Which Hacksaw Is Better To Saw

Option # 1. narrow

The small, narrow saw is a structure that consists of a straight flat blade and a handle. She performs delicate work: through cuts, cut out curved parts.

This type of tool is designed for sawing wooden blanks, the thickness of which does not exceed 8-10 cm, sawing small branches and small works in the garden

In the manufacture of narrow models, manufacturers install blades with triangular double-sided teeth, or with parallel sharpening. The disadvantage of the tool is that when pressed during operation, the blade is able to deviate from a given direction.

Tool specifications

The saw is rightfully considered the ancestor of a large family of hand tools. Since the creation of the first type of tool from iron, the saw has undergone many changes, having managed to acquire numerous “sisters” capable of performing dozens of jobs.

In the household, it is impossible to do without “toothy helpers”: they are indispensable when pruning a garden, small carpentry and joinery

Hand saws for wood differ in many ways: blade size, steel grade, tooth shape, handle design. Let’s dwell on each parameter in more detail.

How to choose the right hacksaw: looking for the best hand saw for wood

In the arsenal of a home craftsman there is always a functional and easy-to-use circular saw. But there are situations when you need to saw off a part and perform a small amount of woodwork, and there is no time or desire to unfold and connect the unit. In these cases, a hacksaw is excellent. But how to choose a hand saw for wood, so that it is convenient to use and easily “gnawed” any wood species, we will consider in more detail.

Option # 4. bow

Bow-type saws are more bulky devices that act as an analogue of a jigsaw.

The main purpose of saws of this type is to create an accurate cut when working with surfaces located at any angle.

Due to the solidity of the design and the threaded connections of the handles, the bow-type saws are able to easily overcome knots, cutting along radii and curved patterns.

Depending on the purpose and design of the saw, there may be:

• swinging. for longitudinal cutting;
• transverse. for sawing blanks across the wood fiber;
• vykruznye. for cutting holes, making rounding and curly sawing;
• thorns. for cutting connecting spikes, as well as cutting out simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.

Only an onion-type hacksaw can cut the material up and down, sawing blanks with complex fishing lines and performing the work alone without involving an assistant.

Parameters of teeth on the blade

The determining indicator of the productivity of the tool and the accuracy of cutting wood is the size of the teeth.

The teeth of a hacksaw for woodworking have a double function: they cut the wood and at the same time remove the sawdust

Cutting accuracy is determined by the “TPI”. the number of teeth per inch.

There is an inverse relationship between these technical parameters:

• blades with large teeth set a high speed of work, but the saw cut is rough and sloppy;
• fine-toothed hacksaws guarantee a clean and precise cut, but at a relatively low working speed.

When determining the required size of the teeth, one should be guided by the type of material being processed. For example, to work with chipboard, where high cutting accuracy is required, choose a tool with a high TPI 7-9, and for sawing logs and work in the garden, where the cleanliness of the cut is not so important. TPI 3-6.

When choosing the optimal hacksaw option, be guided by the rule that the minimum thickness of the log should in any case be greater than the pitch of three teeth

If we compare a hardened and an ordinary tooth, then the difference is that in the first variant, subject to domestic use, the product does not dull for a long time. But a hacksaw with a hardened tooth cannot be re-sharpened. When it starts to cut badly, you just have to throw it away.

An ordinary tooth lends itself to sharpening. It can be periodically performed using a special file marked with an accident (for sharpening saws). To sharpen the blade, it is enough to perform a few movements on each tooth.

Depending on the type of teeth used, there are three types of hacksaws:

• For rip sawing. The products are equipped with teeth in the form of an oblique triangle and look like hooks. The tool allows you to cut wood along the grain. Such saws are sharpened on both sides of the tooth, due to which they are able to cut both when going forward and in the opposite direction.
• For cross cutting. The teeth of the tools are made in the form of isosceles triangles. This design allows for easy sawing of the material both when the cutting edge is carried forward and backward. But this type of tooth is only suitable for working with dry pieces, not fresh wood.
• For mixed sawing. The products have a combined composition, in which triangular edges are combined with slightly elongated semicircular notches. This solution allows, when the hand moves forward, the semicircular teeth perform a guiding cut, and when returning, triangular expand the channel, removing chips and sawdust from it.

