Procedure - "Cutting Exact Same Widths Using the Parallel Guide"

It is easy to mount the Parallel Guide. The plunge saw base has a groove and capture screws meant for this use.    With it mounted, Elena scribes a line 1 1/2" wide.  We haven't yet figured out the best way to set this for recurring cuts, but it will come to us pretty soon.
	Our first method is perhaps the most obvious.  That is to place the saw on the board and line up the blade just on the other side of the line she just made. With the saw there, ease the fence in until it is just touches the board. She can then tighten the two knobs.
With her left hand firmly on the saw, she places her right hand on the outside of the fence and uses this position to move the saw forward keeping a very slight pressure also against the fence. Describing that motion is probably harder than just doing it. It is different than the usual ripping using the guide rail, but it is as accurate, easy and safe.
	She checks the width along the entire length. It is as accurate as can be.
She is now about to make her second rip to the very same dimension. Note that she has positioned the first cut off on the other side. This will allow the base to have a stable platform for each of the subsequent cuts.    At the very end of the cut, the board being cut will want to shoot out the far end. This is this cuts equivalent to "kickback" on a table saw, except without any force. We found that all we had to do was as we neared the end of the cut, to move our right hand from the parallel fence to the board itself — and release the plunge.
	She checks these ripped pieces for cut quality. They are as good or better than rip cuts off the table saw, and way faster and safer.
Setting the fence width by pencil line as we did worked very well. But, I would like to find a way to more easily set it and without a pencil mark.    By next week, I think I will have one or two ways...maybe even with digital readout. In the meantime, we are happily ripping up a storm.

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