How to Cut a Straight Line Video
To assist with your cutting, first clamp a framing square on a scarp piece of wood. Use a pencil to make a mark along the edge of the square. Do not remove the framing square yet. Then, take your circular saw and place the fence edge of the saw guide against the framing square and make a small cut. Remove the square and measure the distance between the cut and the pencil mark. This will provide the offset needed for making your straight cuts.
When cutting pieces for your remodeling project, mark where the cut should be, then make a second mark over the same distance that you measure in the test cut. Clamp the framing square on this second line. Place the edge of the circular saw against the framing square and make your cut.
The results will be a straight cut every time. Try it the next time your project requires a straight cut.
Tim built custom homes and did ultra-custom remodeling for 20+ years before launching his Ask the Builder media presence. He was selected as one of the Big 50 by Remodeling magazine in 1993. This award gave birth to Ask the Builder in October 1993. Tim also operates https://DrawPlumbingPlans.com. His @askthebuilder YouTube channel was the first home improvement channel on YouTube.