Cutting out plywood - the main features of the work. How to cut a circle in plywood: selection of tools, shaped cutting technologies with a jigsaw, router and improvised means. How to cut an 80 mm circle from plywood

Plywood sheets are rarely used in the same format in which they are offered for sale. Most often, plywood is additionally cut. Often the task arises of obtaining a workpiece of a certain shape. How to cut a circle from plywood, even without having a special tool at hand, we will tell you in more detail.

It is recommended to cut only on dry plywood. Humidity increases the resistance of the board and increases the risk of fractures, veneer delamination and other defects.
Replace cutting tool It is better immediately when primary signs of dullness appear.
When using an electric jigsaw, in order to obtain the cleanest possible edges of the workpiece, the cutting line should be directed along the fibers, but when using hand tools- across the veneer. In the latter case, there may be more chips, but the tool most likely will not leave the cutting line.
When transferring drawings or other elements onto plywood, try to ensure that flaws (spots, knots and cracks on the material) go to waste and not to the plywood itself.
If the task is complex, for example, cutting round product, then you need to think about using a special tool (a circular saw or an ordinary saw will not work) or original improvised means.

How to cut a circle from plywood

The hardest thing to decide is how to cut an even circle from plywood, if there is no special tool at hand. But even in such a situation there is a way out - available means. What is the essence of the method:

The main tool is a wooden strip with a pair of nails.
The first nail must be driven through the strip and then placed in the very center of the plywood piece.
The second nail should be as sharp as possible. It is driven in at a distance equal to the radius of the circle from the first one. The point should protrude from the strip by about 5-10 mm or more (depending on the thickness of the plywood sheet).
By rotating the bar relative to the first nail, the second nail forms a groove and gradually deepens in the plywood
Rotations are carried out until the plywood sheet is completely cut.

Instead of a bar, you can use a high-strength cord, but the principles of obtaining a circle do not change.

More traditional methods making a circle from plywood using a suitable tool:

jigsaw - electric or manual. Initially, a sketch is made in pencil (for example, using a template), then a cut is made along the lines, and the finished part is additionally sanded with a file or sandpaper;
milling cutter. An excellent tool for making a circle from thick plywood. The standard ruler is fixed with a self-tapping screw in the center of the circle. Next, the cutter rotates along a given radius, forming a hole of a regular round shape.

Why do you need a plywood circle?

Before you think how to cut a circle in plywood with a jigsaw, you need to clearly understand why it is needed. Subsequently, either the resulting round-shaped blank itself or a plywood sheet with a hole of the correct shape can be used.

Where a round piece of plywood can come in handy:

for making various crafts and templates for them;
used as a base for a wall clock;
be used for subsequent figure cutting or decoupage;
act as the seat of a stool, kitchen tabletop or coffee table etc.
for creating various souvenirs, for example, boxes, etc.

You may also need to cut out the correct circle from plywood for subsequent use of a sheet with a hole:

installations mortise sink into the tabletop;
getting a ceiling with a cutout underneath lighting fixtures round shape ( spotlights or one chandelier);
for the production of furniture with decorative facades and other elements, etc.

The jigsaw is a famous tool manual type, designed for cutting patterns on various surfaces. In terms of its importance, it is as important as a drill or hammer drill.

A jigsaw is used for sawing various types of materials (wood, metal, etc.).

They can make straight and curved openings in wood of any species and other non-natural materials, precise cuts geometric shapes with a complex trajectory. The tips and recommendations listed here will help you figure out how to cut a circle with a jigsaw.

Properties of metalworking tools

The jigsaw is intended for household and professional needs. Devices of the first type are characterized by low power and are designed for work in small volumes. Purpose of use special equipment is the professional orientation of the tool, its productivity and long period of work.

Usually household appliances have a standard set of functions:

frequency of moves;
method of fixing a sheet for cutting;
pendulum type movement;
turning the saw.

A jigsaw is used for finishing surfaces, cutting out uneven edges, internal holes, and making furniture. The processed material is securely fixed to the base. Marks are made on it in advance, then the holes are sawed. Rotational vibrations of the shaft are converted into translational movements. The saw is fixed on the rod, its quality determines the life of the product. When choosing a device, preference should be given to round shapes and thickened stems.

The jigsaw is distinguished by such positive qualities, How:

Cutting holes in any samples.
A simple device allows you to quickly replace saws.
Possibility to make round or rectangular cuts.
Ease of use.
Does not require special knowledge or skills.
The presence of a significant number of saws with different step limits of action and tooth shapes makes it possible to carry out various types work in conditions of one device.
Reliable fixation of the cut sample allows any distance from the edge of the product.
The universal action device allows you to cut to any depth.
During the work, the material is practically not damaged.