Some types of modern tools are equipped with teeth that are trapezoidal. This solution allows you to make the blade more durable and wear-resistant.

But it should be borne in mind that sharpening such a blade is very problematic, since it is difficult for trapezoidal teeth to give the desired shape. This significantly reduces the service life of the product, after which it is necessary to change the blade or purchase a new tool.

For cutting fresh branches, it is more convenient to use blades equipped with triangular teeth, processed with parallel sharpening, in which each element is sharpened only on one side and in a staggered manner

Often on the market you can find a modernized type of hacksaws.

Upgraded hacksaws are easy to distinguish by groups of teeth located on the blade, between which the gaps are clearly visible

Upgraded hand saws are effective for cutting raw wood. Wet chips through the gaps between the teeth in the process of cutting easily come out of the cut without hindering the movement of the tool.

Option # 2. regular

A standard hand saw can be equipped with any type of teeth and is often equipped with replaceable blades of various types and designs.

To be able to saw off workpieces at a certain angle using a standard hand saw, you have to purchase special miter boxes

But despite the declared versatility of their use, it is not advisable to use saws of this type in the manufacture of furniture.

How a hacksaw blade should be?

The main part of the tool is a hacksaw blade. The first thing to look for when choosing a product is the length of the canvas. The possibilities of its application largely depend on this parameter. At the same time, the longer the blade, the more spring it is, which also complicates the process, especially when working with hard wood species such as ash, maple or oak.

Long stroke allows less effort when sawing, since more teeth are cut in one stroke

For sawing small elements such as plinths, bars or narrow slats, you can do with a hacksaw with a blade length of 25-30 cm.When planning to use the tool for more serious construction work, choose a product with a blade of 45-50 cm.

When determining the length of the hacksaw blade, be guided by the rule that the length of the saw is 2 times the diameter of the processed elements. If you do not follow this recommendation, you will only complicate your work. The teeth of a short hacksaw will jam inside the wood, and each will have to make a lot of effort to advance the tool to free the sawdust. Uncomfortable work will cause premature fatigue.

Traditionally, the width of the fabric of the product varies in the range of 10-20 cm. Models with a narrower fabric are not allowed for technical reasons, since they fail at the slightest bend. But it should be borne in mind that too wide canvases are inconvenient for manual work.

Of no less importance is the material for making the canvas, which is most often the role of alloy steel, as well as its degree of hardening

Tool alloy steel with high silicon and carbon grades is used for hacksaws:

• 65G, 60 C2A;
• 8 HF, 9 HF, 9 XC;
• U7, U7A, U8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U10

Metal hardening is carried out due to the action of an alternating magnetic field on it, in which a high-frequency electric current appears. Spreading over the surface, it heats up the surface layer of the metal, which is quenched after cooling.

The standard parameter is considered to be a metal hardness of 45 HRC, but it is still preferable to choose products, the hardness of the fabric of which is 55-60 HRC. A hacksaw with a blade of high hardness will have sufficient flexibility, but at the same time high stability of the teeth. On visual inspection, such a tool can be identified by the darkish shade of sharpened teeth.

Option # 3. with backing

Both narrow and conventional saws tend to bend as the workpiece becomes stiffer. In these cases, it is effective to use canvases equipped with a backing, which acts as a kind of stiffening rib.

Hand saws equipped with a backing are designed to create shallow cuts in a wooden surface of any thickness

The presence of the backing prevents the saw from making a cut deeper than the width of the blade, since it prevents the cutting blade from going further into the tree.

Handle type

The shape of the handle must be ergonomic. that is, it must correctly transmit force to the saw blade. In addition, the handle can be fixed or removable. The second option has the advantage of being able to replace a broken saw blade with a new one.

