How To Cut Plywood With A Circular Saw

If you have a project that requires some construction work, you will need plywood. But you cannot just pick a bunch of it and use it for your project. The plywood needs to be cut in an exact and precise shape so that it fits with your required criteria.

To achieve that, you must know the proper tools and techniques to get your job done smoothly and successfully. This kind of wood can be cut with lots of tools, but the best tool for this job currently is a circular saw. There are lots of benefits behind this which, will be discussed later in the article.

Here, the main focus is on how to cut plywood with a circular saw and this article will provide you a guideline for that.

Read on to find out more.

 The Proper Cutting Technique

Below, various steps have been provided that will give you a clear idea about the way to cut plywood precisely and safely.

 Step 1 – Choose The Perfect Blade

The main intention for your project is to have a smooth and precise cut, and the way you can attain this is by using the kind of blade that works best with plywood. There are various blades that you can find out in the stores.

Always go for the one that will fit perfectly with your circular saw. Some blades are made for good cuts on plywood. Be sure to consult with the supplier regarding this. Along with that, the tooth count is also critical. The kind of cut, whether it is deep or shallow, will mainly depend on the tooth count.

Step 2 – Adjust The Blade Of The Saw

Adjusting the blade of the saw is very crucial as the thickness of the cut is entirely dependent on it. The adjustment will determine whether you prefer to cut it deep or shallow.

If you adjust your blade deeper than usual, the cut will go very deep because more blades will come in contact with the plywood and the opposite will happen if the blades are adjusted with little depth.

So, the best technique you can use is to measure the thickness of the wood initially. With the measured width, add an extra quarter of an inch and use that overall measurement to adjust the blade depth. This will make sure that the woods are cut neither too deep nor too shallow.

Step 3 – Use Support To Hold The Piece Of Wood

During the cut, the forests must be supported from both ends, or else your cut will not be precise, and you will surely have a hard time doing your work. You can use sawhorses to prevent any splintering or breaking of the wood.

If you do not have these tools, use rigid foam insulation. Put the foam on the ground and place the wood on top of it. In this way, you can move in any direction on the earth according to your desired cut.

 Step 4 – Pick The Best Side Of The Wood And Place It Downwards

When you get the wood, you will see that both sides are kind of different. One side will look good, and the other will look average. Pick the right side and place it downwards.

The reason for doing so is that the teeth of the circular saw blade will start cutting from beneath the wood and will finish at the top. So, apply this technique to get a surface that will be very smooth.

Step 5 – Mark The Line That You Will Do The Cut

Use a measuring tape to measure the length of cutting. Then, use a straight edge to make sure that the cut will be entirely on the perfect line. Mark the cutting line with a pencil. After you have marked the route, measure it again for precaution.

If you cut the wrong length, you won’t be able to fix the problem. You then have to cut the wood once again. This will sure waste your time and energy.

Step 6 – Clamp The Wood For A Guide To Make Smooth Cuts

This is a very tricky part, but if you understand it correctly, you can get your job done quickly. Use the plywood and attach it to the clamps so that the ends are locked tightly. Measure the base of the saw and match that measurement to the width of the wood so that the clamps can be secured correctly.

You can use a straightedge or a saw guide for this process. These are very much in demand to make sure that the clamp adjustments are perfect, which makes sure the blades are in perfect alignment with the marks that you have done with the pencil.

Step 7 – Start The Cutting Process

As you are done with all the mentioned steps, you are now ready to do the final work. Turn the saw on, and run it gently with the guide. Always keep in mind to have the blades placed correctly with the cutting line.

Care to Learn Some Safety Tips?

– Always check the sharpness of the blade beforehand.

– Take as many precautions as possible to make sure that the plywood does not move or get unstable during your cutting session. This will either make an uneven cut or create any other kind of accidents.

– Try to avoid using the blade that came with your circular saw. Using this blade will create splintered ends on your wood, and you definitely do not want that because correcting splintered ends is a very time-consuming process.

You should use the blade that is used for plywood. They can be found at the hardware stores nearby.

– Use safety goggles and gloves throughout the whole process. During your work, there will be debris flying around, and glasses will protect you from that.

With the help of gloves, any electrical shock can be avoided if a malfunction occurs and also your hands will be safe from the blades. Make sure your hand and other body parts are at a safe distance from the saw.

– Keep your area clean, and if you have kids, keep them away from the project area.

Conclusion

Follow all the steps so that you can cut the plywood precisely. Be patient and gentle throughout the whole process. Consult with other experienced workers to gain some additional advice that might help you in times of need.

Stay safe. Have a nice day!

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Last Updated on September 9, 2020 by Robert Patrick