Artistic jigsaw. Sawing from plywood. Sawing with an electromechanical tool

Any building materials are adjusted to the required dimensions by cutting. And plywood is no exception. Sawing plywood can be done manually or using special tools. Cutting plywood involves not only using it in construction, but also as a decorative element. Lace lattices, boxes, stands and other variety of decorative items are created using artistic cutting of a plywood sheet.

Construction cutting of plywood

How to cut plywood on a construction site and how to do it without chipping? Most often in living conditions To do this, use a knife, jigsaw, or circular saw.

Some rules for working with plywood sheets:

• thin sheet, the thickness of which does not exceed 2 mm, can be cut with a mounting knife
• sheets from 3 to 6 mm can be cut with a jigsaw
• if the sheet thickness is more than 6 mm, you will need a circular saw
• remember, that coniferous varieties timber products have a viscous structure due to the presence of resins, so this material dulls the cutting edge of the tool
• You need to work with plywood along the grain. If it is necessary to cut across the fibers of the outer layer, you must first make weakening cuts with a knife, and then work with a jigsaw
• if your work involves screwing in self-tapping screws, then before doing this you need to drill a hole of the appropriate size.

Figure cutting from plywood

Shaped cutting of plywood is a fairly popular activity among decorators and furniture makers. Using a plywood sheet and special tools, you can make not just a craft, but a real work of art.

The choice of tool for this procedure depends on the complexity of the pattern and the thickness of the plywood sheet. If the bend radius does not exceed 1 cm, then you can use a hand jigsaw. Round hole done with a drill. When the bending radius exceeds 3 cm, you should use an electric jigsaw. Which saw is suitable for plywood? Remember what finer teeth files, the smoother and more intact the cut edges will be. For this purpose, for very small and complex figures it is better to buy a metal canvas.

It is better to apply the sketch on the back side of the sheet. In this case, if the chips rise, it will not be noticeable. At the same time, you should not rush, because the quality of the future product depends on the drawing. Drawings for cutting out plywood are available in large quantities on the Internet. Here you can find everything: from children's crafts to the most complex patterns.

You can create a craft from plywood using the following tools:

• hand jigsaw
• laser machine
• electric jigsaw
• CNC milling machine.

Sawing with a hand jigsaw

For this work you will need the following tools:

• saw for plywood. You may need several files of different sizes
• pencil and ruler.

Start with a simple drawing. If you have a 5 in drawing, you can apply the pattern to the sheet with a simple pencil. If you are not very good at drawing, use carbon paper to transfer the pattern. For the first time, animal figures, flowers and other light designs are perfect.

Before starting cutting, you must secure plywood sheet a special machine to prevent the occurrence of defects, for example, in the event of sheet shifting. However, if such a machine is not available, try to hold the sheet as tightly as possible. During cutting, only the jigsaw moves.

If you need to create through elements, you should use an awl. The file must be held strictly perpendicular to the sheet. Upon completion of cutting, it is necessary to sand the edges of the product with sandpaper.

Laser cutting of plywood

A laser machine burns a pattern onto the surface of a plywood sheet with a beam.

The main advantages include:

• the quality of the cut is the highest, the thickness is the smallest. Such indicators are quite difficult to achieve with other types of equipment.
• saving time and effort. No need to handle defects that occur when working with a manual or electric jigsaw
• high accuracy. All parts will be the same size, and the design may be the most complex.

Among the negative qualities we highlight:

• In case of excessive power, charring of the material may occur, as well as fire. Experienced craftsmen should work with such machines
• for each timber grade and type adhesive composition need your own processing mode
• if the machine operator is inexperienced, the beam may hit a knot, which is likely to fall out, and, consequently, there will be a defect in the work.

If we do not take into account the human factor, then we can say that laser equipment provides enormous opportunities for bringing design ideas to life.

Using a milling machine

The main advantages of this method:

• high speed
• no charred elements occur, as is the case with laser machine. This machine is best used by beginners
• high precision, as with a laser machine
• there is no need to process or sand the edges.

Using a jigsaw

It is worth noting that jigsaw files are fragile and can only be moved under strict conditions. vertical plane. Any distortion will cause the fabric to break. The saw functions when moving downwards, and saws are positioned in the same way, with the teeth downwards. When working with complex areas, it is the workpiece that is scrolled, and the canvas should remain in one place. In the case when the outer perimeter does not contain difficult patterns that could be damaged while working on the internal scheme, then you can start working from the outer perimeter. This way you will lighten the weight of the workpiece.