Blade length and width

The length of the saw blade is one of the first criteria to consider. Two points at once depend on this indicator. The first is the range of hacksaw capabilities. For example, you won’t cut a thick piece of wood with a short file. The second point is ease of use. A long blade is more springy than a short one and therefore more difficult to work with. This nuance is especially pronounced when trying to cut hard wood: for example, oak or ash. On the other hand, the longer the saw, the less strength you will need when working, because a fairly decent cut is made in one hacksaw stroke.

By collecting all the factors together, you can reduce them to certain standards. If you need a hacksaw to work with some not too thick elements. for example, you are going to saw slats or skirting boards. then a short blade, the length of which is from 25 to 30 cm, is quite suitable.

General recommendations

Material

Barbs

According to the size range of teeth, all hacksaws can be divided into two large categories:

• with large teeth. Such a tool is used for fast cutting. At the same time, labor productivity is quite high, but one cannot count on accuracy, the cut will be rather rough;
• with small teeth. It will not work to cut wood quickly with such a hacksaw, but the cut will be very clean and even.

However, when choosing, one should focus not on the concepts of “large” and “small”, but on specific numerical indicators. The more teeth there are for every inch of the saw blade, the more precise and accurate the cut will be. This indicator is indicated by the letters TPI. If numbers from 3 to 6 are indicated next to them, then this indicates a rather great greatness and a rare arrangement of teeth. This hacksaw should only be used for rough work. But the indicator from 7 to 9 already speaks of good cutting accuracy. Such tools are used, for example, to work with chipboard and similar materials.

The last thing worth mentioning in relation to the prongs is the choice between hardened and regular elements. Both options have certain advantages and disadvantages. The hardened tines have a very high wear resistance. The tool can last you quite a long time, provided that you use it for domestic purposes and not on an industrial scale.

The downside is that the hardened teeth cannot be sharpened. Sooner or later, the saw will still fall into disrepair, no matter how durable it is. In this case, she will have only one way. to be ejected.

But this does not threaten ordinary teeth. They are perfectly sharpened by an accident. this is a file designed specifically for working with saw blades. Regular teeth dull faster than hardened teeth, but due to the ability to sharpen the tool, the overall life of the saw is much longer.

We recommend reading:

Which hacksaw is best suited for working with wood. important selection criteria

A certain set of tools is required for the manufacture of wooden products. Some of them have already been described on our portal. For example, you can find information on choosing a jigsaw and various threading elements. But which hacksaw is better? She is one of the basic tools of the home master. so let’s understand in detail.

Drank varieties

We figured out the varieties. A video review will also help you to adequately equip your home workshop with various types of hacksaws:

The last point to touch is the hand saw manufacturers. As is the case with any other tool, the quality of a hacksaw depends not least on how responsibly those who produce these products are concerned. In the modern market, there are several manufacturers who have long and firmly established themselves. These are Enkor, Izhstal, Vira and Stanley firms. There are others, of course. In any case, do not go after the cheapest tool. only a high-quality saw will reliably serve you for a long time. Success in choosing!

Types of teeth

In the common people, it is customary to divide hand files into large and small hacksaws, with small and large teeth. However, they have much more differences than is commonly believed.

All wood saws differ in the type of teeth. They are:

• with a universal cut;
• with a cross section;
• longitudinal.

For a longitudinal cut, a jigsaw or circular is most often used, but hand files also exist. Like a power tool, they have hook-shaped teeth, and the angles between the teeth can be 40-65 degrees. This tooth shape allows you to cut in one direction only. Sawing is best done along the wood grain. So, the file easily penetrates the material and makes the cut smoother. This type of saw is most often used by furniture makers. For other purposes, it is not quite suitable.

The second type of hacksaw is the most in demand. Visually, they resemble an isosceles triangle. The teeth are at an angle of 45-55 degrees. The cross section is done easily, quickly and does not require much effort. When choosing this type of hacksaw, remember that it is best suited for dry wood. The saw will tear raw wood, and it will quickly become dull. Fresh wood is best cut with a parallel-toothed, triangular blade. With this type of sharpening, the teeth of the hacksaw are sharpened in a checkerboard pattern and only on one side. This allows wet sawdust to freely exit through the formed channel, without interfering with the movement of the blade.

