How to Cut a Straight Edge on Crooked Boards

How to Cut a Straight Edge on Crooked Boards

ATTN: Viewers in Canada now have access to tools used in this video through Amazon.ca to get the low online prices you expect WITHOUT extra import duties, etc! Go to: https://www.amazon.ca/shop/nextlevelcarpentry?listId=2OWZ253F4BCVT&ref=idea_share_inf to find tools and supplies seen used in this video if you can’t find them locally. Purchases made through these links are the same low online prices you expect but Amazon.ca pays small ad fees to Next Level Carpentry which I really appreciate… thank you!!

Learn how to cut a perfectly straight edge on crooked boards with a simple fixture and portable tablesaw. The method I teach in this video is very useful for doing framing work on remodeling projects because it allows you to salvage crooked boards for non-typical framing or furring applications and save straight boards for places where you really need them.

Need tools? Want to support Next Level Carpentry? Great!
You can do both right here… anything you buy through links here are the same low online price to you AND Amazon pays a small ad fee that helps support the Channel and I really appreciate it!:

DeWalt DW745 Jobsite Tablesaw seen in this video:

How Far Out Gauge:

My favorite cordless drills by Makita:

Snappy drill/countersink bit set with carbide tips are well worth the extra cost:

Snappy drill/countersink bit set Made in USA:

Makita Cordless Saw kit:

Clic-Readers glasses are the BEST!

3M Band Style Hearing Protector:

Stanley 25′ tape measure:

Crick’s beautiful and functional 48″ walnut & maple level:

Papermate Sharpwriter mechanical pencils… the ONLY ones I use!

Here’s a link to the How Far Out Gauge review I did which is somewhat related to the content in this video:

And this link shows How to Cut Super Shims using a fixture and method similar to this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGK3w2I_Bms&t=2s

50 Comments

  1. Mason Morton on July 26, 2023 at 3:01 pm

    Do you have any suggestions as to what to use for the straight edge that’s 16′ long? We’re wrapping an 18′ beam in our living room and wanted to use as few boards as possible so we bought 16′ 1×12 western red cedar.



  2. Shane Brown on July 26, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    5 years later and you are still helping



  3. CHRIS martinez on July 26, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    Although this does work I do agree that it’s to much work I work with alot of reclaimed lumber the Principle of this is to get a constant frame of reference to cut a straight line I use an 8 foot level that I clamp to my fence so the board is in full contact with the straight edge at all times takes 2 secs to set up and you get a straight cut every time



  4. L K on July 26, 2023 at 3:05 pm

    Thanks the video.



  5. Jeleah Italio on July 26, 2023 at 3:06 pm

    Thank you boss it helps me a lot new subcriber here



  6. Jack Assets on July 26, 2023 at 3:07 pm

    Esse trabalho todo para cortar uma madeira reta? Putz



  7. Captain Ron on July 26, 2023 at 3:10 pm

    Helpful and well done. Thanks.



  8. Brian on July 26, 2023 at 3:11 pm

    You could cut the warp off and re-glue the cut off to the other side and get both side straight. The 2×4 would be 1 blade thickness thinner that a normal 2×4, not too bad



  9. David Elliott on July 26, 2023 at 3:13 pm

    Screw another two scraps of plywood to your 2×4 block. Then you can be sure is absolutely square when you screw the block to your straightening board. Remove the scraps and fit your “proper” end stop plywood.



  10. Snookerloopy on July 26, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    Trouble is your leaving screw holes in your workpiece.



  11. Edwin Wise on July 26, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    Great idea , one more reason to own a table saw



  12. Nikolai Rubinskii on July 26, 2023 at 3:14 pm

    For the purpose of framing you don’t need to straighten the 4×2 perfectly though. I’d snap a chalk line and rip the board with a circular saw.



  13. Nowthen AD on July 26, 2023 at 3:15 pm

    Great video. Thank you



  14. Mister on July 26, 2023 at 3:20 pm

    Great video, thanks for sharing this



  15. Jim Carris on July 26, 2023 at 3:21 pm

    This is great for barn wood or rough cut hardwoods.



  16. GreyBeard on July 26, 2023 at 3:21 pm

    Thank you for drawing attention to how dangerous twisted boards can be 🙏🏼



  17. Mike G on July 26, 2023 at 3:22 pm

    Good job on the video. Like others, I can also learn new tricks from you. However I noticed your roller stand has what looks like a thin plywood ramp on it. I’m sure you have a video on it but I’m new to your library and wondering if you can direct me to the video you made to modify the stand. Sometimes the details are worth learning too.
    Thanks.



  18. Terry Harris on July 26, 2023 at 3:22 pm

    Why would you straighten (decrease dimensions) of a piece of structural lumber on a job site? Where would the piece be used? Framing needs the full nominal dimensions not reduced dimensions. I would say that the ‘on the job site’ constraint was used so that an inferior method could be demonstrated. Turning 2x structural lumber into 5/4 lumber is a valid need but there are better fixtures for that.



  19. rxmedi on July 26, 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Theres 16 mins ill never get back this video could have been 3 mins long and shared all of the same information



  20. beyros on July 26, 2023 at 3:23 pm

    Bro, I know how to do this with only 2 steps! This method way too long!!!



  21. junior pink on July 26, 2023 at 3:24 pm

    Too much work bra… just go purchase another BOARD!!! bra.