It is imperative to control the temperature of the canvas. The file tends to heat up quickly, and overheating causes damage. For this reason, it is worth letting the nail file cool from time to time or changing it to another one.

In this article we tried to answer the question: how to cut plywood? Cutting plywood is more labor-intensive than cutting wood. This is mainly due to the multidirectional nature of the fibers and viscous adhesive mixtures. However, with the right equipment, these problems can be overcome with ease.

Plywood is very affordable, comparatively inexpensive material For various crafts. Things made from it can have not only decorative value, but also be useful in our Everyday life, at home.

Plywood is an easily processed building material, which is produced by gluing together several layers of veneer and specially treated wood chips.

Introduction

These sheets, which can be used for making crafts and structures, may differ:

• number of layers of veneer - three-layer, five-layer and multi-layer;
• the type of wood from which the multilayer sheet is made (deciduous or coniferous);
• according to the degree of processing (polished on one or both sides, not polished).

Building codes and standards

To learn more about the subject in question building material(on the classification of the entire plywood nomenclature, grade, standard sizes produced), which can be purchased for the manufacture of many products and crafts, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the following documents:

• GOST 3916.1-96 “Plywood general purpose with outer layers of veneer hardwood».
• GOST 3916.2-96 “General purpose plywood with outer layers of softwood veneer.”

Schemes, drawings and patterns for products made from plywood sheets

Computer drawing programs

Today you can easily find a diagram, a pattern for a plywood structure, so that you can then prepare any drawing using computer-aided design systems (including the above cat pattern). Next, use a plotter to print it onto a paper sheet of the required format.

Popular drawing programs are the easiest to learn and can be used in 2D and 3D modeling, including for plywood structures:

• "KOMPAS" - complex automated systems, with the possibility of drawing up drawings in accordance with the standards of the ESKDI and SPDS series;
• AutoCAD is a two- and three-dimensional computer-aided design and drawing system.

So, if you cannot find a detailed drawing of the plywood product you need, then the application capabilities of the given software will help you make a full-fledged drawing using any diagrams and patterns posted on the Internet.

Kayak

The price of the construction plywood from which the kayak is made is simply incommensurate with the pleasure that the person who made it with his own hands and who loves rowing boats will receive.

The Eskimo kayak is the same kayak among the Aleuts - a traditional rowing boat of the Arctic peoples. This boat can be single, double or triple. Let's post drawings of a plywood kayak for one person.

Construction algorithm rowing boat made from plywood sheets is, in principle, general, with the exception of some nuances. A step-by-step procedure for cutting, processing and assembling a kayak can be seen in the video in this article.

Plywood table - simple and functional

Clear drawings of a plywood table with your own hands, which will be easy to implement even for a person without special carpentry skills and experience. Table cover (1 sheet) - 1300 x 600 x 16 (mm) Inner wall (1 sheet) - 1170 x 400 x 16 (mm)

Plywood constructor

Various plywood construction kit drawings are now gaining more and more popularity. Assembling such models from safe material is a very useful activity for children and teenagers. Such crafts will become good examples of collections and will decorate the modellers' corner.

Tank

The stages of work on installing a tank model are as follows:

1. The plywood is sanded (first with medium-grain sandpaper and then with fine-grain sandpaper);
2. The drawings are carefully transferred through carbon paper onto a sheet sanded with fine-grained abrasive plywood material.
3. Drill into the corners of the contour transfer through holes(drill 3 mm or more);
4. Attach the file to the jigsaw and start cutting out the elements of the tank;

Note!
Cutting out parts must begin inside the contours of the tank blanks, and only then around the office itself.

Advice!
When assembling plywood assemblies, have models at hand Various types needle files to fit the elements to each other at any time.

1. After adjusting all the parts, you can start gluing them (for example, with PVA glue, “Titan”);

Advice!
In order for the components and elements of the tank to grip each other more firmly and reliably, you can tie them with thread or rope for a while after gluing them.

1. A cannon can be made by cutting wooden handle brushes for watercolor paint or other auxiliary material;
2. If desired, you can apply a side number or other inscriptions and patterns to a tank, or any other model, using an electric burner;
3. For greater preservation and decoration of the model, they can be coated with varnishes and paints.

Car – retro (old Mercedes)

Note!
When you transfer these drawings of a plywood machine with your own hands onto the plywood sheets themselves, do not forget to transfer the numbers.

