Cutting 6mm ply

[Raffa]

Hi everyone,

I'm just after some advice if that's okay. I need to ply out a floor in 6mm ply, but I'm having a right hash of a time using a Stanley knife to be honest. I was just wondering whether it would be a bit over the top to use a jigsaw? I reckon I'd find that easier if I could find a way to do it.

If I used a jigsaw and propped the ply on a workmate bench, would that work? I'm using paper to template the floor, so would a jigsaw allow me to shape the ply to the intricate shapes?

My only other concern is the size of the ply; wouldn't it be almost impossible to clamp down a whole sheet of ply up on a workmate bench and comfortably saw through it?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Raffa

 

[just pumps]

You will be there for a month using a Stanley knife and will probably lose a finger using the jigsaw on 6mm ply "Propped up" against the workmate, can`t you use a handsaw or lay the ply on batons whilst you jigsaw. Why you using 6mm? It has little strength and will flex.

 

[Raffa]

Yeah I guess so - that's a good idea. Would I be able to clamp the ply down on top of the workmate bench?

 

[dazlight]

I cut 6mm plywood all the time with a knife. Not that hard. Better to use a concave blade.
You could use a Exakt saw. Very easy with them. But a jigsaw is fine with a short tooth blade in it.

 

[iwilson16]

Buy two Stanley workhorses, and a sheet of 12x3 22mm mdf flooring to use as a temp workbench (supported by the workhorses). A jigsaw is perfect for odd shapes. For straight lines, quickest way is to clamp a straight edge to the ply, then use either a jigsaw or (better) a small hand held circular saw with the depth set to approx 6.5mm.

It's worth cutting two 22mm thick bits of timber to just over the length and width of a plywood sheet to use as straight edges. Saves time in the long run.

I've ply boarded half my house this way.

 

[Raffa]

Buy two Stanley workhorses, and a sheet of 12x3 22mm mdf flooring to use as a temp workbench (supported by the workhorses). A jigsaw is perfect for odd shapes. For straight lines, quickest way is to clamp a straight edge to the ply, then use either a jigsaw or (better) a small hand held circular saw with the depth set to approx 6.5mm.

It's worth cutting two 22mm thick bits of timber to just over the length and width of a plywood sheet to use as straight edges. Saves time in the long run.

I've ply boarded half my house this way.

Thanks so much for the advice - it's much appreciated. I've just ordered this pair of saw horses:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009O8FW2A?ref_=pe_780071_41837251

Is it essential that I have four of these saw horses or will the pair be okay if I use the sheet of mdf/two lengths of wood? I've just ordered a pair but am worried that I'll need another pair to manage the whole sheet of ply. What do you reckon?

Cheers,
Raffa.

 

[JohnD]

OOI, Aldi have their plastic trestles on special buy in the shops this week.

I got four.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/multi-purpose-support-2-pack/p/058880036439800

 

[Raffa]

OOI, Aldi have their plastic trestles on special buy in the shops this week.

I got four.

https://www.aldi.co.uk/multi-purpose-support-2-pack/p/058880036439800

Oh awesome - good stuff. Do you think I would be okay with just two of the Stanley saw horses that I got? I only have two and I wanted to cut the ply in the morning...

 

[iwilson16]

I just made do with 2 sawhorses and one sheet of mdf. It wasn't ideal, but I managed. 4 horses and 2 sheets of mdf just took up too much space.

I think also had a Workmate to support the overhanging edge.