Below are my personal recommendations, coming from a family of craftsmen. So, don’t skip the eye-protective glass as well. One common tool that is often found laid around such creative people’s homes is a hand saw. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Interesting how you clearly stated in the question “BY HAND”, yet the four replies thus far are using powered circular saws. Find out with what dimension you want to make the cut. We may earn affiliate commissions on purchases made from links on this page. Once you think the notch made on edge is pretty solid, start with cutting. Again, you could swap step 3 and 4, but I usually rip first, then cross cut second. Once you reach the last few inches, hold the piece you’re cutting off with one hand, so it won’t break off. This handy tool has shallow gullets, needing more strokes when cutting wood. I’ll get into those methods at the bottom of this article, so make sure you read it all. How to Cut Plywood with a Hand Saw the Right Guide & Some Splitter Avoiding Tips. Make sure you hold your saw in a low angle, preferably between 30 to 45 degrees, but a lower angle ensures a finer cut. Run the blade of the saw along the cut line. A 1 to 7 TPI hand saw has coarse-toothed blades. Draw the Cut Line. My favorite part about this panel saw is that you can lock the blade into position on the guide rails, rotate the blade 90 degrees, and then you can push the plywood through the cut lengthwise, sliding it along the support wings. How to Stain Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding! You also want to brace the cutoff end. This method helps in achieving a smoother cutting surface. You want the saw to be in around 30 to 45-degree angle. Cross-cut saws are usually a bit shorter, and have more teeth per inch of the blade. The first step of making something beautiful out of these includes cutting them into proper pieces. Hand saws are easy to use but at the same time very simple to get a cut from. This will help in better controlling the tool for straighter cuts. Plywood is one favorite material that woodworkers and DIYers would enjoy working with. Examples of hand saws in this category include bow saws and Tajima saws. To guide the blade simply use your hands. Short panel saws of 12 inches and 20 inches offer adequate control for most woodwork tasks. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Back saws include mitre saws, tenon saws, dovetail saws, and other saws with a stiffening rib on top of the saw blade. In that case, you simply need to slightly twist the handle. I wouldn’t consider it an essential tool for homeowners, but you should get one if you need to cut wood from time to time. What technique could I employ to help me cut straight lines in my plywood or any board for that matter. Once the cut is started, drop the saw’s angle to 45º. By our experience using a proper blade with a … Now hold your saw in the lowest angle possible, so you won’t rip the edges. It’s not just durable but also capable of making some beautiful pieces. But, for more significant tasks like making cabinets, opt for hand saws of 24 inches to 30 inches. The first cut simply trims and squares one end. So how do you cut your plywood? A hand saw’s size determines how much control you have as you cut through the plywood. Gradually start drawing on the edge to create a notch. It features a strong double-edged saw blade with 9 teeth per inch on the rip-cut edge, and 15 teeth per inch on the cross-cut edge. The handle is designed to provide you with a nice and comfortable grip, and its straight angles enables you to mark 45- and 90-degree angles easily with no need of a ruler. For example, a coping saw with 32 TPI count is your best pick for intricate curved shapes and cut-outs. It’s best to follow a good face down rule for plywood placement. It’s even messier than working with steel or aluminum. Now you want to begin from the board’s edge portion. Our team independently selects, reviews, and identifies the best products. Now that your plywood sheet and jig are both properly secured, it’s time to cut. Sight down the back of the saw from overhead to align it; your … And so, it will be nice to have a clear talk on how to cut plywood with a hand saw while also avoiding any sort of splitters during the process. A guided circular saw is then moved across the plywood in order to make the cut. Just as the name suggests, it “rips” through the wood, will indeed rip the edges of plywood sheets if not used with utmost care. Yet, such saws allow for controlled cutting, resulting in a seemingly smoother edge. There are basically 2 ways to cut plywood by hand: We’ll get into details with both options below: This method can be used for any type of plywood, but requires a firm hand, patience and some precision. 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