When assembling the model itself, look carefully at the numbers.

In this case, the process is carried out according to the following algorithm, in accordance with digital notations:

• the part or assembly numbered 1 must be connected to another number 1;
• and part number 2 is attached accordingly to the next number 2 and so on until the machine is assembled.

Gun

Drawings of a pistol made of plywood model "Bulldog". When assembling, we follow the same rules as when assembling a machine: the same numbers must be mounted with each other.

Advice!
This model of pistol is best coated from a bottle of spray paint; for a better resemblance to the original, layers of black paint can be applied.

Dinosaur

When designing, drawings of plywood dinosaurs, for example, those presented below, can be made in any scale you need according to the presented pattern in a drawing program for a computer.

Preparing the material, model elements and the assembly itself is not difficult, but you will have to have some patience when working with a jigsaw and adjusting the model components to each other.

Napkin holder – “Grape leaves”

This item in the shape of grape leaves will always come in handy in household for its intended purpose - for napkins, and for storing, for example, sheets of paper of the selected format:

Vase, stand for pencils, pens, brushes

Drawings of a plywood vase, from which you can easily cut out a craft of the size you need:

Plywood panel

It is the ease and simplicity of cutting with a jigsaw from plywood sheets of various configurations with different sizes, installation from them various designs, allows you to perform a variety of decorative panels for the walls of our home. Any panel made carefully is an excellent gift for family and friends.

Drawings of a plywood panel, which also serves as a shelf in the household:

Some useful tips and warnings:

• When transferring patterns and drawings onto plywood, use the thinnest and sharpest pencil lead. Better yet, use used ballpoint pen, then the lines will always be the same, and the copy paper from the ball will not tear. It is convenient to transfer drawings to plywood using laser printer.
• For better fastening of parts, where possible, it is recommended that the width of the grooves correspond to .
• There are two types of files with large and small teeth. It is more convenient for beginners to learn how to use a thick file, and cut out a thin one small parts, already having some experience and skills in using a jigsaw.
• The files must cut from top to bottom, so Special attention pay attention to correct fastening files in a jigsaw.
• Files can easily break, so cut carefully and do not allow parts to hang on the saw blade.
• When purchasing a file, make sure that the teeth are sharp, and that the file itself should not bend easily, but rather be firm. It’s not the flat ones that are easy to use, but the so-called “twisted” files – they can be used to make cuts in any direction.
• For those whose cutting of structures from plywood sheets is a hobby, there is no need to purchase band saw, just buy a jigsaw. Although everyone is an amateur, some craftsmen still often resort to a hand jigsaw when they “need to get a feel for the material.”

conclusions

1. Before choosing, purchasing and directly working with the material from which you will cut models, panels, construction kits and structures, familiarize yourself with its types and classification according to construction documents (GOST).
2. For sawing, purchase quality tool, equipment and accessories for it.
   
3. Make your choice responsibly quality plywood. Do not limit yourself to a visual inspection, tap it for internal voids and delaminations due to poor gluing of the veneer layers.
4. Before working with a jigsaw, optimally equip your workplace. Pay special attention to it good lighting so that the cut and markings are clearly visible and your eyes don’t get tired. It’s not a bad idea to use a strobe light to illuminate the area where you’re working with a jigsaw. Convenient and comfortable sawing!

Sawing wood with a jigsaw is one of the most popular activities for home craftsmen. It should be noted that both adults and schoolchildren engage in carving - mastering all the subtleties of the process is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance: the main thing is to have the desire and availability necessary tools. The popularity of wood carving with a jigsaw is primarily associated with the desire to make original interior items with your own hands, decorate furniture, carpentry, and make intricate photo frames or bookshelves (Photo).

However, while mastering the basics of wood and plywood carving techniques with a jigsaw is quite simple, coming up with your own original ornament or pattern is much more difficult. However, you should not despair and try to reinvent the wheel: many different stencils, templates and drawings for carving are available on the Internet today. You just need to choose the drawing you like, download it, print it and transfer it to plywood. However, before you start buying tools and looking for stencils, let's talk about the tools you will need for sawing wood.

Hand jigsaw

The tool has a fairly simple design and low cost. The jigsaw is a U-shaped metal structure with a mechanism for securing and adjusting the saw blade (Photo). Today, manual jigsaws are available for sale, the frame of which is made of sheet metal and pipes. We would recommend purchasing a tool made from tubular structures. According to reviews from experts, it is more reliable and practical to use.