Combined hacksaws have triangular teeth combined with semicircular teeth, and the second is larger than the first.

It is best not to choose universal files, since the compilation of teeth is different for them, and during work they quickly become blunt. When choosing a quality tool, you should give preference to a hardened steel sheet.

Which hacksaw is better for wood

Almost every DIYer has a practical wood saw. However, it happens that it is not possible to connect such a tool to the power supply system. In such cases, the old, long-proven hacksaw for wood, which is available in every house, helps out.

All files differ in size, shape, material, and also in their teeth. It is they who determine what the cut will be, what kind of wood the saw will master and how comfortable it will be in work. In addition to these indicators, there are other factors that should be paid attention to when choosing a tool. Therefore, the question of choosing a file should be approached responsibly.

The main thing for a hacksaw for wood is:

• width, length of the canvas;
• the size of the teeth;
• lever;
• canvas material.

The length of the blade affects the width of the workpiece to be procured, and also simplifies the work with the tool. Thanks to the long blade, less effort has to be made, since in one movement a cut is formed by a large number of teeth. However, the longer the length of the web, the more it springs. When pruning hardwoods, it is not very convenient to use a file.

On the practical side, a short file (up to 35 cm) will do better with small one-time work. It is easy to store as it takes up very little space.

In a private household, a saw with a length of 50-55 cm will be more practical.With it to make blanks, it will be more convenient to cut trees.

Usually, hand saw blades are made with a width of 15-20 cm. It is impractical to release them less, since they will quickly break and become unusable on the farm. When choosing a saw, you should know that it is better to cut narrow workpieces with a narrow blade, and wide ones with a wide one.

As a rule, the handles of such hacksaws are made of plastic, but it is better to give preference to rubberized holders. They prevent slipping and chafing of calluses on the palms.

The most important part of the saw are its teeth, so this part of the tool should be given special attention.

What are the hacksaws

Experts divide hand saws into several types:

• Standard.
• Narrow.
• Luchkovy.
• With a butt.

The cheapest saw is a narrow hand saw. It is best suited for pruning branches and for small one-time work. Usually, either double-sided triangular teeth or parallel sharpening are used. This type of hacksaw is suitable for working with small, thin workpieces. Cutting large objects will take a lot of effort.

Standard hacksaws can have any type of teeth. You need to choose a tool based on what kind of object is to be cut. You should only pay attention to the fact that this type of hacksaw is not suitable for making furniture.

The latter type of hacksaw is most often used as a secondary tool. With their help, only shallow cuts in the material are made.

The bow hacksaw has an expressive resemblance to an electric jigsaw. With their help, you can make the most accurate cut and use them at different angles. This type of hacksaw, in turn, is subdivided into:

• transverse;
• sweeping;
• spike;
• externally.

It is worth noting that hacksaws for wood, as a rule, do not sharpen. It will be extremely difficult to sharpen a file at home, therefore, the design of the tool provides for replaceable blades. You can buy them without any problems, the main thing is to clearly know for what purposes they will be used.

Selection recommendations

• First, determine the purpose of the tool. Precision is important for joinery, speed is important for carpentry.
• Choose the length of the blade depending on the size of the workpieces that you are going to cut.
• How often will you cut? If not every day, then it is better to buy an instrument with a hardened tooth. Then you don‘t have to sharpen it and set your teeth.
• Rate the quality of the canvas. To do this, first see if the teeth are evenly spaced. If so, bend the canvas 30-45 degrees. Do this carefully so that the hacksaw does not crack. If there is no deformation, the saw has passed a preliminary quality check. The next one will be carried out by you already when using the tool.
• In the final step, pay attention to the average cost of the hacksaw. Too cheap models are usually of poor quality. But if you need a saw for rare use, then choose from the middle price category or slightly below.

