Carpentry question:

[MichaelD]

I was going to put "Woodworking Question" as my title, but that would've went over well...


When cutting plywood, do you cut with or against the grain, or does it matter w/plywood? I know w/solid woods (maple/oak/pine/etc), you're supposed to cut with the grain. I was just wondering because even plywood is expensive and I don't want to muck anything up. Thanks.

 

[MajesticMoose]

You can do both, but i think you need a different blades for it to be smooth. There are cross-cut blades for going across and ripping bladess for going with the grain.

 

[911paramedic]

Uhhhh, you have to cut in both directions if you are making it fit somewhere. Plywood comes in many grades you must have bought a higher grade if it cost a lot. Exterior grade is usually about $15 for a 4'x8' sheet (3/4in). Use a finishing blade if you want clean cuts, you can also put down 2" masking tape over the cutting area in order to cut down on splintering.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks Gentlemen,

911, LOL! I forgot about that...I DO have to cut both ways. Duh on me. Heheheheh. I'll be using a high-speed, industrial table saw, so I should be good to go. Thanks again.

 

[Kanalua]

Doesn't matter...

 

[BooneRebel]

By it's very nature, plywood is made up of several veneer layers, the grain of each layer is perpendicular to the layers above & below it. So it doesn't truly have a grain, though the outside layers usually match.

If you're doing furniture or something that you're worried about splitting the wood, use a blade with small teeth & cover your cut line with masking tape before you begin. This should give you a pretty smooth cut.

 

[MaxDepth]

what are going to use to cut the wood?

table saw: use masking tape like 911paramedic advises. tearout (wood splintering from force of cut) is not a pretty sight and is nearly impossible (on plywood) to cover up.

circular saw (hand saw): clamp two pieces of scrap wood above and below the area you are intending to cut. this too avoids tearout.

if you are making rabbet cuts on a table saw (with dado blades), don't worry. the cut won't cause tearout.


but in response to your original question, there is no "grain." If you are cutting veneered plywood, just choose the way the you want the surface to look like, as matched with other surfaces - if one board is going east to west with the veneered "grain," then don't nail/glue it to another board that is goning north to south.

good luck on the project!



And as always, Pics????