  22. Nelson Chua on July 26, 2023 at 3:25 pm

    love your straight-to-the-point instructional vids.



  23. john john on July 26, 2023 at 3:26 pm

    You always have simple and straight forward helpful videos. Thx for the info 👍



  24. Ed Adams on July 26, 2023 at 3:27 pm

    You just spent 200 dollars in material and time to save a 3 dollar board



  25. Lyndon P on July 26, 2023 at 3:29 pm

    Why does everu American tradesman have a helper named Chip ??



  26. Will he heck as like on July 26, 2023 at 3:29 pm

    So many American "how to do it" videos ramble on about sharp saws and guide rails that are true BUT we then see that the crown guard and riving knife have been removed and there is zero dust extraction ???. So much for basic observance of health & safety!!! The height of arrogance for the YT "how to do it right" types is assuming that they are working safely when they remove two of the most important safety features on a table saw. Thumbs down on this.
    I might add that in Europe many public liability insurers will walk away from a claim if the saw is missing the Riving Knife and or the Crown Guard….



  27. Olly M on July 26, 2023 at 3:31 pm

    For wood that’s bowed the other way, across the wider side, I’m assuming that’s pretty much a lost cause?



  28. Walt Moore Dan Wilson on July 26, 2023 at 3:36 pm

    Thanks for sharing your video. I enjoyed watching. Take care and God Bless.



  29. RichyN25 on July 26, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    How to find a bowed board? Just walk into Home Depot lol



  30. Aloha Mark on July 26, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    Yup, that certainly looks like a 2×4 purchased from Home Depot. I’ve seen worse, even boards with a 10 deg. twist along the longitudinal axis.



  31. Rhys B on July 26, 2023 at 3:37 pm

    Other Youtubers should take note on the way you spoke about the liking and subscribing. You put it at the end too. Most youtubers spam the first minute or two begging for you to like and subscribe, but the thing is you dont know what their content is yet! 😂 Thanks. Liked and subscribed 😜



  32. The Budget Minded Motorist on July 26, 2023 at 3:38 pm

    Really nice yet not overly complicated approach. Also really like the ramp added to the roller stand. Great idea there too. Thanks for taking the time to make the video to share your experience and thoughtful solutions with others. 👍



  33. no name on July 26, 2023 at 3:41 pm

    I hope some one reads this question: can you just use your fence as the straight edge? I’m by confused by that part?im new to this. Thanks



  34. James Chuke on July 26, 2023 at 3:41 pm

    Now iam understanding great video knowledge is top ty



  35. Keith on July 26, 2023 at 3:42 pm

    I’m a video editor trying to learn carpentry… maybe we can do a trade 😂



  36. James Friesen on July 26, 2023 at 3:42 pm

    I use a simpler method for straightening crooked lumber on the jobsite: I buy more lumber than I need. I cull out the crooked lumber, and return it to the store and get my money back for it. 😊



  37. David Elliott on July 26, 2023 at 3:43 pm

    Why don’t you use three hold-down blocks? It supports the middle of the workpiece timber and gives you another push-point.
    Just asking not trying to be smart A.
    If you cut straight down the middle you can glue the two halves together cup to bow. It wastes less wood and “might” cancel out any remaining internal tension.



  38. Brett Matthews on July 26, 2023 at 3:46 pm

    this is great! I get free wood from work, its always bowed so this is going to be very helpful! thanks



  39. John Smith on July 26, 2023 at 3:46 pm

    the real deal!! Very professional. Thanks.



  40. xisotopex on July 26, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    guaranteed you would be able to find lots of bowed 2x4s if you WERNT looking for them…



  41. Joel Smith on July 26, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    Great job



  42. william James on July 26, 2023 at 3:50 pm

    Nice job but you need a lot of crooked boards to make it worthwhile.



  43. D G on July 26, 2023 at 3:51 pm

    This gave me an idea. I’m going to use my Bora circular saw track guide and two small blocks to attach with double stick tape so I don’t have to drill wholes in my material



  44. Umami Papi on July 26, 2023 at 3:52 pm

    Appreciate your knowledge. God bless.



  45. Michael Shake on July 26, 2023 at 3:52 pm

    Thanks, just what I was looking for!



  46. ɳɐɸɱɣ Ɖᴙσאϵ on July 26, 2023 at 3:52 pm

    pretty neat, especially for when u dont have a workshop at hand, thx ^^ also i like this method better than the stacking one i think



  47. electrocreate on July 26, 2023 at 3:53 pm

    Thanks for the video – I used some of the techniques you demonstrated in my latest project – https://youtube.com/shorts/EqXBDKUzqb8?feature=share



  48. TeknaNova on July 26, 2023 at 3:55 pm

    This really helped me out! I’m starting to branch into woodworking and get away from the construction field so learning all the tips and tricks from you have been so helpful! I will say I did modify your jig for it to be suitable for woodworking and so on. I used 3” wide MDF by 8’ and used toggle clamps from Harbor Freight and screwed it down atop the MDF, and it works like a charm.



  49. NoRe on July 26, 2023 at 3:56 pm

    This will help me a lot thanks for in-depth video thanks ❤



  50. Florian Geißler on July 26, 2023 at 3:58 pm

    Why not srewing the OSB on top of the crooked board? So you won’t need the whole construction!?