How to Cut Plywood for a Bed Base

Have a home-improvement outlet or timber yard cut two 8-foot lengths of 1/2-inch plywood on an accurate panel saw; one piece 12 inches wide and the other 2 inches wide.

Support the 12-inch-wide board on four inverted plastic soda bottle crates or similar structures.

Measure the distance from the inside edge of your circular saw blade to the outer upward protruding edge of the saw base with a steel tape measure. Add an inch and transfer this measurement to both ends of the 12-inch wide strip of plywood with the tape measure and pencil.

Place the 2-inch-wide strip of plywood on top of the 12-inch-wide board. Line the right edge of the thin strip up with the marks on the ends of the board, and clamp both pieces together with adjustable clamps.

Secure the thin strip to the wider board with a row of 3/4-inch wood screws spaced 8 to 12 inches apart, using a cordless drill/driver and screwdriver bit. This will be the guide for the base of your circular saw.

Move the board so that the right edge protrudes approximately 2 inches over the edge of the supports. Position the left edge of your circular saw base against the guide, press the trigger, keep the saw base against the guide, and trim off the long edge of the 12-inch-wide board to complete the finishing touch to your cutting guide.

Place a 3/4-inch plywood panel onto a pair of sawhorses. Measure and mark the cut lines of your bed base on the panel with a straightedge and pencil. Carefully line the edge of your cutting guide up with the long cut line and clamp the cutting guide to the panel with adjustable clamps.

Hold the left edge of the circular saw base against the cutting guide, press the trigger and trim the long edge of the board to size. Repeat by clamping the cutting guide against the remaining cut line and trimming the short edge of the bed base to size.