How to Cut Louvers in Plywood
Wood louvers provide homeowners with a means of ventilating areas and spaces where air circulation is poor. This is a popular renovation project choice of homeowners and professional builders alike; likewise, louvers can be cut into the plywood designated for your project before installation. Cutting louvers into the plywood before installation saves time and money. The cuts can be made after installation but the cost factor is likely to increase as the work becomes more challenging. Cutting louvers isn't difficult but does require you to pay attention to detail as plywood can be a brittle wood, chipping at the surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Marker
- Masking tape
- Utility knife
- Heavy duty double-stick tape
- Backer board
- Guide board
- Table saw
- Table saw extensions
- Table saw extension stands
- Plywood sheets
- Hand held sander
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Instructions
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Lay the plywood out on a flat surface or open area. Use your marker to outline the area where louvers are to be cut. The louvers can be cut to any size you desire; however, for projects such as shutters your measurements will be 1 1/2 inches to 4 inches apart and 1 inch to 1 1/4 inches wide.
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Apply masking tape to the outline. Retrace the outline through the tape. Masking tape helps to prevent "splitting" of the plywood's surface. Apply double-sided tape to the back side of the plywood attaching it to the backer board -- a piece of scrap wood used to support the plywood's integrity as the blades rip through it.
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Connect the table extensions to the table saw. Place the accompanying stands under the extensions to support the weight of the plywood sheet.
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Place the plywood on the table saw. Align the saw blade to the outline for cuts to be made. Use a piece of scrap plywood as a guiding tool for pushing the plywood through the saw blade. For a clean straightedge cut, clamp the plywood to the top of the table running the blade across the designated cuts.
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Make your initial cut a few centimeters off the cut-line. When you go back over the cut at the cut-line, it will provide a cleaner cut of the plywood. Make the "test" cut with each slat cut.
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Continue cutting the slats into the plywood board. Remove the board from the table saw when finished.
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Sand away the outer layer of the plywood surface removing leftover splinters.
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Tips & Warnings
You should use protective eyewear and gloves when working with saws.
Cut along the grain -- or length -- of the wood to help prevent chipping.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
