How to Cut a Bendable Birch
Bendable birch plywood is often used to construct furniture, or create a veneer. It has many uses in building projects, furniture repair and home improvement projects. Bendable birch plywood often comes in very thin thicknesses, such as 5/32 inch. Because of its size and thickness, use a sharp utility knife to cut the wood without cracking and splitting. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Straight Line
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1
Place the birch plywood on a tabletop or a sacrificial piece of plywood so the it rests flat. A sacrificial piece of wood is wood used to prevent the blade from cutting into the table.
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2
Place a straight edge where you need to cut. Clamp the ends of the straight edge in place with clamps. This will keep the straight edge from moving, and will hold the birch against the table or sacrificial wood surface.
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3
Place the tip of a sharp utility knife blade against the wood, butted up against the straight edge.
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Pull the utility knife with the grain pattern and cut down through 25 percent of the wood's thickness with the first cut. Stop when you get to the end of the straight edge.
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Cut again, but this time, cut deeper. Repeat this process until you cut completely through the birch with the knife.
Curved or Free-Form Lines
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Place the birch flat onto a table or sacrificial piece of wood and clamp the edges of the wood to the surface with clamps.
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7
Place a paper or acrylic template onto the surface of the birch and tape it into place with masking tape.
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Trace the template with a pencil, pen or marker that contrasts in color, then remove the template and tape from the birch.
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Place the tip of a sharp utility knife on the line you scribed onto the wood.
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Trace the line with the utility knife, cutting approximately 25 percent through the thickness of the wood. Cut with the grin wherever possible to avoid tear out. Work slowly and watch the tip of your knife in the work surface at all times to ensure you do not wander off the line.
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Repeat the cut, going deeper each time until you cut though the wood.
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