I typically mill my project stock from rough-sawn lumber slabs with “live” edges. To rip boards safely, I first have to establish one straight edge to feed against the rip fence. Although I’ve seen lots of jigs cobbled together with carrier boards and toggle clamps for this purpose, they strike me as over-engineered. Truth is, a simple 6"-wide straightedge panel of 1⁄4"-thick plywood or MDF does the job nicely. Here’s my approach:
Begin by marking the desired cutline with a wide lead carpenter’s pencil or a chalk line. Next, roughly align your straightedge panel parallel to the cutline, allowing minimal overhang on the opposite edge to stabilize the setup. Using 1" nails, tack the straightedge to the board near the edges, which will be cut away later. Leave the nailheads proud for easy removal. (For scrappy-edged thin materials, use double-faced tape or hot-melt glue instead of nails.) Measure from the outside edge of the straightedge to the cutline, set your rip fence to that measurement, and make the cut with the straightedge bearing against the fence.
