How to Cut Plywood Curves
Plywood is used all around the house, from roofs to floors. While most applications require straight cuts, knowing how to cut a curve in a piece of plywood is a useful bit of knowledge for any woodworker to have. You might not aspire to make your own wooden jigsaw puzzles, but with a little practice and the right tools you will be able to cut perfect curves. Who knows when the time will come when you will be building your own boat, making a custom toy for the kids, or creating a unique piece of furniture where knowing how to cut curves comes in handy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cutting Curves in Plywood
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1
Use a pencil or a pair of scribes to draw the curve onto the plywood.
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2
Place your board on a set of saw horses or a work table that is a comfortable height. If you are using a work table, make sure the area you are cutting extends off the work surface, or use blocks to suspend the wood and avoid cutting into your table. If you are using saw horses, position the wood so your cut will not pass through the top of a saw horse.
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3
Secure the plywood to your work surface with a couple of clamps, or make sure there is enough room to safely hold the board in place and simultaneously make your cut.
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4
Press the trigger on your jigsaw so the blade starts moving and then slowly introduce the blade to the wood. Cut along the outside edge of the line. It is okay if you do not follow the line exactly as long as you do not cut into the piece you want to keep.
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5
Use your sander to knock down the rough edges and smooth out the curve.
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Tips & Warnings
If your plywood is small enough and you have access to a workshop, you can use a band saw instead of a jigsaw.
If you need to cut a curve in the middle of the wood, drill a pilot hole large enough for the blade to fit and then follow your line.
Wear safety glasses when operating power tools.
Always cut away from your body.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
