How to Cut 3/4" Plywood

Sheet plywood being measured for cutting.

There are lots of ways to cut plywood but just a few ways to cut plywood that produce clean edges and straight cuts. The best job is done with the right tools and the right size and type of saw blade. Three quarter-inch plywood is considered medium to thick. This type of plywood is used to sheath sub-floors and in other areas of construction. Construction (soft wood) plywoods come in four grades, from A to D, with D being the lowest, with the most knots, discolorations and irregularities. Selecting the right grade of plywood for your application is the first step to cutting it properly.

Things You'll Need

• Sharpie
• Panel scoring attachment
• Utility knife
• Straight edge
• Table saw
• Circular saw
• Router
• Masking tape

Instructions

1. Turn your plywood over to determine its best face. Mark the best face. If you are going to cut your plywood with a table saw, you will want the plywood face up. If you are going to use a circular saw you will want the plywood face down. In each case, the position of the plywood will assist in preventing chipping when you cut.

2. Score a cut line using a panel scoring attachment (very useful if you have a lot of sheets to cut), a utility knife and a straight edge, or by running the sheet through the table saw so that the tip of the blade just cuts the top 1/16th-inch of the wood. This will help to reduce chipping and rough edges. When possible, avoid cutting across the grain of plywood.

3. Draw your cut line on your plywood, then cover your line with masking tape and draw your cut line a second time over the tape. This will add an additional layer of protection for your cut edges. Use this with your scoring for improved results.

4. Cut the plywood using a router fitted with a straight bit. Use a pilot bit and a straight edge to keep your cut straight.

5. Select the blade on your saw or router based on the exact material you will be cutting. Because plywood comes in many grades and varieties, your requirements to achieve the best cut will also vary. Special blades are used for different cutting jobs. Blades come with varying numbers of teeth, set at different angles and widths and with different rakes. All of these factors will impact your performance.

Tips & Warnings

• In general, blades with more teeth will produce a cleaner cut. Many saw blades overheat due to friction with the plywood; select your blades carefully so that they will perform the best for your project. Combination blades are commonly used for ripping plywood when finished edges are not as vital.

References

• Wood Zone: Cutting Plywood
• Woodcraft: Plywood Tips