How to Use a Jigsaw Rip Fence and Edge Guide for Straight Rips

1. Setting Up the Onboard Parallel Rip Fence

Most jigsaws feature slots in the front of the shoe plate secured by thumbscrews to hold a steel T-shaped rip fence:

1. Measure the exact distance from the outside edge of your board to your desired cut line.
2. Slide the fence into the shoe slots and lock the thumbscrews tightly.
3. Keep the fence plate pressed flat and flush against the edge of the board as you advance.
4. Limitation: Rip fences only work for cuts close to an existing factory edge (usually up to 6–8 inches wide).

2. Using Clamped Aluminum Straightedges (The Superior Method)

For wide cuts across 4x8 plywood sheets, clamp a rigid aluminum level or dedicated saw track directly to the panel:

• Measure your shoe-to-blade offset (the distance from the edge of the shoe plate to the blade center, typically 1-1/2 in. to 1-3/4 in.).
• Add this offset distance to your cut line and clamp the straightedge securely at both ends.
• Keep the side of the jigsaw shoe riding firmly against the straightedge throughout the cut.

3. Critical Settings for Straight Fence Cutting

• Orbital Action: Set to 0 or 1. Higher orbital motion introduces lateral chatter.
• Blade Choice: Use a wide, thick blade (like the Bosch T 101 B or DeWalt DT2165-QZ) that resists bending under side pressure.

Check out our Full Guide to Straight Cuts and browse top US Jigsaws.