Number of teeth per inch of saw blade

Indicated by the TPI coefficient. With an increase in the coefficient, the pitch of the teeth decreases, and their number increases. Large wooden parts are better cut with a hacksaw with large teeth and a TPI value of 3 to 6. For medium-sized parts, a TPI 7–9, that is, an interdental pitch of 3–3.5 mm, works well. Fine carpentry works with models TPI 9-15.

Hardened or simple tooth

A hardened tooth lasts a long time and does not require sharpening. With domestic use, such a hacksaw will last for several years. In case of dullness, you will have to buy a new one. You can distinguish it by its black color. A simple tooth has the same color as the entire blade. It lends itself to sharpening with a specialized file with an accident marking (decoding: For Saw Point). It is enough to make a few movements with a file on each tooth. If you have a sharpening machine, then use special abrasive wheels.

The hardened teeth are black

Blade length

The higher its value, the larger the workpiece can be cut. It is desirable that the length of the blade be at least twice the size of the workpiece at the cut point. Then, when moving, all the teeth will go beyond the boundaries of the part, and the sawdust can spontaneously be removed. In addition, the cutting speed will increase and the hand will be less tired. For working with small slats and bars, a length of 300 mm is suitable, and for logs. 450-500 mm.

The length of the hacksaw is selected depending on the thickness of the workpiece

Tooth size

This parameter affects the cleanliness of the cut and the cutting speed. It is convenient to cut plywood and hardwood with a small-toothed hacksaw. No notches remain at the cut site. If you are starting from the cutting speed and you are not interested in the cutting frequency, then you can use a large 5-8 mm tooth. For cutting the logs, an even larger size is chosen. When processing material of different hardness, pay attention to the middle tooth 3.5–5 mm. This hacksaw produces small notches and good cutting speed.

Large tooth for high cutting speed

How to choose a good hacksaw

Before choosing a hand saw, familiarize yourself with the varieties and applications.

Table: types of hacksaws, depending on the shape of the teeth

Varieties of hacksaws	Tooth shape
For rip sawing	Oblique triangle
For cross cutting	Isosceles triangle
For mixed sawing	Right triangle

Mixed hacksaws allow you to cut not only along and across the fibers, but also at an angle.

The shape of the teeth is different for different types of sawing

Different types of saws have their own purpose:

usual. She has a long and wide canvas. Serves for longitudinal and cross cutting of workpieces, cutting down trees and branches;

A conventional hacksaw has a long and wide blade

Two-handed saw requires two people

A hacksaw for cutting branches has a semicircular blade

Bow saw suitable for hard-to-reach places

Rigid butt attachment reduces vibrations

Handle rotates 180 degrees

The spaces between the teeth are designed to remove sawdust

The circular saw is used to cut circles

The hand chain saw is a chain with handles at the ends

Handle type

The quality of the handle affects the ease of use of the tool. It can be wooden or plastic. The presence of scars or rubber inserts prevents the hand from slipping. The handle can be overhead. This makes it possible to change the canvas.

Plastic handle with rubber inserts prevents the hand from slipping

How does a hacksaw differ from a saw?

One of the main and commonly used types of saws is a hacksaw. It differs from other instruments in this group in that:

• This is a purely hand tool. The hacksaw saw is set in motion only by the reciprocating movements of the master’s hands. While other saws can be electric or gasoline.
• When using a hacksaw, only return movements are used, while other saws can be circular.
• In the usual configuration, such a tool has one handle for the master to work alone.
• It has basically a straight cutting blade, whereas analogs can have a chain, tape or disc.
• A hacksaw has only teeth on the working edge, while other varieties may have an abrasive.

A hacksaw. what is it, a device, what is it for, how it differs from a saw, the main types

One of the main tools for working with various materials from a home craftsman is a hacksaw. It has several varieties, which are used depending on the type of surface to be treated. It is important for each of them to be able to use correctly.

How to choose a hacksaw?

