The trouble with most 8' long tool guides is just that: they are always 8' long. Not only are transport and storage a problem, but crosscutting the 4' edge of a sheet with an 8' beam is sheer frustration. This collapsible tool guide solves both problems; it can be used for ripping up to 100" or broken down for crosscutting up to 52". The two halves connect using dovetailed steel links and brass knobs that keep the segments together once they are tightened. This allows the flexibility to handle the largest common sheet size, particleboard, MDF and other engineered sheets that measure an inch oversize at 49" × 97".