How To Cut Straight Without Splintering

How To Cut Straight Without Splintering FARM SHOP Handy Hints 34-4-36 Dan Morrison, Transfer, Penn.: "I use 3/4-in. thick, 4 by 8-ft. sheets of oak veneer plywood to make wall units and entertainment centers. To cut straight without splintering, I came up with the idea of laying the plywood sheets on top of a 1-in. thick sheet of blueboard on a concrete floor. "I find that cutting through the plywood and about 1/8 in. into the blueboard eliminates any chance the plywood will pinch the blade. It also keeps the bottom of the plywood sheet from splintering. Splintering on top of the sheet is minimal when ripping. When making crosscuts, I tape the surface of where I'm going to cut with 2-in. masking tape to minimize splintering. "Cutting on top of a blueboard sheet also keeps the bottom of the plywood sheet from getting nicked or scratched up, as is often the case when you drag the plywood over a table saw. "I lay a 12-in. wide by 8-ft. long strip of plywood over the plywood I'm cutting to serve as a straight edge guide for the saw."

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.