• Specialization of the model you like. It is worth carefully choosing what material to work with. Tools for aerated concrete and gardening differ significantly.
• Steel grade from which the cutting blade is made. High-speed and carbon alloys with a blade strength of 45 HRC and a cutting edge of at least 60 HRC behave best in their work.
• Sharpening the teeth affects the quality of the cut in a certain direction or work in hard-to-reach places. Universal sharpening is somewhat inferior in quality to a cut in more specialized models.
• The length of the blade differs not only among different types of models, but also differs among tools of the same category.
• Convenience of the handle. This parameter is especially important if the master will carry out a large amount of work with the tool. The more comfortable the hacksaw will fit in the palm of your hand, the less hand will get tired.

Types of hacksaw teeth

All the models described above differ not only in the shape of the blade for a hacksaw for metal or wood, but also in the size and angle of sharpening of the teeth. By shape and sharpening, all teeth are divided into:

• Rip sawing equipment along the grain. It has large, right-angle sharpened teeth.
• For crosscutting layers of workpieces. Tooth edges are sharpened at an angle and slightly slanted back.
• So-called Japanese cross-cut teeth. They differ from the standard counterpart in longer teeth and a double slope of the cutting edge.
• Symmetrical universal teeth, sharpened along the edges. Suitable for ripping and cross cutting.

The size of the teeth are:

• Small, about 2-2.5 mm long.
• Medium, the size of which is in the region of 3-3.5 mm.
• Teeth with a length of 4-6 mm are considered large.

Hacksaw for metal

Often, professional craftsmen use a special carpentry hacksaw for metal, which has the following varieties:

• A classic model with a special frame. It is often supplied with a rubberized handle for easy handling. With this model, you can make cuts in sheet metal at angles of 90º and 55º.
• A hacksaw handle. It consists of a special handle, to which the rig is attached only from one side. The special shape of the bracket assumes work in difficult conditions and the creation of internal cuts.

Cordless hacksaw

A special type of tool that has appeared relatively recently is a cordless reciprocating saw, which is also called an electric hacksaw. Such a device will come in handy when performing a large number of construction or garden work. The compact size allows the electric hacker to be used in confined spaces that would be difficult to handle with a conventional saw. Such a hacksaw should be selected, guided by its following characteristics:

• Battery capacity, which directly affects battery life. Professional models can last about 5 hours before changing the battery.
• Voltage affecting the power and number of movements made by the saw per unit of time.
• The ability to connect additional batteries to increase performance.

Hacksaw device

Like any other carpentry and metalwork tool, a hacksaw has a certain structure that affects its performance. It consists of:

• A working, hacksaw or saw blade. It is made of metal of various alloys, which, together with the size, affect the purpose of the tool. Another important parameter of the working blade is the number, shape and size of teeth. Thanks to them, the surface is divided into parts using the reciprocating movements of the master.
• The working blade is attached and securely fixed to the handle or special frame. It fulfills the functions of fixation, protection and ease of use. When choosing a saw, it is imperative to take into account its ergonomics.

Basic Rules

OSB boards are one of the most popular materials used for interior decoration. With their help, you can create load-bearing elements of buildings, choose as different types of cladding. Similar materials are used in the assembly of cabinet furniture, stairs and other structures.

When choosing this product for work, you should familiarize yourself with the principle of manufacturing this material. OSB is a material having 3 or more layers. Each of them consists of crushed chips mixed with resin. The length and thickness of the chips can be very different, while they are oriented in opposite directions. To make the board more durable, all layers are located in a clear direction, while the location of the chips in each layer occurs perpendicular to the previous and next layers.

The wood-based panels contain resin and glue for bonding veneers, chips and sawdust. Thanks to this, the slabs are elastic and rather dense.

While these materials outperform solid products in some respects, they are sometimes more difficult to work with. This mainly concerns their sawing.

For high-quality cutting of OSB sheets, you should use special tools, and also adhere to some rules.

The sheets are cut first across the fiber, and then along it. This will protect the material from deformation and splitting.

The correct selection of tools is an important factor. For sawing on the inside, a saw (hand saw or band saw) is more suitable. When working on the reverse side, a contour or disc plate is more often used.

When using a circular saw, it is necessary to keep the speed at a fairly high level.

The material should be fed smoothly, without jerking, otherwise there is a possibility of damage.

