How to avoid splintering when sawing wood

Have you used a hand saw or power saw and had the wood or plywood piece splinter when you cut it? Have you had to discard a piece because of this action?  Want to learn a fast, easy, and cheap way to avoid and prevent wood from splintering when you make your project?  Just plan ahead and do something simple to protect your wood from splintering when you cut.  You will learn where and how to select the things you’ll need and how to accomplish your goal.  The author has made cut wood pieces with this technique and has had great success in avoiding damaging the wood!

Things you'll need:

• Pencil

• Measuring tape

• Saw horses for cutting wood or worktable

• Hand saw, circular saw, or jig saw

• Masking tape or blue painter’s tape, ¾ inches wide

• Eye protection

• Scrap cardboard to protect flat surfaces

1. FIND A FLAT TABLE OR WORK SURFACE AND COLLECT THINGS YOU’LL NEED. Masking or painter’s tape can be purchased at most retail stores like Wall Mart or Lowe’s   Protect the surface from construction marks with scrap cardboard. Allow enough overlap room for wood pieces o be cut to overhang work surface, but provide support for pieces after cutting. Carefully study and measure the pieces needing to be cut.

1. eHow article on How to Make a Recycled Door Workbench/Table if you don’t have a good one available.
2. LAY WOOD OR PLYWOOD TO BE CUT ON WORKBENCH, TABLE OR LEVEL SAWHORSES. Measure cut line and make pencil tick marks that can be seen through masking tape.
3. USE MASKING OR PAINTER’S BLUE TAPE. Draw line for cutting guide connecting pencil marks read through tape.  Use masking tape to cover over cutting line location, press down tape firmly so it sticks to wood.  Cover cutting line on both sides of wood, again pressing firmly.  Make one final check that you have the correct measurements and line drawn for cutting.  Put your protective eyewear on.
4. SAW CUT ON LINE MARKED ON TAPE. Be sure saw is level and flat to wood. Cut completely through wood and past end of wood, being sure discarded wood is supported continuously and level with wood to be saved.
5. SLOWLY REMOVE MASKING TAPE AND NOTE HOW WOOD HAS NOT SPINTERED SIGNIFICANTLY. Sand cut on ends and both sides of wood and use for your project.  Minimal, if any, wood filler should be necessary. Congratulations on a successful cut!

Tips and Warnings:

• Measure carefully and be sure tape is in center of cut line.

• Do not pull up tape too fast, splintering of wood at edges may occur!

• Be careful with power saws!

• Wear protective goggles eyewear to keep sawdust and splinters (if any) from eyes!

• Use grounded electrical outlets ....always!