Circular blade for ply

[JohnD]

I don't do much woodwork, have a 6" saw that I mostly use taking up old floors, sometimes laminated worktops, so use a coarse TCT blade that cheerfully goes through the occasional nail or screw I've missed.

I have been cutting some new ply recently, and had bad splintering on both sides. Maybe my blade is getting blunt, or maybe I should get a more suitable blade. What would that be?

 

[Burnerman]

Like everything else, ply aint what it used to be - often sourced from the Orient.
By all means use a new, fine toothed blade and try to get your cut with the grain of the final veneer.....it'll shred like hell otherwise. Some tape over the cut isn't a bad idea either.
John

 

[JohnD]

try to get your cut with the grain of the final veneer

Can't be done. I have to cut both ways.

But I will try your tape idea, thanks, and maybe try scoring along the line.

6" blades do not seem common, but I checked the box. Unfortunately I am quite clumsy with a panel saw as well.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

You said it yourself - coarse TCT blade that's hit a few nails..... As burnerman says use a fine tooth blade. I'd also agree that pre-scoring with a knife and straight edge (back edge of your saw?) for any cross grain cuts is a good idea. If you can make all circular saw cuts from the same side of the ply and you'll find the cut edges on the underside far better (works for Contiboard, too)

 

[JohnD]

television? scope? autocorrect?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Yes. Big fingers, small screen. Can work in your favour though - been somewhere last week where one of the guys had "Compound Manager" emblazoned on his hard hat. Apparently his boss typed in "Complete T@@@@r" but the spell check on his Dymo auto corrected......

 

[big-all]

also the blade should be protruding out by two teeth or about 1.5-3mm below the surface