How to Cut Luan Plywood
Luan is a very thin veneer plywood made from sub-tropical woods of Southeastern Asia. The product comes in 4'-by-8' sheets and can be purchased in many places through out the US.
The brownish veneer product is used sparingly in buildings for floor underlayments, in hollow-core doors and as an inexpensive interior panel. Woodworkers have found the wood beneficial in constructing doll houses and making small toys. Ideally, luan might be cut with a utility knife or small circular saw.
Things You Will Need
- Saw horses
- Sheetrock sliding T square 48" or 54" (six foot straight edge will work)
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- Sharp utility knife
- Medium-grade sandpaper
- Circular trim saw
- 1"-by-4" straight trim board eight feet in length
- 2 C clamps
- Plywood scraps
- Safety goggles
- several 1-by-4 or 2-by-4 support boards eight feet long
Tip
Saber saws with a fine tooth, wood-cutting blade can be used for curved or irregular cuts. Trim circular saws have blades with a diameter of between four and six inches. Some workers place several eight foot boards, 1-by-4 or 2-by-4 underneath the sheet of luan for extra support while cutting.
Warning
Cutting luan with a sharp utility knife, requires a steady head, strong wrists and good upper body strength. Use safety glasses and ear plugs when operating a circular trim saw.
With a Knife
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Measure the cut onto the sheet of luan and make a pencil mark where necessary.
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Connect the marks with a straight edge or T square and pencil.
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Clamp the straight pine board on the line with C clamps and complete the pencil line. Make sure you use a small plywood spacer on the bottom side of the luan. This small square piece goes between the metal clamp arm and the luan sheet to prevent marking.
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Score the line on the surface of the luan with the knife. Use the board as a guide.
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Remove the two clamps and guide and finish the cut by hand, while holding the knife very steady. Note: this takes some strength and skill. If you wish you may use a circular trim saw to finish the cut.
With a Circular Trim Saw
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Place a medium to fine toothed wood cutting blade in the trim saw and make sure the blade is tight.
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Measure the cut onto the sheet of luan and make pencil marks where necessary.
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Connect the marks with a straight edge or T square and pencil.
-
Clamp the straight pine board on the line with C clamps and complete the pencil line. Make sure you use a small plywood spacer on the bottom side of the luan. This small square piece goes between the metal clamp arm and the luan sheet to prevent marking.
-
Score the line on the surface of the luan with the knife. Use the board as a guide.
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Adjust the guide and clamps for the circular trim saw. To do this first measure the distance from the outside of the metal guide to the outside of the saw blade. This will be the distance between the wood guide and the scored, linear mark.
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Set the saw blade depth, so it is slightly greater than the sheet of luan. If your luan is 1/4 inch thick, then set your saw blade depth between 3/8 and 1/2 inch.
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Cut the luan with a slow steady motion.
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Sand the cut with medium grade sandpaper.
The Drip Cap
- Luan is a very thin veneer plywood made from sub-tropical woods of Southeastern Asia.
- Measure the cut onto the sheet of luan and make a pencil mark where necessary.
- Clamp the straight pine board on the line with C clamps and complete the pencil line.
- Make sure you use a small plywood spacer on the bottom side of the luan.
- Score the line on the surface of the luan with the knife.
- Set the saw blade depth, so it is slightly greater than the sheet of luan.
References
Writer Bio
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
Photo Credits
- IT Stock Free/Polka Dot/Getty Images
- IT Stock Free/Polka Dot/Getty Images
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