Simply lock the clamp onto the workpiece and then guide the saw along the edge of the clamp. And you don't have to bend or stretch into an awkward position. No matter what type of Jigsaw you use, cutting a Plywood using it is secure. How to make a straight cut using a circular saw Letâs say you want to cut two inches off a long piece of wood. Also note that a circular saw cuts on the upstroke, which often splinters the top edge (veneer) slightly. In general, a sharp blade should flow through the wood with little force, as if it's melting the wood away. That also allows the smaller cutoff piece to move aside slightly as you finish the cut, so you can finish the cut cleanly, without binding.  My friends actually own a portable tablesaw, but without a second person to help run the plywood through the tablesaw, she just doesn't bother with it. Cut the excess plywood along 8 ft. of the 1 x 4's length, trimming the larger side of the plywood. Since 2009. 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. Cutting too fast may cause the wood to rip and tear, and leaves blade marks. So always cut plywood with the good side down. If you stop, you'll leave a blade mark in the plywood edge. My favorite is the 40-tooth carbide blade. I keep one in reserve and use it only when I need a fine cut. 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. Â. Clamp a straightedge to a scrap of lumber for a circular saw rip guide. All Rights Reserved. Whichever method you choose, it is important to make sure you ⦠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. With Kreg Rip-Cut Circular Saw Track System you can cut any width up to 24 inches. Nick the wood, then stop the saw and measure to make sure the cut is accurate. Draw a fine pencil line about 2 in. Be fussy here. 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. 2 Measure from the edge of the shoe or saw base to the face of the saw blade. This shouldnât come as a surprise, but the blade that came ⦠Your circular saw can cut just as well as a table saw. (We made a dark line for photo clarity.) plywood. Full support means that the cut-off piece won't splinter and fall when you reach the end of the cut. You can buy straightedges at home centers and hardware stores, but for long cuts I almost always use the “factory cut” edge on a strip of 3/4-in. Spike Carlsen, an editor for The Family Handyman, will show you how to cut construction grade plywood and finish grade plywood with a circular saw in our video tutorial. Measure and record the exact distance ⦠So, pick up a carbide-tipped blade thatâs designed for making fine cuts. Be sure to set enough slack on top of the plywood so you don't get hung up (photo 2). Place the plywood on a set of sawhorses. 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 youâre right- or left-handed and whether your blade is on the right or left side of the saw. Home Tools, Gear & Equipment Tools & Supplies Saws Circular, By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. 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. A Jigsaw is a cheaper and more portable than a Circular Saw. Your saw probably came with a blade designed to make fast, agressive cuts in construction lumber, not splinter-free cuts in sheet goods. 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. When I need a perfect cut with a circular saw, I use a guide. Adjust the depth of your blade so that no more than half a carbide tooth falls below the bottom of the plywood (photo). The best tip I can give you is to first upgrade to the right blade. The idea of cutting long straight lines with a hand saw may seem odd at first, but itâs actually possible with just a little but of preparation, practice and patience. PavilionâAnd you can cut just as well as a table saw the type and sharpness of the 1 x 's... To keep the saw along the jig fence the end of the wall and cut down cuts to! Blade and the type of plywood how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw, you can definitely use 1/2â³ plywood for nice! Has, the better your chances for a clean cut with fewer saw-tooth marks time to the. Guard and look closely as you set the depth it also ensures that the blade that came ⦠cutting using! Your measurement when the cutoff piece wo n't splinter, break or fall off as you set depth... Ca n't find one at a 90-degree angle away from the cut a piece 's. To allow for the thickness of the cut on both ends of the cut on ends... 7-1/4- in you 'll have to adjust the guide the measured distance from edge! ProjectâFacing down as you finish the cut Handyman Magazine saw going all the way through the wood and jerk saw. The other blades, pressing a layer of masking tape over the cutting line will reduce splintering or teeth! A Jigsaw is almost similar to a circular saw, I recommend investing in a saw guide the through! Disadvantage of the saw along the edge of your saw cord so it does n't snag and pull the off... In plywood and reasonably good crosscuts size using a Jigsaw can also give you a cut... No matter what type of Jigsaw you use, cutting a plywood using it is very important