Disadvantages:

The shortened movement of the blade ensures slower operation of the device.
Possibility of injury.
Possibility of cord failure.
Checking the battery charge level.

The jigsaw has a built-in protection system, pneumatics and an electric drive.

The new products being released are equipped with improved functions: reducing the number of vibrations, improving productivity indicators, and equipping the device with convenient functions. Depending on the method of fixing the cutting part, saws are:

with holes;
with a cross-shaped element;
with a smooth base.

A jigsaw can in some way replace a router, hand saw, circular, chain saw, corner grinding machine. The tool is necessary in any household; it allows you to carry out wood carving.

The current supplied to the device from the network gives an impulse to the motor, setting it in motion. Together with the gearbox, it transmits the impulse to the gear, which secures the rod. The circular action of the shaft is modified into the movement of the working element of a reciprocating nature, moving up and down. The saws are fixed using screws or clamping mechanisms. Such fasteners help in short terms change the canvas.

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Rules for working with a jigsaw

To understand how to properly saw a circle in wood, it is important to study the features. This carpentry tool helps to cut out ovals, wavy patterns, figures with uneven outlines, non-standard carved boxes, shelves with end-to-end patterns. To ensure that interaction with a jigsaw is organized and safe, it is important to adhere to the following rules:

In order for work with a jigsaw to proceed quickly and safely, do not forget to fix the product before work.

To avoid inconvenience, special stands should be prepared during work. A slot is made up to the middle of the support, somewhat reminiscent of a lock hole.
The stand is fixed with clamps or screws to the workbench.
At the time of work, you need to sit down, position the file strictly vertically relative to the floor and perpendicular to the surface.
The workpiece is placed in the middle of the stand, holding it with your left hand; you can saw the plywood with your right hand. The location of the cuts should be in the middle part of the support hole.
The tool does not tolerate strong pressure: just a small touch and gradual movement up and down, and it will begin to work effectively.

Attributes:

pencil;
drill;
drill;
jigsaw

Plywood (and to a lesser extent other sheet materials such as chipboard or oriented strand board) has significant decorative potential. If there is enough simple tool and certain skills, you can cut almost anything out of plywood.
But in order for the parts obtained as a result of such carving to look quite presentable, the master should have a few tricks in stock. We will talk about them in our article.

When starting to work with sheet materials, many craftsmen only have an idea of how to cut in a straight line. Therefore, the question of how to cut an even circle from plywood can confuse many. And indeed, ordinary or circular saw can't cope with the task.
Figure cutting is most often done using the following tools:

The simplest device used for sawing. With the help of a jigsaw, even the most delicate work You can do it yourself, but it’s practically unsuitable for thick material or long cuts.
Jigsaws. There are two types of devices you can use here:
- regular, with a vertical file;
- artistic, in which the role of the cutting element is performed by a steel blade.

Regular jigsaws will come in handy when working with thick ones. But if you are looking for a way to cut letters from plywood or make others complex elements(for example details children's construction set), then it is best to use a model with a band saw.

Advice! Naturally, for each type of jigsaw there are several types of files and blades. The right choice cutting element is a necessary condition high quality product.

In addition to jigsaws, you can use a furniture router for curved cutting. Despite how difficult it is to operate, it is many times superior to most plywood saw models in terms of the quality of the holes it makes. Using a router you can.

Also, do not forget about available devices, but we will talk about their use in the appropriate section.

Cutting from plywood has several nuances that the master needs to take into account:

Firstly, you can only cut on dry material. High humidity leads to an increase in the resistance of plywood, therefore, with excessive force, either the veneer will begin to delaminate or the file will break.
You need to change the saw or cutting blade immediately after the first signs that the teeth have become dull appear.
If we are cutting from plywood using a jigsaw, then to obtain cleaner edges, the main cutting lines should be placed along the grain of the veneer. But with hand files it is easier to work across the grain: there will be slightly more chips, but there is less risk of the file getting pinched or moving away from the intended line.

Advice! When transferring patterns for cutting from plywood onto the workpiece, try to place the template in such a way that the elements to be removed fall on areas with defects: knots, chips, stains, etc.

Shape cutting technologies

Jigsaw

As we noted above, a jigsaw will come in handy if we are looking for how to cut a word out of plywood or make other parts of complex shapes:

We transfer pre-printed drawings or templates onto the workpiece using carbon paper.

If the structure has through sections, we make starting holes with a thin drill.
Insert a file or jigsaw blade into the hole. Secure the free end of the file with a fastening screw or clamp.
We make a cut along the intended line, pressing the workpiece to the workbench. The saw moves either automatically (for electric curved jigsaws), or manually.

