The bottom edge usually remains splinter-free. So always cut plywood with the good side down.
Here’s how to cut construction and finish grade plywood with a circular saw without leaving rough, splintered edges. The Family Handyman DIY expert, Spike Carlsen, will show you how to cut construction grade plywood and finish grade plywood with a circular saw. Line the blade up with the cut line and set your thumb and forefinger along the outside edge of the circular saw, pinching the saw’s shoe and running parallel with the outside edge of the plywood.
There’s one job for which the circular saw is particularly well-suited: cutting large sheets of plywood down to size. To help you make the cleanest, safest, most accurate cuts, I’ve listed six time-proven tips and techniques for cutting plywood with a circular saw. The spinning blade of a circular saw enters the bottom of the board you’re cutting and exits through the top. Plug in the saw and make a perfectly straight cut by steering the saw along the edge of the plywood guide. Adjust the saw blade to its maximum depth of cut and saw through all the sheets at the same time. A circular saw is ideal for plunge cutting a hole into the middle of a plywood sheet. 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.
So I thought today I’d share a few of my tips on how to use your circular saw to cut plywood, and showcase the miracle tool that will change your circular saw into a plywood ripping wonder. When I cut plywood, I place the plywood on top of the foam, and cut right into the foam. If you are doing alot of plywood or sheet goods ripping with a circular saw, I recommend investing in a saw guide.
Knowing how to cut plywood with a circular saw and what to expect from a circular saw is important for safe handling and accurate cuts. Start the circular saw and slowly lower the blade into the plywood, aligning the heel guide notch with the line of cut as you move the circular saw through the cut. How to Cut Plywood with a Circular Saw without SplinteringIt is recommended to cut on a flat floor.
which side to cut plywood with circular saw Related Question:
Do you cut plywood good side up or down?
Your plywood should be oriented so that the blade exits the wood on the good face. So for a circular saw and miter saw, make your cuts with the good face down; on the table saw, with the good face up.
Which side of the line do you cut with a circular saw?
When appearance matters, make cuts with the good side facing down, as circular saws can splinter the wood on the top side. Making your cut line on masking tape can reduce splintering. Start over if you see that you’ve veered off from the cut line instead of trying to curve your way back on track.
How do you cut a plywood with a circular saw without splintering?
To do so, place the best side (meaning the side of the door that will be most visible once it’s hung) face down. Then score along the edge of the cut line with a sharp utility knife. Now when you make the cut, the wood fibers will break off cleanly at the scored line, leaving a smooth, splinter-free cut.
How do you cut a large plywood with a circular saw?
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. Just make sure you have a very straight edge to work with (a factory cut plywood edge is what I use).
What is the easiest way to cut plywood?
Plywood can be unwieldy and may be challenging to cut, especially if you don’t have the right tools. You can cut plywood with a circular saw or a table saw with ease, as long as you remember a few basic rules. Make sure you have a sharp blade in your saw, and take precautions to keep the sheet stable.
Which way should the teeth face on a circular saw?
The teeth should be cutting UPWARDS, in a clock-wise direction. You’ll also notice that when your blade is installed correctly, the teeth will be pointing upward. Remember: circular saws (as most saws) cut on the upward stroke.
Why do circular saws cut upwards?
The teeth of circular saw blades are intended to cut upwards into the material from below and this is for safety purposes. It is important that you should not spin them in a different direction just like you spin a table saw blade.
How do you prevent tearing when cutting plywood?
No matter what tool you’re using, the best way to reduce tear-out is to surround the blade or bit with a zero-clearance surface. This is equally important on the band saw, drill press, miter saw, or table saw.
How many teeth do you need for plywood?
To get the best-quality cuts, invest in an 80-tooth blade designed for sheet goods. The small teeth take little bites to reduce chip-out and are steeply beveled at their edges to score the veneer face. You’ll have to slow your feed rate, but will get a much smoother edge.
How do you cut plywood by hand?
Cutting Plywood With a Handsaw Always start with a sharp saw blade. A miter handsaw has a stiffer blade and will help if you’re making smaller cuts. For longer cuts that need to be straight, consider using a stiff board as a jig to guide your saw blade. Simply clamp the board along your cut line.
What’s the best saw for cutting plywood?
Although a chop saw and a miter saw both provide precision, these tools are not always the best choice for cutting plywood. However, a circular saw, and a table saw are the best choice for cutting plywood when you need to cut plywood.
Does plywood have a grain direction?
The meshing of the plies of the wood is done in a very systematic manner keeping in mind the direction of the grains of the individual plies. During the making of plywood, it is closely monitored that each ply that is placed on top of the other has a grain direction perpendicular to the one above and below it.
How do you make plywood straight edges?
Try attaching one of the crooked sheets of plywood to one with a straight edge with a hot glue gun. Run through the table saw, then detach, flip it over and run it again.
Which power tool is used in cutting boards and plywood?
There may be no more versatile basic handheld power tool than a circular saw. When used with a clamp-on straight-edge, the circular saw can be just about as accurate as a table saw and handle quite a few of the same tasks, including cutting sheet goods such as plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
