Plywood Cutting Guide

Plywood was first patented in 1865, but it wasn't until 1905 that it began to get marketed successfully. It was called 3-ply veneer work, and from that moment on, plywood became what we know it as today. In 1934, the first waterproof adhesive was manufactured to make plywood capable of withstanding the elements, and it became a true exterior sheet of wood. It is called the first engineered wood product, and this cutting guide will show the best chip-free cutting techniques.

Plywood cutting blade
Circular saw
Table saw
Masking tape
Utility knife
Router and straight bit

Instructions

- 1
  Cut plywood with a tool-specific cutting blade. Circular saws require a blade with many small teeth around the edge. Reciprocating saw blades, like jig saws, require many teeth per inch. Plywood saw blades are available at any hardware store, online and in the tool section of department stores.
- 2
  Cut plywood with its best side down when using a circular saw. Cut plywood with its best side up when using a table saw.
- 3
  Place masking tape along the cut line on both sides of the plywood. This will minimize chipping when the blade from any saw cuts down the line.
- 4
  Score the cut line with a utility knife, and then run the plywood through a circular saw set to remove a minimum amount of wood. This will reduce chipping caused by the blade during the final cut.
- 5
  Cut the plywood with a router and a straight bit. Using a router in this way will make a clean chip-free cut line.
- 6
  Cut the plywood following the grain on the top panel. This will minimize chipping when done with any saw blade.

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