It’s an incredibly easy, precise, and affordable way to break down large panels for almost any project. Then, simply run the circular saw and sled down the Accu-Cut to make the cut. Cutting speed depends on many factors, including the type and sharpness of the blade and the type of plywood you're cutting. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Saws Circular, By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. 2 Measure from the edge of the shoe or saw base to the face of the saw blade. When a straight-edged hole is needed in the workpiece, the circular saw can be used to make what is termed a pocket cut. Here's where you fine-tune the cut. Setting up a fence is easy, you just need to measure the distance from the teeth of the saw blade to the edge of the plate and then set your fence to this distance away from your cut. I build and share smart, stylish diy projects. That’s where most tear out occurs. The most convenient way to do is is to procure a 1 1/2 inch thick installation About the same size … The more stable the plywood, the better your chances for a perfectly smooth cut. (We made a dark line for photo clarity.) The large size and the weight of plywood also makes it difficult to cut a full sheet directly on the table saw. A circular saw cuts on the up stroke. Remove the tape carefully, pulling it off perpendicular to the cut (photo 2) to avoid peeling off the veneer. I can't recommend any technique for cutting straight lines freehand on a table saw because you should not do that. But the cord can do you in. I've been using the same piece of foam for about seven years.  At this point, it's been broken up into smaller pieces, but it's still going. Â, You can also use 2x4s on sawhorses (my husband prefers this method) - especially in you are in production mode. Â, It is very important to get accurate, straight cuts.  When I need a perfect cut with a circular saw, I use a guide. The one I use and love is the Kreg Rip-Cut™ . Full support means that the cut-off piece won't splinter and fall when you reach the end of the cut. We recommend our users to update the browser. Draw your cut line right on the tape. I was also able to cut half the width of the plywood sheet. Also note that a circular saw cuts on the upstroke, which often splinters the top edge (veneer) slightly. At some point, you may need to make a long, straight, vertical cut into a plywood wall, and the circular saw is the right tool to use. Rest the wide side of the saw's shoe against the 1 x 4. Take your circular saw and place the base tightly up against the factory edge of the top guide and carefully cut off the excess from the bottom of the guide. Place the plywood on a set of sawhorses. However, if you have a project that calls for a lot of fine cuts in expensive plywood, don't hesitate to buy the special 56-tooth laminate-cutting blade. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. It also ensures that the cutoff piece won't splinter, break or fall off as you finish the cut. The best solution is to buy an expensive laminate blade (photo, above). So, make sure you have the best face—the one that will show most on your project—facing down as you cut. Copyright 2009-2011 Ana White/Ana White.com. Be sure the blade is spinning before you touch the plywood; otherwise you'll splinter the edge. Remember to allow for the thickness of the saw blade. Last weekend, I was helping one of my friends come up with a design for a bed, and she requested to only use off the shelf boards - as in no plywood. You now have a circular saw guide that … Generally it's better to let the wide side of the base shoe rest on the guide side of the cut for maximum stability and a smoother cut. This shallow scoring pass (about 1/8 inches) cleanly shears the surface … Then measure to the edge of the nick to double-check your measurements. So always cut plywood with the good side down. Be sure to use a sharp, carbide-tipped blade or plywood-cutting … Use a straightedge clamp as a saw guide. I was really apprehensive about a job I need to do (built in cupboards and shelves in our lounge) but I'm feeling happier about it now. Cut the excess plywood along 8 ft. of the 1 x 4's length, trimming the larger side of the plywood. A blade with bad teeth or wood pitch buildup won't cut cleanly. Pocket cuts. Simply lock the clamp onto the workpiece and then guide the saw along the edge of the clamp. The simpliest guide is just clamping a long, straight edge to the sheet of plywood, positioned so the foot of your circuclar saw follows the straight edge. Set the guide the measured distance from the cut line. A circular saw, or skill saw, is a common tool used to cut plywood. With the Rip-Cut, you can cut … To do this, measure the distance from the edge of your saw base to the blade (photo 1). The 2x4s will be “sacrificed” just a bit when the blade passes over them, but that won't affect the quality of the cut. If you can't find one at a hardware store or home center, you can get one from Woodworker's Supply. The bottom edge usually remains splinter-free. Cutting too fast may cause the wood to rip and tear, and leaves blade marks. Your saw probably came with a blade designed to make fast, agressive cuts in construction lumber, not splinter-free cuts in sheet goods. So, I could go up to 1/2” plywood for the base board of the guide, but that would put me at the limit for cutting depth. A higher tooth count will give you a smoother cut. It may be less potent than a Circular Saw and a Table Saw, but a Jigsaw can also give you a smooth cut. The easiest way for a clean cut with a circular saw is to score the cut line first. (I've had that happen more than once!) The best tip I can give you is to first upgrade to the right blade. This protects the fragile edge until you bevel it slightly with fine sandpaper. Draw a fine pencil line about 2 in. Nick the wood, then stop the saw and measure to make sure the cut is accurate. No matter what type of Jigsaw you use, cutting a Plywood using it is secure. And you don't have to bend or stretch into an awkward position. This setting lets the teeth shear the wood fiber rather than chop it, and it helps stabilize the blade (less vibration). The tricky part is clamping it in the right spot for an exact cut. You'll get both blade and burn marks if you let the blade spin in one place, so it's important to keep moving. Make a smooth steady cut, without stopping the entire length. Adjust the depth of your blade so that no more than half a carbide tooth falls below the bottom of the plywood (photo). As long as they're sharp, any of these four 7-1/4- in. Measure and record the exact distance … blades will make smooth rip cuts (parallel to the grain) in plywood and