What kind of hand saw will help me cut through this?
July 25, 2018 2:21 PM Subscribe
I need to cut through 1/8" thick plywood, but my hacksaw stops halfway.
I have to cut 1/8" thick plywood. A regular hand saw didn't work because it leaves too rough of a cut for such a thin piece of wood. My tension hacksaw works great until I get about 5 inches into it and the top of the saw (the bow part) reaches the edge of the wood and I have to stop because it won't go farther.
I'd prefer a non-electric saw.
I have to cut 1/8" thick plywood. A regular hand saw didn't work because it leaves too rough of a cut for such a thin piece of wood. My tension hacksaw works great until I get about 5 inches into it and the top of the saw (the bow part) reaches the edge of the wood and I have to stop because it won't go farther.
I'd prefer a non-electric saw.
Get a fine tooth hand saw, and put masking tape over the cut line on both sides to reduce splintering.
posted by beagle at 2:29 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by beagle at 2:29 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's also possible to use a good sharp utility knife against a straight edge, working on both sides. Saw or knife, cut a little wider than you need and then sand it down to the right size.
posted by beagle at 2:33 PM on July 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by beagle at 2:33 PM on July 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Agree, Japanese pull saw.
posted by humboldt32 at 2:33 PM on July 25, 2018
posted by humboldt32 at 2:33 PM on July 25, 2018
Seconding the Japanese saw (dozuki). If you saw at a slight angle to the wood (just as you would do with a regular hand saw), you should be able to do it with a really smooth cut.
posted by tracer at 2:36 PM on July 25, 2018
posted by tracer at 2:36 PM on July 25, 2018
The Japanese saw is probably the way to go but in a pinch I have used the top part of a mini hack saw for this purpose as well.
posted by btfreek at 2:38 PM on July 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by btfreek at 2:38 PM on July 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
A Dozuki is the wrong type of Japanese saw because the stiffener on the back of the blade will limit the depth of cut , a Ryoba or Kataba is more appropriate. if you want a western saw use the "panel saw" now mostly called a hand saw. you can get them in fine tooth versions for under 20 dollars at your local big box home improvement center. beagle's suggestion for masking tape is a good one.
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:47 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Dr. Twist at 2:47 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Another cheap possibility is a coping saw. If the strip you are trying to cut off the plywood panel is no more than 6 inches in width, then you adjust the saw blade to be 90 degrees to the bow and you can cut an unlimited length.
posted by JackFlash at 2:59 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 2:59 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
btfreek's mini hacksaw will work fine, put the blade in so it cuts on the pull stroke. And you already have hacksaw blades!
posted by Marky at 3:26 PM on July 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Marky at 3:26 PM on July 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you have something that can hold the cut open it might not get caught. The two pieces of the wood fight to close back together. With big pieces of wood, I sometimes let one side dangle so that gravity is always pulling it down.
Jamming a screwdriver or something into that initial cut might help. It's pinching, it sounds like.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:51 PM on July 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Jamming a screwdriver or something into that initial cut might help. It's pinching, it sounds like.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 3:51 PM on July 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The bodge for this in the case of "I need to do this now and I don't want to buy anything" is to take the blade out of the hacksaw, orient it so it cuts on the pull stroke and make a handle by wrapping the end with masking tape.
This is not recommended, elegant or going to result in the straightest cut, but you were already in the sub-optimal position of cutting ply with a hacksaw and it works.
Otherwise yes, I'd second the Japanese saw.
posted by deadwax at 4:02 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is not recommended, elegant or going to result in the straightest cut, but you were already in the sub-optimal position of cutting ply with a hacksaw and it works.
Otherwise yes, I'd second the Japanese saw.
posted by deadwax at 4:02 PM on July 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
I’d use a tenon saw. Small reinforced fine tooth saw designed for straight cuts in material that isn’t too thick. It’s a generally useful saw.
posted by w0mbat at 7:59 PM on July 25, 2018
posted by w0mbat at 7:59 PM on July 25, 2018
Depending on which hack saw you have it might already have the capability to hold a hacksaw blade untensioned for pull stroke cutting. This Dewalt 5-in-1 for example (or this stanley branded version). Otherwise for a single short cut I've done the tape thing with electrical tape with some success.
posted by Mitheral at 9:05 PM on July 25, 2018
posted by Mitheral at 9:05 PM on July 25, 2018
1/8" plywood? Utility knife with a nice fresh blade running along a steel straightedge, in multiple passes with fairly gentle pressure. Saws are always going to be a bit splintery on material that thin. The knife will make a cut smooth enough not to need sanding afterward, especially if you do the last pass from the other side.
This is also the best way to cut 1/8" MDF.
posted by flabdablet at 10:54 PM on July 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is also the best way to cut 1/8" MDF.
posted by flabdablet at 10:54 PM on July 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Saws described here.
You don't describe the material you are cutting, or how much you have to cut, or if the cuts are all straight. All these things matter. However, making reasonable assumptions, if I wanted straight cuts, I'd go with a panel saw, or if I had to buy something, I'd see what was available in a small cross cut saw (which is pretty much the same thing). If the cuts are curved, the various hacksaw options would be better.
If the first saw you tried was acceptable except for the splintering, I would try to reduce the splintering. If tape, as suggested by beagle, doesn't work, you could try backing your work with a layer of scrap plywood.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:56 AM on July 26, 2018
You don't describe the material you are cutting, or how much you have to cut, or if the cuts are all straight. All these things matter. However, making reasonable assumptions, if I wanted straight cuts, I'd go with a panel saw, or if I had to buy something, I'd see what was available in a small cross cut saw (which is pretty much the same thing). If the cuts are curved, the various hacksaw options would be better.
If the first saw you tried was acceptable except for the splintering, I would try to reduce the splintering. If tape, as suggested by beagle, doesn't work, you could try backing your work with a layer of scrap plywood.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:56 AM on July 26, 2018
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posted by twirlypen at 2:29 PM on July 25, 2018 [1 favorite]