting I do not like to use circular saws because of the friable dust.

I still use my Bosch with a fine metal blade for interior use.  Although with a jig saw it is a tad harder to hold a line, a circular saw is very  stable in holding a line.

If anyone wants a video please bring a camera and sheet of plywood with the curves drawn out over to my place on the PA /DE state line and I will show you how it is done.  I will cut the first one and you will then be able to cut the next one!

I went on to kind of brag about new found knowledge to one of our carpenters and he went on to confirm that it is his practice also, then went on to tell me the many ways you can cut circles with a circular saw and a table saw.

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