It’s possible to cut a sheet of plywood on the table saw, but working with a full sheet of 3⁄4″ plywood, especially if you’re by yourself, can be difficult. But there’s an easier way.

I use my circular saw for this kind of work. It’s easier than trying to maneuver the plywood on the table saw, and can be just as accurate if you follow a few simple guidelines.

First, I use a straightedge guide clamped to the plywood. This way, all I have to do is ride the edge of the saw along the guide to get a straight cut. Second, as you can see in the photo below, I also place the plywood on a sheet of 2″-thick, rigid foam insulation. This supports the full sheet of plywood, and I don’t have to worry about cutting into the floor or damaging the saw blade. And that piece of foam insulation can be used to cut many sheets of plywood.