![]() ![]() This guide is designed to rip plywood into strips by running the straight edge along the edge of the plywood while the circular saw cuts a certain distance away. So it looks like this on a plywood sheet.įor ripping plywood sheets, I use my circular saw with my Kreg Rip Cut guide. Rip cuts go WITH the grain, cross cuts go ACROSS the grain. Speaking of, let’s discuss the difference in cross cuts vs rip cuts. Typically, it’s easiest to rip the sheet lengthwise into the widths you want before cross cutting the lengths you want. I know this is STEP 3, but you can cut down plywood in whatever order you wish. Step 3: Ripping Plywood Sheets to Desired Widths That’s another reason I use one saw specifically for plywood…I never have to remove the sled once I got it dialed in and making accurate cuts. I set mine up so that I don’t have to adjust the sled when swapping between the two to keep things quick and accurate. I recommend setting the sled up with the Accu-Cut first, then the Rip Cut. NOTE: It takes a few practice cuts and adjustments to get the sled set up with the Accu-Cut and Rip Cut the first time. It’s important to make sure the sled is attached square on the saw base, and not crooked. The sled attaches using these two set screws. That said, attach the sled to the circular saw base according to the instructions and based on your particular style saw. This blue Kreg sled attaches to the circular saw to allow you to use it with these guides. ![]() I use a Kreg Rip Cut and a Kreg Accu-Cut to cut down my plywood sheets. Once the blade is installed, it’s time to add the Kreg cutting sled. These blades typically have a high tooth count to help prevent tear-out for cleaner cuts. I keep one for general purpose use, and I keep the other set up specifically for cutting plywood.īut, if you only have one, when you get ready to cut plywood with your circular saw, make sure to install a plywood cutting blade. So it’s something to consider for your own shop, especially if you cut a lot of plywood. I know that isn’t feasible for everyone, but it’s really cut down on change over time in my shop. I keep two circular saws handy in my shop. I set my scrap 2×4 blocks on the top of my Trak Horses and set my plywood sheet in place. I just like these because they are easy to set up when I need them, and they fold away when I don’t. You can use any brand saw horse or even homemade saw horses. Now, personally, I prefer to set up my Kreg Trak Horses to cut my plywood on. This allows you to lower the blade of your circular saw so that it will cut THROUGH the plywood, but you won’t cut your workbench, sawhorses, or anything important. BUT, no matter where you choose to cut down your sheets, it needs to be sitting on some sacrificial scrap blocks. Or if you prefer to cut on the ground, that works, too. In order to cut down plywood, it needs to be set up on something– like a workbench or saw horses. Step 1: Setting Up Plywood Cutting “Station” I’ve got a video here, step by step below, and some FAQ and tips at the end. It’s much easier to cut it down with a circular saw, so that’s what I’m showing you. I have a really nice table saw, but I still prefer using a circular saw to cut my sheets down because trying to maneuver a heavy sheet of plywood through a table saw by myself is a struggle. Now, you can totally use a table saw to cut down your plywood sheets. Kreg Trak Horses (optional, but I really like them).How to Cut Down Plywood Sheets To break down my plywood sheets, I use four things: An extra set of hands is always nice to help lift the sheet up onto the sawhorses, but not necessary if you use a little creative determination…and leverage. So I’ve figured out the easiest, most efficient way to cut down plywood sheets using a few simple guides. I love using it.īut cutting it down isn’t exactly the highlight of my day. Plywood is a really nice material that makes building large furniture pieces clean, easy, and quick. I know you’ve noticed, I use A LOT of plywood around here. I’m showing you how to cut down plywood sheets easily and accurately so you can quickly move on to the fun stuff–the building. Sometimes breaking down a full sheet of ¾″ plywood can be a little….daunting. If you do a lot of woodworking–especially cabinets, built ins, or storage pieces–plywood quickly becomes your best friend.
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