Tip for Cutting Plywood Safely and Accurately

Tip for Cutting Plywood Safely and Accurately

This is a great tip for cutting plywood safely, accurately, and cleanly. Instead of trying to balance the sheet across a table saw, place a piece of rigid foam on the floor to use as a backer board under the plywood.

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19 Comments

  1. Genoz Martin on October 13, 2022 at 2:47 am

    Does it matter which side of a 3/4 inch thick x 13 inch wide board your cutting an inch off on a table saw or does the wide part that you’ll be using go against the fence



  2. K LE on October 13, 2022 at 2:47 am

    Good idea, but I tend to cut crooked and this does not allow me to clamp down a straight edge. I do not have a track saw guide to attach my circular saw to, as at the moment I find them to be expensive to buy. I prefer to clamp down a straight edge in order to cut straight. There is no way to position clamps down on the insulation when it’s on the floor like this. So, I still have to manage everything on top of a workbench and saw horses in order to lift the plywood off the ground for clamping.



  3. ms3bani on October 13, 2022 at 2:48 am

    track saw is by far the easiest and safest way.



  4. Robert Casey on October 13, 2022 at 2:51 am

    Anyone have a suggestion for cheaper 2” X 4’ X 8’ rigid foam? TY



  5. Pria Jatnika on October 13, 2022 at 3:05 am

    Can anyone tell me what kind/type of foam the pad is? Insullation foam is not common in my country. Couldn’t found any depo sell this. However, any foam material aren’t hard to find here, but I need to know what kind of foam material use for this? Thanks.



  6. aaronstill on October 13, 2022 at 3:06 am

    I’m in a wheelchair…….. now that’s bloody hard to do



  7. diycentral on October 13, 2022 at 3:07 am

    I should have thought of that. Thanks for the tip about cutting the foam in half.



  8. April Mae on October 13, 2022 at 3:12 am

    Good idea to use knee pads to lesson loss of knee cartlidge in the future.



  9. Cheryl Springtime on October 13, 2022 at 3:12 am

    What is the guide called? And what is the best tool to cut the insulation board with?



  10. Jon Solomonson on October 13, 2022 at 3:15 am

    I’m just a homeowner doing homeowner type stuff, but this is a lifesaver!! I’m a smart guy! Why didn’t *I* think of it??!! LOL! Thanks.



  11. John Laizza on October 13, 2022 at 3:19 am

    And a track saw can be pricey too.



  12. David K. on October 13, 2022 at 3:23 am

    I had already heard about the trick of using a large sheet of foam board as a base for cutting 4×8 sheets of stock, but the idea of cutting it in half is a new twist on that excellent idea.
    Many thanks!
    Gotta go buy me a sheet of foam board now.



  13. Christopher Claudio Skierka on October 13, 2022 at 3:29 am

    Hi, do you think its okay to use a 15mm mdf sheet instead?



  14. Dario Eduardo Vidales Ramirez on October 13, 2022 at 3:30 am

    Great advice! Thanks



  15. MARDAK WORKSHOP on October 13, 2022 at 3:34 am

    very good idea thanks for sharing 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻



  16. Larry S on October 13, 2022 at 3:36 am

    Absolutely the only way to break down sheet goods accurately and safely! I made mine 5′ x 5′ using Loctite PL-300 Foam Board Adhesive, since all the birch plywood I use comes in 5′ x 5′ sheets- then split that in half and hinged with duct tape. Easy to handle a 30" x 60" suitcase 🙂



  17. Tera T on October 13, 2022 at 3:38 am

    Could the same method be used sawing on top of a bed of tightly packed cardboard? Or will the paper burn or gum up the saw? Thanks



  18. ramseylove on October 13, 2022 at 3:38 am

    How can you clamp down your tracks using this method?



  19. FreeSoftware on October 13, 2022 at 3:39 am

    okay – but $40 bucks for one sheet is *way* too expensive, boss. I go with a wooden lattice, DIY.