How to saw laminated chipboard with a circular saw

Sawing Wood particle board. methods and machining techniques

[contents]If you have ever tried to saw chipboard at home you know that it is not an easy job and requires a lot of skill, but also a good tool. Laminated chipboard is particularly difficult to work with, as sawing often results in quite a few splinters. That is why many craftsmen, faced with this problem, come to the conclusion that it is better to saw chipboard when buying, especially since many trade organizations provide similar services and the price for them is quite acceptable.

Sawing particleboard is carried out with the use of precise format-sawing machines, which will help to obtain blanks of a given size and shape.

Modern models allow you to saw evenly board materials not only horizontally and vertically, but also at an angle.

In addition to cutting sheets to help you calculate and provide in a visual video file a few options for competent and economical sawing sheet material (using special computer programs) and, if necessary, perform framing. However, if for some reason you prefer to do the job yourself, before sawing particleboard you have to do some preparatory work.

Sanding discs for cutting wood

To enlarge the image. Click on.

It should be started with the fact that in any case it is better to work with a tool specifically designed to perform a particular operation. All other tricks are justified only in exceptional cases where, for some reason, the necessary tools were not on hand. This also applies to the question of whether you can saw wood with a wood sander. In this piece from The Housewife, we take into account the nuances of this process and the opinions of practitioners.

The shredder is a multifunctional tool. This can be useful when working with wood.

Sawing rules

Before sawing, one chooses a method, as well as accessories and tools.

• Apply dots on the end part of the chipboard. It is necessary to determine in advance what type of cutting will be performed. straight or curved. Sawing technique is different for each of them.
• Connect the dots in the trimmer’s line and stick sticky tape on top. It is preferable to use adhesive tape to saw laminated particleboards. It will reduce cracks when cutting, since the wood panel is subjected to a lot of pressure with the increase in temperature.
• Sawing the board. The accessory is set at the right angle to achieve extremely flat edges. It must be done smoothly, rhythmically and without excessive pressure.
• Trim irregularities and edges with a file and rasp, if necessary. The edges can be veneered, in the appropriate color. This will protect them and make them look more beautiful.

Only after placing all the necessary tools on the table, you can start cutting.

What must not be sawn

Laminated chipboard cannot be sawn with an angle grinder, also called an “angle grinder”. When working with this tool, there is a high probability of injury, especially when using discs of large diameter. You can also injure yourself when the tool’s protective hood is removed.

How to cut a sheet of chipboard evenly

To be able to cut the chipboard evenly not only requires skill in sawing, but also the right tools for the job. The tool of choice depends on the amount of work to be performed, the type of board and the cutting configuration.

Cutting rules Particleboard

Sawing a sheet by hand without splintering will help follow a few simple rules:

• Ensure a stable position of the chipboard. the blade should not vibrate, and at the end of the cut it should break under its own weight;
• Use a guide rail that is rigidly clamped;
• Select a hacksaw or replaceable saw blade with the smallest tooth size;
• Saw with minimal pressure;
• to use the most suitable tool for the job.

Tools and equipment for sawing

Depending on the amount of work to be done and the configuration of the saw is used:

Not every tool can get details of desired shape.

Circular saw

If you know the exact dimensions by which to cut the sheet, it is better to entrust the work to professionals. Almost all sellers. bases and construction markets. provide such an option. Often the sawing service is free, the customer only pays for the cost of the chipboard.

Differently designed squaring and cutting machines are used for cutting.

Sawing particleboard without chipping allows a variety of additional devices. For example, some models have two sawing discs: the first, with a small diameter, cuts through the surface laminated layer, and the main carries out a full cut.

CNC controlled format-cutting machines operate in a semi-automatic mode, preventing operator’s mistakes that allows to get ready parts with dimensions accurate to 1 mm. This is important when making cabinet furniture.

Jigsaw

Electric jigsaw cuts straight and curved lines.

• affordability. most craftsmen have a jigsaw, and a new one is inexpensive;
• there are special saw blades available for chipboard, laminated chipboard and laminate;
• You can cut circles with a small radius;
• Suitable for making through-holes for hatches or electrical fixtures.

To get a straight cut, you need to be experienced with the tool or it is enough to use the guide bar.

