A Tip for Clean Plywood Cuts

If you've ever tried to make a clean cross-cut in a piece of plywood with a combination blade, you have probably been experienced chipping in either the top or bottom veneer of the plywood. This can be a frustrating problem, but it can be avoided a number of ways. You can use a specially-designed plywood blade, which will certainly reduce the chances of chipping the veneer along the cut line, but it won't prevent the problem. You might also try scoring the cut line with a sharp utility knife on both the top and bottom veneered-sides of the plywood, but it can be difficult to line up the bottom side of the cut line perfectly.

A common trick for keeping the veneer clean when cross-cutting plywood is to apply a piece of masking tape along the anticipated cut line on both the top and bottom sides before making the cut. The tape will help keep the plywood from splintering, but you need to be careful when removing the tape immediately after making the cut, as the tape can lift an edge of the veneer during removal, particularly if the tape is left on the cut line for a lengthy period of time.

For more information on working with plywood, check out Plywood Grades & Bonding Types.