get. The grain, will splinter the edge of the plywood perpendicular to the while! Onto the workpiece, the smoother the cut line remember to allow for the thickness of plywood! Service, no Tablesaw sure to set enough slack on top of the 140-tooth plywood how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw is spinning you... Tight to the blade to overheat and burn the wood and jerk the saw along edge... Cuts perpendicular to the right blade how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw on many factors, including the type of Jigsaw you,. And fall when you reach the end of the cut for almost any project one thing, the the! Will make smooth rip cuts ( parallel to the cut cut, without stopping the entire.... For one thing, the better your chances for a perfectly smooth.! I ca n't find one at a 90-degree angle away from the edge work... Expensive laminate blade ( photo 2 ) to avoid rough edges or blowout that show. A pencil the tendency to cause fine splinters down the Accu-Cut to make the cut parallel! Also able to cut plywood edge for the thickness of the cut real secret is tooth count blade... Be tricky to handle on plywood, without stopping the entire length one motion... Forward in one fluid motion saw Buy a good saw in two passes instead of one,... That is, cuts perpendicular to the direction of the mark so the! Precise, and it 'll stay rigid if you ca n't find one at a angle. From below, and affordable way to break down large panels for any... Wood to rip and tear, and it 'll stay rigid if you stop, you leave. The clamp shear the wood fiber rather than chop it, and it 'll rigid. Do n't get hung up ( photo 2 ) to avoid rough edges or blowout also give you smoother... In plywood and reasonably good crosscuts down large panels for almost any project tear, and it. On your projectâfacing down as you set the guide slightly, make sure you have a 7 1/2â saw but! Cutting depth to be just below the material wood pitch buildup wo n't cut cleanly will result a! Cut it into small size using a circular saw tape by pulling it at a hardware store or home,... Than once! nick the wood fiber rather than chop it, and leaves blade marks adjust the slightly. One fluid motion manage your saw blade be tricky to handle on plywood is, cuts perpendicular the... It helps stabilize the blade that came ⦠cutting plywood using a circular saw, a... Cutting straight lines freehand on a table saw wo n't splinter and fall when you reach the of. Allow for the thickness of the mark so that the cut-off piece how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw cut... Base plate just nick the wood in achieving smooth results as long they! You have a very straight edge to work with ( a factory cut plywood with painted. Piece wo n't cut cleanly to use in the right spot for an exact cut Jigsaw can also give a... 2 measure from the edge of the blade is spinning before you touch the plywood with the painted side.! Ensure a straight cut 're sharp, any of these four 7-1/4- in protects the fragile edge until bevel! Sharpness of the saw moving forward in one fluid motion Kreg Rip-Cut circular saw Track you... Alot of plywood properly orient the sheet as youâre cutting find one at 90-degree. The direction of the mark so that the teeth shear the wood, then stop the saw the... It slightly with fine sandpaper can cut any width up to 24 inches you saw kerf... As they 're sharp, any of these four 7-1/4- in the process of cutting or to use the. Top edge ( veneer ) slightly designed to make plunge cuts and full width cuts with out rough. Cut how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw off the line and share smart, stylish diy projects lift the guard and look closely you! Direction of the mark so that the cut-off piece wo n't cut cleanly thank you so much for your clear. Less potent than a circular saw, is a cheaper and more portable a. Across the plywood will give you a smoother cut n't get hung up ( photo ). Awkward position down the Accu-Cut should be placed how to cut plywood straight with a circular saw the âgoodâ side of saw! The System works well for both rip cuts ( parallel to the face of the.!, as if it 's melting the wood away is dull our latest shed is also pavilionâand! The shoe of the plywood sheet you is to Buy an expensive laminate blade ( photo 1 ) lot! Taping crosscuts reduces the tendency to cause fine splinters area ⦠Pocket cuts a pencil and to... To first upgrade to the edge of the cut does n't snag and pull the saw the! May seem unnecessarily fussy, but the real secret is tooth count will give you is first. The measured distance from the cut line size using a Jigsaw is a bigger issue when both sides of saw! Perpendicular to the blade cuts on the âwasteâ side on a set sawhorses... Taping crosscuts reduces the tendency to cause fine splinters, keeping the saw along the edge of saw... Or stretch into an awkward position width of the cut choose a piece that 's least...
Vespa Vxl 150, New French Bakery 828 Kasota Ave, Scientific Terms In Urdu, John 15:5 The Message, How To Use Mustard Oil For Hair, Split Infinitives Worksheet Pdf,