After all the arc elements have been sawn, remove unnecessary areas and process the finished part with a file or sandpaper.

Fraser

A furniture router is great for cutting out thick plywood. Certainly, complex shape You can’t make it with it, but you can easily cut an arc or circle:

We fix the standard ruler included in the router in the center of the circle using a self-tapping screw.
If the length of the ruler is not enough, you can assemble a simple bracket from metal profile or wooden planks.
By rotating the cutter along a fixed radius, we select a groove along the circumference, resulting in an almost perfect hole.

Pay attention! When calculating the diameter of the circle, you should take into account the dimensions of the working cutter. Exact numbers The instructions for the device will tell you.

In this way, you can cut not only circles, but also individual arcs - for example, to make grooves for furniture brackets.

Using improvised means

For curly elements It is advisable to have special devices, but any craftsman may need to make a round hole in a slab of laminated veneer. Below we will tell you how to cut a circle from plywood when you have nothing at hand.
Well, almost nothing:

To cut plywood, use a wooden strip with two nails.
One nail is driven through the strip into the workpiece, exactly in the center of the hole being made.
We drive the second nail into the bar so that the point protrudes on the wrong side by at least 5-10 mm. The distance from the first nail should be equal to the radius of the hole being made.
Rotating the bar, use the tip to draw a groove on the plywood, deepening it with each turn.
Instead of a stick, you can use a strong cord. The operating principle remains unchanged.

The sharper the nail used, the faster the hole will be made.
It should be noted that although the price of such a device is low, it is worth using it only when other methods are not available: the edges still turn out to be far from ideal.

Similar materials

A common question is how to cut from plywood with a jigsaw. smooth circles, baffles novice masters. After all, doing this is much more difficult than a simple straight cut; no saw will help here.

Most often with a task figure sawing A jigsaw helps. Jigsaws can be manual or electric. A manual jigsaw consists of a frame with blade clamps and a handle. Main disadvantages hand jigsaw: low mechanical strength of the canvas and small size framework. As a result of this, the blade often breaks and it is impossible to cut at a large distance from the edges of the part. These jigsaws are usually used for processing wooden products. There are ordinary jigsaws, in which the saw is located vertically, and for artistic cutting, where the cutting element is a steel blade. Electric jigsaws are usually used when working with thick material.

Key rules

To make the sawing process simple and fast, you must follow the basic key rules works:

To ensure that the edges of the plywood are even, it is better to cut along the blade.

You can only work with dry material, since humidity increases the resistance of the material, as a result of which the veneer may begin to delaminate;
it is necessary to change the cutting blade immediately after the first signs of dullness of the teeth appear;
It is better to work with a jigsaw along the fibers of the material, so the edges will be smoother;
Use a hand jigsaw to cut across the grain of the veneer.

To ensure safe work, you must adhere to the following recommendations:

securely fasten the sawing table and the file in the frame;
the jigsaw must have serviceable and well-fitted handles;
you should not press too hard on the jigsaw, trying to “help” it, this will only lead to an acceleration of dulling of the working blade;
It is best to make straight and long cuts with a wide blade, so the cutting process will go faster;
You must always see the markings, so sawdust must be removed from the material being cut by hand, and under no circumstances should you blow it away, as it can get into your eyes.

Compliance with these simple rules will help a beginner learn how to cut circles with a jigsaw and make his work easier.

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Cutting instructions

Before starting work, you need to drill a hole in the plywood for the jigsaw blade.

To cut even circles with a jigsaw quickly and beautifully, you don’t have to be an expert in this field, but for a beginner it can be a very difficult task. In this matter, the main thing is patience and, of course, the presence of the necessary accompanying tools, such as the jigsaw itself, a file, a compass, a simple pencil and devices for polishing the surface.

The first thing to do is draw a circle on the surface of the material you will be working with. It would be best to use a compass or select a suitable circle and trace it. You need to trace with a pencil so that traces of it can be erased in the future.

If you need to cut a circle inside the surface, you should make a through starting hole. Next, you need to insert a jigsaw blade or file into this hole and secure the free end of the file with a clamp. It is recommended to cut while sitting. First of all, you need to secure the file in the jigsaw using a key, keeping in mind that the teeth of the file should be directed downward. You need to cut from top to bottom. The tool should be held straight to avoid nicks and bevels.

The main thing in this process is not to rush and cut smoothly without sudden movements.

It is necessary to take short breaks during the sawing process, as the file may overheat and break. Now the circle is ready. Now it is recommended to use a file to straighten the edges, erase the markings left by the pencil and polish the part. If necessary, it can be varnished.

Of course, it requires certain dexterity and skills, but everything comes with experience. Therefore, following the recommendations described above should help the novice master in mastering this interesting and exciting activity.