I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm wondering
what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my best
option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
TIA
"Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:6IOUc.1801423
> Yeah, a sharp utility knife was my first thought, but were talking about 3
> openings about 24*12. That's a lot of muscle. I can just see myself
slipping
> out of the groove and oops. I suppose cutting from the back would be an
> option.
>
> Maybe I'll make some templates and route them out?
If you really wanted to be safe, then an external template would be the way
to go. However, I've cut through 1/4" plywood a number of times before with
a razor knife as the result of living in an apartment and wanting to avoid
excessive dust. You can do it properly if the first few depth cuts are light
and then you can go deeper on subsequent cuts because the blade tends to
follow the groove or path of least resistance.
Another method I've used is to cut inside the line about an 1/8" and then
use a razor knife almost like a drawknife or plane to shave off that excess.
Works quite well and fairly fast actually and lets you sneak up on your line
bit by bit.
"Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
> shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm wondering
> what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my best
> option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
>
> TIA
>
>
Depending on the size of the doors you could route 'em out to the 2x4 frame
and get a pretty clean cut
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method
BTW,
> > shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> > face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm
wondering
> > what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my
best
> > option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
>
> Depends on the size of the cut-outs. If there' something like 3 inches or
> less, then I'd recommend a hole. For the cleanest hole, start the back
side
> just enough to score the veneer, go around to the good side and insert the
> drill bit in the hole and drill until through.
>
> If the hole is larger than that, a good sharp razor know with a little bit
> of muscle will do the job fine. You might have to do some repeated depth
> cuts. To decrease the likelihood of tearout, wherever you're cutting, make
> sure the back side is butted up against a flat wooden surface.
Yeah, a sharp utility knife was my first thought, but were talking about 3
openings about 24*12. That's a lot of muscle. I can just see myself slipping
out of the groove and oops. I suppose cutting from the back would be an
option.
Maybe I'll make some templates and route them out?
"Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
> shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm wondering
> what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my best
> option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
Depends on the size of the cut-outs. If there' something like 3 inches or
less, then I'd recommend a hole. For the cleanest hole, start the back side
just enough to score the veneer, go around to the good side and insert the
drill bit in the hole and drill until through.
If the hole is larger than that, a good sharp razor know with a little bit
of muscle will do the job fine. You might have to do some repeated depth
cuts. To decrease the likelihood of tearout, wherever you're cutting, make
sure the back side is butted up against a flat wooden surface.
"Eric Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
> > shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> > face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm
wondering
> > what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my
best
> > option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
>
> Depending on the size of the doors you could route 'em out to the 2x4
frame
> and get a pretty clean cut
Strange, my first reply seems to have been eaten. Hopefully this is not a
duplicate.
Yeah, I considered that. I was even thinking of using my rotozip for the
same job. But I wanted to keep the cuts straight, whereas the 2*4s will be a
little wiggly. I was going to lay the frame on the plywood, trace out the
openings, clean up with a straight edge and cut.
If I'd built a real frame I wouldn't be in this boat. :(
Maybe I could make up some templates ans use those to route out the holes.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bill Stock wrote:
>
> > I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method
BTW,
> > shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> > face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm
wondering
> > what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my
best
> > option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
>
> If you have a _good_ jigsaw (Bosch or another good brand based on the
Bosch
> patents) then try one of the Bosch Progressor blades. With my old Bosch
> saw on orbital setting 1 they do exactly what Bosch claims and give a cut
> darned near as smooth as a planer combination blade with no tearout on
> either surface.
>
> > TIA
I do have a Bosch actually, it was one of my few tool indulgences. It came
with enough blades to last me a lifetime. Don't have no stinkin progressor
blade though? At least I don't think so.
I just might go with the router. I was thinking that if I clamped a board on
top of the veneer and flush cut the holes it would help. I tried just a
plain piece of plywood (no cover board) and the edges were a little fuzzy,
but sanded up OK.
Bill Stock wrote:
> I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
> shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm wondering
> what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my best
> option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
If you have a _good_ jigsaw (Bosch or another good brand based on the Bosch
patents) then try one of the Bosch Progressor blades. With my old Bosch
saw on orbital setting 1 they do exactly what Bosch claims and give a cut
darned near as smooth as a planer combination blade with no tearout on
either surface.
> TIA
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Depends on the size of the cut-outs. If there' something like 3 inches
or
> > less, then I'd recommend a hole.
LOL, never even noticed. I knew what you meant in any event. :)
> Apologies for the mostly meaningless message. Spell checker caught it.
> 'hole' should be hole-saw.
>
>
"Eric Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Bill Stock" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I built an aquarium stand out of 2*4s (I don't recommend this method BTW,
> > shoulda used 1*3 stiles and 1*4 rails with pocket joinery) and I plan to
> > face it with 1/4" plywood veneer due to cost of hardwood. So I'm
wondering
> > what would give me the cleanest cutouts? I'm guessing a jigsaw is my
best
> > option? I plan to use the cutouts to make cheap door panels BTW.
> >
> > TIA
> >
> >
>
> Depending on the size of the doors you could route 'em out to the 2x4
frame
> and get a pretty clean cut
>
Yeah, I considered that. I was even thinking of using my rotozip for the
same job. But I wanted to keep the cuts straight, whereas the 2*4s will be a
little wiggly. I was going to lay the frame on the plywood, trace out the
openings, clean up with a straight edge and cut.
If I'd built a real frame I wouldn't be in this boat. :(
"Upscale" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Depends on the size of the cut-outs. If there' something like 3 inches or
> less, then I'd recommend a hole.
Apologies for the mostly meaningless message. Spell checker caught it.
'hole' should be hole-saw.