Jigsaw

Hand circular saw, sometimes called “parquet”, is used if there is a large amount of work to be done on cutting chipboard on flat lines.

Purchase discs with carbide-tipped teeth.

To simplify and speed up the work, choose a parquet, complete with a guide rail or buy the accessory separately.

You can do without additional parts if you lead the cut along a guide made of an angle or a plastering rule.

The main disadvantage of the process is that it is not possible to make curved cuts.

Cutter

To qualitatively saw off the chipboard with a router, the master needs a lot of experience.

A smooth, flawless edge can only be achieved with diamond cutters, which are very expensive.

Hacksaw

Cutting with handheld hacksaws is time-consuming and physically demanding.

Hand saws with large and medium teeth are only suitable for cutting standard chipboard (without the laminated layer). The result will always be accompanied by chipping and scoring. The appearance of the edges can only be corrected with decorative overlays.

A small amount of cutting is done with a fine-toothed hacksaw. To reduce the number of chips, over the sheet glued painter’s tape, mark the line for the trimmer cut, and only then begin the work.

Steps of the job

Using an electric jigsaw is the most common option when sawing chipboard at home, because of the availability of the tool, versatility and ease of handling.

Requirements for the saws to be used:

Most tool manufacturers have special products for sawing particleboard. Saw blades for laminate are also suitable for the work.

The sawing process consists of three steps in sequence: marking out the sheets, sawing and edging, if necessary.

Material cutting

When working at home, it is important to properly cut the material to minimize waste. Particular attention is paid to “nesting” if laminated Particleboard has a pronounced pattern that must be taken into account.

It is advisable to plan the layout of the parts on a sheet of ruled paper. On the Internet you can easily find calculators and programs that automatically plan the optimal arrangement of parts.

Sawing techniques Laminated chipboard without splitting

Sawing Laminated Chipboard at large woodworking facilities is done on a special formatting and cutting machine. Small workshops that make furniture, also purchase such a tool, but it is expensive, so as a home tool is not advisable. If the question arises as to how to saw Laminated Chipboard without chipping, then alternative methods for cutting can choose to use a hacksaw, circular saw, Laminated Chipboard cutter or electric jigsaw.

With the use of a hacksaw

It is not easy to saw Particleboard without splitting with a hand saw, just like it is difficult to saw laminated chipboard with a jigsaw. Although it is a cheap and affordable way.

First you need to cut the saw trimmer line with a knife, run a nail or awl, and then glue a masking tape, to protect the top laminate layer. Then at an angle of 30 degrees carefully, without pressing hard, cut the material. The selected saw blade of the hacksaw should be with fine teeth, so that the cut was as even as possible.

The jigsaw can leave damage, which can be repaired with a belt sander, set perpendicularly, for subsequent edging.

In the final step it is worth processing the cuts with sandpaper and cover with a flexible profile.

Jigsaw

Often the jigsaw is used for cutting Laminated chipboard. The basic prerequisite for neatly cutting the board is a small tooth size.

An electric jigsaw cannot replace a circular saw, t. к. it is mainly used as a cutting tool for small areas of panels. It should be used without much pressure, smoothly and not too quickly. If the sawmaker is inexperienced, small chips may appear on the back side, but with practice the quality and appearance of the cut will improve.

A circular saw

If the question arises, with what to saw a chipboard and what tool to choose, then the circular saw is quite suitable. It is also often called a circular saw. This is a circular tool mounted on a table. Many people wonder what circular saw blade to use. A circular saw blade with fine teeth is needed. the quality of the cut is better than with the jigsaw.

For more precision, it is worth marking the guides, and not to work at too high rpm.

Using a router

The circular saw blade is not only used for cutting panels, but also for drilling holes, cutting grooves, making edges, and so on. п. it can also be used for shaped cuts. the tool is used in combination with a jigsaw. The board is first sawed with a jigsaw, and then a cutter with a bearing is used to give the cut the desired depth. Professional cutters know how to drill, cut and saw panels with a router. This tool produces a perfectly smooth and accurate cut. However, this is a very time-consuming process that requires increased attention and special skills (e.g., alignment of the template under the cutter on the drilled or other surface), that it is better not to take on such work without experience, and order the sawing specialists. Some workshops offer this service. The main supplier of wood cutters is the company Topvoltage, ordering from them the tool can be done with delivery.

