Yet, such saws allow for controlled cutting, resulting in a seemingly smoother edge. This method helps in achieving a smoother cutting surface. Going with your instinct is something you’re allowed to do if such chores are pretty regular in your life. Turn on the saw, place the 90-degree bent edge against the fence and begin cutting the plywood, allowing the base of the saw to follow the straightedge. A good cross-cut hand saw will do the job. So, before you actually cut the wood, it’s important to take measurements. Sight down the back of the saw from overhead to align it; your … You don’t want to stop in between cut to ensure if the width or length is right or not. The handle is designed to provide you with a nice and comfortable grip, and its straight angles enables you to mark 45- and 90-degree angles easily with no need of a ruler. If you are not getting satisfying straight cut, here’s a trick. That’s why do make sure you are using a nice hand saw that functions fine while ensuring the other parts of this guide as well. There are basically 2 ways to cut plywood by hand: We’ll get into details with both options below: This method can be used for any type of plywood, but requires a firm hand, patience and some precision. One common tool that is often found laid around such creative people’s homes is a hand saw. The large size and the weight of plywood also makes it difficult to cut a full sheet directly on the table saw. Mark up the line you want to cut. What technique could I employ to help me cut straight lines in my plywood or any board for that matter. Secure the plywood sheet to your work bench (or a table) with a pair of clamps. How to Stain Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding! Look for a carbide-tipped blade with a high tooth count. Well, the dust mask will help you not to inhale bad stuffs flying around. You want the saw to be in around 30 to 45-degree angle. That was all about how to cut plywood with a hand saw and avoid splintering issues. Below is a video showing you the process: A jig is super easy to make, and can be used many times. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is followed by a square cut to finished length. The rustic yet modern touch really seems amazing considering its price point. Below are my personal recommendations, coming from a family of craftsmen. Making the cut. Continue this thread Place your hand saw, and make the initial cut by placing your thumb and move your saw CAREFULLY against the teeth direction. Your plywood should be oriented so that the blade exits the wood on the good face. It’s best to place the sheet you’re cutting on a set of sawhorses. Now you want to begin from the board’s edge portion. Choose the right kind of blade. Now using complete strokes, make smooth cuts with your whole focus on the plywood and your movement. Such blades cut more wood with fewer strokes. It’s a great little hand saw for plywood, but can’t be used for cutting long straight lines because of the design. Then simply turn the saw upright. You want the saw to be in around 30 to 45-degree angle. The alternative is to cut it into small size using a circular saw. Put the blades of the handsaw over where you want to cut the plywood, then gently pull back and forth with no pressure. How to Cut Plywood with a Hand Saw the Right Guide & Some Splitter Avoiding Tips. The hand saw comprises a blade and a handle. Find out with what dimension you want to make the cut. If you are wearing gloves, there’s less chance of an accident. You could use a regular cross-cut saw for this, but a tenon saw adds a bit more stability when cutting into small pieces of wood. Once you think the notch made on edge is pretty solid, start with cutting. Now you should go with short and vertical strokes to get the cut done. Again, you could swap step 3 and 4, but I usually rip first, then cross cut second. Until the hand saw has made a small cut into the plywood, slowly apply pressure in cutting through. These saws generally contain a framing device that holds the plywood in place. For example, a coping saw with 32 TPI count is your best pick for intricate curved shapes and cut-outs. The jig guides your saw and gives you a straight long cut, just as if you were using a table saw. A coping saw could be used for cuts that need extra precision. It is an aggressive option, and if not careful, it can tear the wood or end up in a rough finish. There will be little to no ripping along the edge of your plywood sheets with this saw, and as such it’s a great choice for tasks requiring precision cutting. Splintering is basically the edge becoming ragged and rough. The Japanese-made SUIZAN Ryoba Pull Saw has a fine blade, that enables a more precise cut. However, losing control of the saw can also be possible so be very cautious. It enables better control and a more precise cutting than with a more flexible saw blade, and as such it’s a good choice for thin/small piece of wood that need to be cut with precision. Also, you need a worthy and quality handsaw to handle pieces better. And so, it will be nice to have a clear talk on how to cut plywood with a hand saw while also avoiding any sort of splitters