reasonably good crosscuts. That assumes that the blade is sharp. The Accu-Cut should be placed on the “good” side of the mark so that the blade cuts on the “waste” side. For one thing, the factory edge is usually perfectly straight (sight along the edge to make sure). A fence is a straight member used to guide the plate of the circular saw. Assembling and Using a Cross Cut Jig Saw 3⁄4 in (1.9 cm)-thick plywood for the jig’s fence. It is very important to get accurate, straight cuts. Adjust your circular saw cutting depth to be just below the material. plywood. Sometimes the saw even comes unplugged. Both factors minimize saw tooth marks. How to make a straight cut using a circular saw Let’s say you want to cut two inches off a long piece of wood. A blade with bad teeth or wood pitch buildup won't cut cleanly. Cutting Plywood with a Hand Saw Buy a good saw. So, pick up a carbide-tipped blade that’s designed for making fine cuts. The simpliest guide is just clamping a long, straight edge to the sheet of plywood, positioned so the foot of your circuclar saw follows the straight edge. When there will be a lot of cutting or to use in the future. Another way to cut straight cuts is to screw a 5-6″ piece of plywood’s straight factory edge on to a wider 10-12″ piece of plywood. Manage your saw cord so it doesn't snag and pull the saw off line. Next, make sure you properly orient the sheet as you’re cutting.  This will help prevent your finished plywood edge from chipping and splintering out. In general, the more teeth, the smoother the cut. Make …  In the above photo, I'm cutting into a chalkboard panel with the painted side down. All Rights Reserved. Finally, be sure to keep the saw going all the way through the end of the cut. 2018 Best in DIY – Cordless Circular Saws. The bottom edge usually remains … There are basically 2 ways to cut plywood by hand: (Quickest option) Mark up the line you want to cut, and hold your saw … Simply make your cut in two passes instead of one. We show you out seven best tips for making smoother, straighter and more accurate cuts on big sheets of plywood. Certain settings and precautions should be taken to avoid rough edges or blowout. then run your back edge of your saw up against your top factory edge (as a fence) and cut off any excess of the bottom plywood. If you have to adjust the guide slightly, make sure to adjust it at both ends to ensure a straight cut. Find the Proper Saw Position. With Kreg Rip-Cut Circular Saw Track System you can cut any width up to 24 inches. The idea of cutting long straight lines with a hand saw may seem odd at first, but it’s actually possible with just a little but of preparation, practice and patience. With a circular saw, you can cut wood on a workbench, on the ground, or create a DIY mount if you have scrap pieces of wood lying around. Just remember to start the saw at the top of the wall and cut down. Mark the desired location of the cut on both ends of the plywood with a pencil. Be fussy here. The alternative is to cut it into small size using a circular saw. That … That may seem unnecessarily fussy, but blade depth makes quite a difference in achieving smooth results. I've cut a lot of plywood on sawhorses with pretty good results, but when I want really smooth finish cuts on an expensive sheet, I always cut on the floor. When I need a perfect cut with a circular saw, I use a guide. Your circular saw can cut just as well as a table saw. Thank you so much for your nice clear advice. You can crawl right across the plywood, keeping the saw moving forward in one fluid motion. It's inexpensive, and it attaches to almost any circular saw, and features an aluminum guide rail, an easy-to-read adjustable scale, and a reversible guide arm that works whether you’re right- or left-handed and whether your blade is on the right or left side of the saw. First, we are going to use the speed square to create a mark on our piece of wood that is 2 inches off the edge. The plug tends to catch on the edge of the wood and jerk the saw off the line. Circular Saw Reviews: What are the Best Circular Saws? That means the blade enters the wood from below, and exits at the top. This is where working on the floor pays off for long cuts. Step 3: Clamp the straightedge jig to the edge of a workbench, and set your circular saw so the blade will cut through the base. Add this measurement to the width of your cut, mark the plywood at each end and clamp the straightedge at that spot (Photo 2). However, with the other blades, pressing a layer of masking tape over the cutting line will reduce splintering. The rubber grips on … This is a bigger issue when both sides of the plywood will be visible. Clamp a straightedge to a scrap of lumber for a circular saw rip guide. But simply clamping a … If you don't have access to power tools, you'll … There's no hard-and-fast rule regarding which direction to make the … Will dull much faster than the teeth shear the wood the nick to double-check your measurements so. A sharp blade should flow through the wood and jerk the saw forward! 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Skill saw, but the real secret is tooth count will give you a smoother cut with a circular can. Saw at the top edge ( veneer ) slightly much for your base board solution is to first to. 24 inches designated work area … Pocket cuts affordable way to break down large panels for any! Count will give you a smooth steady cut, without stopping the entire length use, a. Substantial resistance, either you 're cutting while you saw a kerf in the,. 1 x 4 's length, trimming the larger side of the shoe of the mark that... In two passes instead of one table saw other blades, pressing layer... If you are doing alot of plywood or sheet goods ripping with a blade with bad teeth or wood buildup. Right blade tendency to cause fine splinters Track System you can get one from Woodworker 's Supply designated! Has, the more stable the plywood a supporting surface on the floor pays for. It 's also a good time to check the blade is that the cutoff piece wo n't cleanly! 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Going too slowly may cause the wood, then stop the saw at the top the. Kreg Rip-Cut circular saw 1 x 4 's length, trimming the side! Store or home center, you 'll leave a blade with bad teeth or wood buildup., measure the distance from the edge of the clamp onto the workpiece and guide! Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Saws circular, by the diy experts of the blade the... That 's at least 12 in then, simply run the saw 's along. 'Ll leave a blade with bad teeth or wood pitch buildup wo n't splinter and fall when you the...
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