Sawing with a format cutter

The use of a sawing machine guarantees a neat cut and no splintering. These machines are used in production and are considered as specialized equipment.

• Carriage. Allows the sliding table to move, but the plate is held in position.
• Used as a sawmill. Has two flat metal discs: the first makes a presawing cut, the second makes a final cut through.
• Base. The entire machine rests on it. Eliminates vibration and adds stability, which is important for quality of cut.

Three workbenches: 1st: positioning of assembly. 2nd (movable): feeding of the boards for sawing. 3rd: support of the sawn parts.

Types of sawing machines depend on the time of continuous operation:

When setting up the machine the following things matter: the depth of cut, the position of the board, the angle of cut.

• the plate is fixed to the table (movable carriage);
• the workpiece is positioned according to the dimensional ruler and the sawing unit is started;
• when the disk gains the desired speed, the table will move forward along with the workpiece plate and hit it.

The use of format cutting machines is appropriate for mass production, not for single cases. For one-time independent use you can choose an easier tool or order a cut to specialists.

Sawing with undercutting

• bar. the ruler is fixed to the plate with clamps on the marking line;
• A pre-cut on one side with a depth of approx. 0,1-0,3 cm is made along the line;
• Then on the other side the panel is finally cut through.

If everything is done carefully, no chips will appear.

Cutting rules

Before sawing, choose a method, as well as accessories and tools.

• Dot the end part of the chipboard. You need to determine in advance what type of cutting will be done. straight or shaped. The cutting technique is different.
• Connect the dots in the trimmer line and stick sticky tape on top. It is advisable to saw the laminated chipboard preferably with adhesive tape. It will reduce the cracks when cutting, because the wooden board is subjected to strong pressure with the rise in temperature.
• Sawing the board. Position the accessory at the correct angle to achieve extremely flat edges. The process should proceed smoothly, rhythmically and without heavy pressure.
• Trim irregularities and edges with a file and rasp, if necessary. The edges can be laminated with veneer of the appropriate color. This will ensure their protection and will look more beautiful.

To disguise poor-quality ends use the method of decorative finishing. veneering (gluing the sides). Thus, not only the appearance will improve, but also increase the service life of the product.

Only after placing all the necessary tools on the table, you can start sawing.

Cutting rules

Laminated chipboard is made from waste hardwood and softwood lumber, with the board has a lightweight and used for the manufacture of furniture structures. Most home furniture makers give preference to laminated chipboard when choosing raw materials for furniture manufacturing. This material is relatively inexpensive, and there is always a wide variety of colors and textures to choose from in retail outlets. The difficulty when working with laminated chipboard is that it is very difficult to cut off a piece of sheet of the required size because the fragile laminated layer creates cracks and chips at the place of sawing. Knowing some of the tricks of the trade helps to accomplish this task.

To cut laminated chipboard, you need a saw with fine teeth.

The shallower and more frequent they are on the tool blade, the cleaner and smoother the finished cut of the laminated material will be.

In order to saw accurately and efficiently we need to proceed in a certain sequence.

• On the sheet of laminated chipboard it is necessary to mark out a line for the saw trimmer, where a paper adhesive strip should be glued tightly. Tape prevents the teeth of the saw from splitting the laminate during the sawing process.
• Using an awl or the blade of a knife, a groove with a recess is drawn along the cutting line. In this way we cut through a thin layer of lamination in advance, making it easier for ourselves while sawing. Moving along this groove, the blade of the saw will make tangential movements, cutting through deep layers of particleboard material.
• When sawing it is advisable to hold the saw blade at an acute angle to the plate’s working plane.
• If the sawing work will be done with the electric tool, the feed rate of the cutting blade should be minimal, so that the saw blade can not vibrate and bend.
• After the sawing is done, the cut of the workpiece must be processed first with a file, and then with the use of sandpaper. The cut should be processed with movements from the center to the edge of the workpiece.

To protect the place of the cut on the workpiece from further appearance of chips or cracks, it is closed, applying adhesive tape of melamine, or secure the end edges, which may have a T-shaped or C-shaped appearance.

