Cutting Cedar Shakes with a Table Saw: Tips for Precise Roofing

Well, let me tell you, makin’ cedar shakes with a table saw ain’t nothin’ fancy, but it sure does the job if you do it right. Folks always think they need all them big machines, but sometimes, all you really need is a decent table saw, a good eye, and a bit of patience. Here, I’ll walk ya through it, step by step, so you don’t have to worry ’bout figurin’ it all out yourself.

First Things First: Pickin’ the Right Wood

Now, if you want some good-lookin’ shakes, you’re gonna want cedar. Cedar’s real nice for shakes ’cause it’s durable, keeps the bugs away, and weathers nicely. But hey, if you don’t got cedar, pine can work too, especially over in places where that’s more common. Just make sure the wood is straight and not too knotty, else it’ll be tough to cut and split right.

Settin’ Up the Table Saw

A table saw’s the key here, so let’s get it set up right. First, you’re gonna want to set the blade to match the pitch of your roof. Now, I know that sounds a bit technical, but don’t get all flustered. Just grab a level and measure the angle you need. Then, adjust the saw blade to match. Most roofs ain’t too steep, so you should be able to adjust that blade without too much fuss.

• Get your tape measure and a level to measure the roof’s pitch.
• Adjust the saw blade angle to match that pitch.

Once the blade is set, make sure it’s sharp. A dull blade will just chew up the wood, and you don’t want that mess. A nice steel blade is what you’re lookin’ for, so if it ain’t sharp, take a moment to fix that up.

Cutting the Shakes

Now, here’s the trick: when you’re makin’ shakes, they don’t need to be perfect, but you want them close enough. Start by takin’ the cedar log and cuttin’ it into rounds. Then, take each round and cut it down to about 4-inch widths. That’s a good size for most shakes.

• Cut the cedar log into rounds first.
• Slice each round into 4-inch wide pieces for the shakes.

When you’re cutting, keep a steady hand and don’t rush it. Just let the saw do the work. If you push too hard, the wood might splinter, and that ain’t no good. Once you’ve got your shakes cut, you’ll be lookin’ at somethin’ mighty fine.

Optional Step: Splitting for a Rustic Look

Now, if you’re like me, you might want your shakes to look a little rough, give ’em that handmade feel. If that’s the case, you can take a hatchet or a chisel and give each shake a little split down the middle. Don’t go too deep—just enough to make it look like it’s been hand-split. But don’t feel like you gotta do this part. Some folks like a smoother shake, and that’s fine too.

Finishin’ Up and Preppin’ for the Roof

Once all them shakes are cut, stack ’em up nice and flat. Cedar shakes tend to curl up a bit if they’re left lying around, so keep ’em stacked until you’re ready to use ’em. Now, if you’re plannin’ to put ’em on your roof yourself, you might wanna treat the wood first. There are some oils and sealers you can use that’ll help the shakes last longer, especially in places where it rains a lot. But if you’re somewhere drier, cedar holds up real nice on its own.

Once you got all that done, you’re ready to start nailin’ ’em up on the roof. Just make sure you overlap each shake so water don’t sneak in. And there you go—you just made yourself some cedar shakes with a table saw. Pretty neat, huh?

Quick Tips Recap:

• Use cedar if ya got it—it’s best for shakes, but pine’ll do in a pinch.
• Set the table saw blade to match the roof’s pitch.
• Cut the shakes about 4 inches wide for a good fit.
• If ya like a rough look, split each shake down the middle with a hatchet or chisel.
• Stack the shakes flat to keep ’em from curling up.

So there you go, from start to finish. It don’t take much fancy equipment or skills, just a bit of know-how and patience. With these steps, you’ll have a pile of cedar shakes ready for your roof in no time.

Tags： [Cedar Shakes, Table Saw, Rustic Roofing, DIY Woodworking, Cedar Roof]