How to Cut Plywood Tops
You can use plywood for many interior and exterior applications, like roofing, walls and other crafts. It generally comes in 4-by-8-foot boards that range in thickness from 1/4 inch to 3/4 inch. You may need to cut the top of the plywood off so it will fit an opening, such as when you're boarding up a door or window. Cutting the top off the plywood is no different than cutting any other part of the plywood. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sawhorses
- Tape measure
- T-square
- Circular saw
- Medium grade sandpaper
- Safety goggles
Instructions
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Set the plywood down on two sawhorses positioned at each end of the 8-foot board. Run a tape measure from one end of the plywood to the other and mark with a pencil the place where you will cut the top off.
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2
Set a T-square down running across the plywood at the cut location and draw a straight line directly across the entire piece exactly where you will make the cut. This will ensure a straight cut across the top of the plywood.
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3
Line up the mark on the plywood with the blade of a circular saw. Press the trigger to start the blade and carefully run the saw across the pencil line on the plywood. Hold the plywood down in place with your nondominant hand and continue across with the saw in your dominant hand.
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4
Move through the plywood until you have cut it in two. Remove the pieces from the tops of the sawhorses. Measure the cut you made to verify you took off the proper amount; sand down the edges of the sheet with medium grade sandpaper.
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Move the sandpaper back and forth over the surface until the finish is smooth and even throughout. Repeat the process for any other pieces of plywood you need to cut.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear safety goggles when working with a circular saw. This will help protect your eyes from flying pieces of wood and other debris.
References
- Photo Credit Photos.com/Photos.com/Getty Images