during the process. Avoid Splintering or Tear-outs with These Tips: How to Replace an Axe Handle – The Easy Steps to Follow. Back saws include mitre saws, tenon saws, dovetail saws, and other saws with a stiffening rib on top of the saw blade. This also lessens the chance of any snapping by keeping plywood stable. And so, make sure you are using something to hold the piece securely. They will enable more efficient cutting. How do you cut down plywood sheets by hand? Now using complete strokes, make smooth cuts with your whole focus on the plywood and your movement. And that will be enough to set it right. If you’re cutting it on the ground, place the plywood on top of a 4' x 8' sheet of 2" foam (blue board) and set your blade to the correct depth so it doesn’t contact the ground. Using a 10 ppi panel saw filed crosscut on this 3/4 Walnut plywood produced not only a perfectly straight and square cut, but not tearing or fraying of the super thin face veneer either. While most people tend to think table saws are the only option, you probably don’t own one unless you have access to a workshop. There will be some tips to avoid those nasty splitters that sometimes ruins the fun. Below are some of the most popular types of hand saws, and their general purposes: Rip saws can be quite long, and usually have between 4 to 7 teeth per inch. Continue straight through the plywood with the saw until it has been cut in two. Hand saw is an excellent choice for handling plywood. The first step of making something beautiful out of these includes cutting them into proper pieces. In addition, hand saws are created specifically to … Otherwise you may be able to hire a professional, and/or ask the hardware store to cut the sheets at a small extra cost. Make sure you are using a hand saw with more TPI. 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. Another trick is to tape the both sides of the cutting line with masking tape and then cut through the tape. Many panel saws are designed to only cross cut a sheet of plywood. It has this modern yet rustic feel, and it is cheap and widely available in most hardware stores. It’s even messier than working with steel or aluminum. Following the right depth for setting a blade is also a very important step to avoid such problems. They usually have more teeth per inch than other saws, and they vary greatly in length and height of the saw blade. To guide the blade simply use your hands. The English made Spear & Jackson 9550B Traditional Brass Back Tenon Saw is a classic hand saw, that is perfect for precision cutting of small and thin pieces of wood. One of the easiest and most accurate ways to cut the panels to length is to use a crosscut sled, as shown below. (Definitely don’t use a rip saw for plywood; you’ll just be making life hard for yourself.) This is by far the most popular hand saw, and because of the design it works very well for all kinds of precision cutting in plywood sheets, MDF, OSB, etc. Plywood can also be cut using a vertical panel plywood cutting saw. The accuracy of your cut will definitely get determined by all these matters. For plywood, you’ll get a better quality cut with a saw having 10 or more teeth per inch. We may earn affiliate commissions on purchases made from links on this page. But there’s still a chance of getting it inside your eyes. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. It should be at least 40-tooth blade one. Make sure your shoulder and forearm are on similar line when you go for a stroke. Pictured here is the back side of the cut that usually tears the most as the saw exits the wood. Just as the name suggests, it “rips” through the wood, will indeed rip the edges of plywood sheets if not used with utmost care. For melamine, plywood, and anything else made of compressed or brittle materials. The HAUTMEC Hardpoint HT0024-SA enables you to make fine cuts with the durable 11 teeth per inch saw blade. The high Teeth Per Inch or TPI will help you to avoid those splinters easily. It’s not just durable but also capable of making some beautiful pieces. You also want to brace the cutoff end. The first cut simply trims and squares one end. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Place your hand saw, and make the initial cut by placing your thumb and move your saw CAREFULLY against the teeth direction. On the other hand, the Shark Corp 10-2312 12-Inch Carpentry Saw is a great option if you have a bigger budget. Going as low as possible while maintaining a similar angle will increase your chances of avoiding splinters or tear outs. Run the blade of the saw along the cut line. However, if it’s not a very usual scenario in your workspace simply because you are just a beginner, don’t skip measuring the cut. Because of how beautiful and durable it is 32 teeth per inch saw blade is an. A circular saw control you have as you cut down plywood sheets by hand nasty splitters that sometimes ruins fun! Saw to the cut how to cut plywood with a hand saw sheet and jig are both properly secured, it can the... High teeth per inch ( TPI ) when cutting wood your workbench with a high chance getting! 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