The choice of tools suitable for this material will allow you to work without creases and other defects.

How and how to cut an OSB board?

Oriented strand board is a fairly popular material used in construction. This material is abbreviated as OSB or OSB. Such a large-format sheet needs to be adjusted to the required dimensions, so the craftsmen have to perform similar actions directly in the process. The article provides detailed information on how to easily and efficiently cut an OSB board.

Japanese Saw V.S. Western Saw. Which Cuts Faster?

Tool overview

With a not very large amount of work, you can even cut the slab at home with a hand saw or knife. But in this case it is unlikely that it will be possible to do it qualitatively. A hacksaw is not the best tool for sawing an OSB board. Even experienced craftsmen can rarely do such a job up to the mark. In the absence of other, more suitable tools, it is better to cut the plate with a saw with fine teeth, leading the tool gently. The knife is also less suitable for working with OSB sheets, it is more often used only for marking.

Here is a list of suitable tools to use when sawing sheet material.

Electric jigsaw. This tool is more suitable for making curved cuts. Cutting the sheets in a straight line with a jigsaw is quite difficult. In the process of work, defects in the form of chips and pile may appear on one of the sides of the product, therefore, the correct choice of a file in this case is very important.

• Manual electric router. Using this tool will cut the slab clean and straight. But at the same time, it is often necessary to make several passes with a large plate thickness.

• The most successful option for cutting such materials is considered to be a circular. When using a circular saw, the cut is very high quality. The motor has enough power to cut even fairly thick sheets. Working with such a tool will allow you to get an edge perpendicular to the face of the sheet when cutting. Changing the slope will create a 45-degree edge. For best results use discs with more teeth.

OSB boards are usually large, so it is preferable to cut them on the floor. If it is necessary to cut a large number of such sheets, it is advisable to do this on a special scaffold.

Regardless of the choice of tool, it is necessary to slightly raise the plate using small blocks of wood. When working with a jigsaw or hacksaw, they are placed along the cut.

Using a circular saw, the bars should be laid across. The successful arrangement of the lining bars will not allow the material to break.

Cutting recommendations

Using the advice of experienced craftsmen for cutting such materials, you can cut OSB sheets quickly and without defects.

During operation, the rotation speed of the device should be maximum. In the case when the saw starts to go with an effort, or when the workpiece “burns out”. it is necessary to reduce the speed of rotation of the tool. In this case, it is necessary to ensure the minimum feed rate.

Before cutting the sheet, it is necessary to make a test cut by selecting an unnecessary piece of material. This will make sure that the markings are well visible, as well as choose the most suitable speed, evaluate the quality of work, and determine the size of the finished product.

The basic rule when sawing sheets is continuous and smooth guidance of the tool, since when stopped, traces often remain. Many beginners, trying to avoid chips at the end, begin to cut the slab from both sides, which is incorrect.

You need to make sure you have access to the markings, it is convenient to distribute the cable of the working tool.

It is necessary to cut not along the mowing line of the marking, but next to it.

When marking, it is necessary to take into account the thickness of the cut.

Before starting work, make sure that the tool is working at full power. This will protect against “kickback”.

After completing the work, you must wait until the disc has completely stopped, and then remove it from the sheet.

The main task of the masters when fixing the plates is to exclude the possibility of jamming of the equipment in the sheet during work. And also it is necessary to exclude excessive vibration. To protect the front surface from raising the pile and from chips, use tools suitable for this, and also select the desired modes of their operation. Some experts advise sticking masking tape along the cutting line of the cut, making a marking directly on top of it. this will allow you to get a high-quality cut.

Many people recommend using a sharp knife to line the line. In this case, the knife blade will cut through the fibers in the upper layers, reducing the likelihood of chipping. To obtain a clear cut mowing line, it is advisable to choose a “guide” in the form of an edged board, a bar, trimming material with smooth edges or aluminum rules. The guide is fixed on the plate using self-tapping screws.

By choosing the right tool and preparing it for work, you can provide the desired result without wasting time and effort.

Watch a video on how to cut an OSB board.