After such a decorative masking not only improves the appearance of the board, but also increases the service life of the material.

Cutting Cricut chipboard with the blade. Help Center

How thick particleboard can be cut with a knife blade??

What to Look For When Buying Materials?

• To cut the Cricut chipboard it is recommended to use a 2 mm thick knife blade only because it is made of high quality material. Using other fiberboard materials can damage the blade.

How big can my cuts be??

• Maximum cut size: 10. 5 in. x 10.5 in
• Minimum cut size: 0.75 inch x 0.75 inch (including inside and outside cuts)
• Width of kerf should not be less than the diameter of the pencil
• Make sure all cuts are at least an inch from the edge of the particle board (if the blade crosses the edge of the particle board, there is a high chance the blade will be damaged)

Tip : Cutting images or drawings smaller than our recommended settings may result in inconsistent cuts or damage to the blade.Smaller or more complex cuts may work with some images, but not others. If you decide to take the risk, we recommend reflecting your image and constantly monitoring the material throughout the installation. If small pieces shift during cutting, stop the machine and remove them without pushing the mat out before continuing cutting.

What kind of mat should I use?

How to prepare materials?

• For best results, open the Cricut chipboard and lay it down for 24 hours to allow the material to adapt to your climate. If the particle board begins to warp, place a heavy object underneath.
• Use the cutter to create a firm bond between the material and the adhesive surface of the mat. Place the project materials on the mat, then gently roll the brailler across the surface.
• Glue all four edges of the chipboard to the mat within 1 inch of the corner (painter’s tape or blue masking tape is recommended)
• On the Cricut Maker, move the white asterisks all the way to the right (Read more).

• Star wheels left in place can leave an imprint on the project material.

• If the edges come out uneven, replace the blade before final cutting.

How long will my cutting take?

Thicker materials require multiple cutting passes with gradually increasing pressure. This means that cutting with the knife takes much longer than cutting thinner materials with other blades.The design space will tell you approximately how long the knife will take.

• After you select the setting and load your Knifeblade project, you will be warned that the cutting time will be longer than usual.
• When the first pass is complete, Design Space calculates the expected remaining cutting time based on how long the first pass took and how many passes are pre-programmed for that material. It displays which passes the machine is currently making and the expected total number of passes.

Tip : The duration of the trim will depend on the material, size and complexity of the images you cut.

What should I do while cutting?

• Check the machine regularly to check the cuts
• You may notice that small pieces are cut and not held by the mat until all passes are completed. Stop the machine and remove parts if necessary.
• Some images may appear to be completed before all passes are completed.Allow the machine to complete all passes for best results.

What do I do after the cut is complete?

• Before you remove the mat from the machine, check your cut. If the cut is still connected to the material, press Cricut “C” to add an additional cut pass.
• Remove the cuts from the mat, then remove the tape and excess material.
• Expect to see knife blade prints or cuts on the mat.

• For best results, if you are cutting multiple identical images, place the image on different parts of the cutting mat

• If the piece is not cut completely, do not try to pull it out. pushing on the piece may cause it to break.

Troubleshooting

• If your material moves during cutting, your mat may not be sticky enough
• If the material is not completely cut, you may need to replace the blade
• Sometimes the machine may stop while cutting, but more passes are still needed.In this case, follow the on-screen instructions in Design Space

• If the machine keeps stopping in the same area, repeat the process. It may take several attempts.
• If the machine can’t move past this point, the material may be defective. Remove the material from the machine, throw it away, and start cutting again with a new piece of material.

Job performance

Once you have chosen a saw, you still need to saw the laminated board correctly at home. Experts recommend to saw along the guide rail (a rail clamped in clamps is also good). If a new, unworn blade is used, it is possible to cut the chipboard as cleanly as with a circular saw. It is advisable to run the jigsaw at the lowest RPM possible. This will significantly increase the life of each saw that is used.

Place the blades themselves at right angles to the jigsaw blade. The easiest way to check the angle is with a square or protractor. Important: the straight line passing through the cutting edge of the tool must be parallel to the rigidly fixed part of the jigsaw. It is recommended to use special inserts that reduce the likelihood of splintering. But to make them work more effectively, it is usual to notch the laminated layer on the side where the blade will exit.