Review of the EZ Smart Guide System by Eurekazone This Page = Components     2nd Page = Set Up     3rd Page = Making the Cut
The EZ Smart Guide System is the best thing I've seen for making safe, precision cuts with a circular saw. I've used a home made shooter board and there's no comparison - this is easier to handle, more solid and it protects both sides of the cut from chipout. It's been compared to the Festool and come out ahead by those who have both. Obviously the Festool saw is better than mine, but I've played with their guide and it's a lot flimsier and less versatile than the EZ Smart. The EZ Smart clamps are more useful for cutting narrow boards. About the only thing lacking is a splitter which the Festool has. But I've not needed one yet, I'm sure I can find a scrap wedge that will suffice if I do. The blade I used for this review cost about $11 at Home Depot and the Skil saw is so old, it probably cost less.	These pix are from www.Eurekazone.org. All others here are from my shop.
	This is what arrived at my door - one box, well packaged and secured.
This is what was in the box. The big flat pieces are the two 50 inch guides.
	These are the plastic parts. The big one is the base that attaches to the saw base and rides on the guide. The others are inserts used for splinter-free cuts. Other parts include 2 clamps, tape for permanent mounting of the saw to the base or T-nuts and bolts for temporary mounting. The skinny metal pieces are to attach the 2 guides for cutting full sheets.
Even the cat liked it.
	The 50" guides are ideal for cutting the width of sheet goods. For cutting the length you need to join the two guides together. They join easily and securely with 2 alignment bars that fit into groves on the underside. Bars, hex nuts and allen wrench are all supplied. Guides come in other lengths that make it easier to maneuver in small spaces - 24" for short work, and 36" for trimming doors. For longer work (like trimming a deck) more guides can be purchased, or they can be "leap frogged" by moving the first after the saw has been moved to the second. In fact you could even cut a sheet of plywood lengthwise with only one guide, doing that because the clamp would make it easy to align.
This picture shows the underside before the two guides are butted together.
	On the top side, the ridge that the base plate slides in is loosened with the supplied allen wrench and slid out a bit on one piece. The ridge of the other piece is slid into the groove of the first and tightened down.
Review of the EZ Smart Guide System by Eurekazone This Page = Components     2nd Page = Set Up     3rd Page = Making the Cut © 2004 John Seiffer. I'm a wood working hobbier who's happy to support the people and products that I enjoy. email: wood@sbcoach.com with any comments.