Hand jigsaw

A modern manual jigsaw is equipped with a mechanism that allows you to secure files, creating different planes for sawing. However, the tool has a number of disadvantages, the main one of which is rapid overheating and wear of the saw blades. Therefore, we recommend purchasing several dozen files at once. We also recommend buying a vice or clamps - the workpiece must be well secured. For interior works(for example, cutting an oval or circle) you will need a drill whose radius should be slightly larger than the width of the file. It is also worth purchasing or making your own auxiliary board, which will protect the table and help position the workpiece as conveniently as possible for the operator.

Jigsaw

A more complex, expensive and productive tool. When purchasing an electric jigsaw, you need to consider the tasks you intend to perform with it. To cut patterns and ornaments on plywood (up to 15 mm) and wood up to 25 mm thick, it is enough to buy a tool from a household series. For more serious work, we recommend purchasing powerful professional jigsaws.

Jigsaw Sturm 900 JS4090Q

Don't forget to also buy the necessary equipment. First of all, we are talking about saw blades. There are a great variety of them on the market; files differ in their purpose, size, material of manufacture and many other parameters. You may also need a guide bar or rip fence. Some manufacturers provide this equipment as part of the basic jigsaw package; more often, the accessories must be purchased separately.

Tools and materials

• Manual or electric jigsaw;
• Vise or clamps;
• Hacksaw;
• Drill;
• Awl;
• Auxiliary boards;
• Sandpaper and files;
• Stencils, drawings, patterns;
• Paper, pencil, marker, scissors, glue;
• Plywood or board.

Selecting material for cutting with a jigsaw

Particular attention should be paid to the last item on our list. Exactly from the right choice The quality of the product largely depends on the material. For cutting with a jigsaw, it is better to take plywood, 2–10 mm thick, made from birch. In addition to plywood, regular wood of varying thicknesses is also used. It is more difficult to work with, but the quality of the products is slightly higher than that made from plywood.

• Use only well-dried plywood or wood;
• Plywood for sawing must be of high quality (grade 1 or 2);
• Check the selected material for knots, cracks and stains - such plywood or wood will not suit you;
• You should also inspect the plywood sheets for delamination;
• Do not use wood with resin stains as workpieces.

Finding and preparing a stencil

As we already mentioned, there are a huge number of different designs and designs available online that you can choose from to make templates. The vast majority of materials are freely available; their use does not entail additional material costs.

Once you find a design you like, print it on A-4 paper. If you are going to cut out larger parts, then to print the drawing you will have to contact a service that has special equipment for printing large-format sheets.

Now we have to work with scissors. The design is cut out along the printed lines, special attention should be paid to the accuracy and quality of cutting.

Important: When cutting out a stencil, you should take into account the specularity of the image, if present in your project;

Now the drawing can be transferred directly to reverse side plywood or wood, tracing the lines with a pencil or thin marker. You can also transfer the drawing to the workpiece using carbon paper; special self-adhesive paper is also available for sale for these purposes. Provided that you know how to draw well, a stencil can be applied to the workpiece without using carbon paper.

Jigsaw cutting technology

The process of cutting with a jigsaw takes a lot of time and requires certain skills and perseverance from the operator:

• Prepare your workplace, place all materials and tools in such a way that they can be reached without getting up from your chair. Everything unnecessary should be removed from the table;
• Choose a chair of such a height that you don't have to reach for the table, but you don't have to slouch either. Take care of your health and comfort;
• Sit up straight, while making sure that your arms and legs do not become numb - the process of making an ornament or figure takes a lot of time;
• Take care of high-quality lighting workplace;
• When working with a jigsaw, avoid lateral forces. This will cause loss of accuracy and saw blade malfunction;
• You should not put too much pressure on the jigsaw; it should move almost under its own weight;
• Make sure your saw blades are in good condition;
• A hand jigsaw should be used without excessive effort or jerking, using the entire length of the file;
• When cutting out parts, you should take into account the thickness of the file and cut not directly along the markings, but slightly to the side (file thickness + 0.5 mm);
• When cutting a circle, oval or inner radius, you should first drill the workpiece in the place from which you will make the cut. The radius of the drill should not be much larger than the width of the file;
• Start learning how to use a jigsaw by cutting out simple elements(straight cuts). Don’t be discouraged if some details (circle, radius, oval) cannot be cut out well the first time - try again several times;
• Make sure the jigsaw and other tools are in good working order, follow safety regulations, and ensure the room is ventilated.

Interesting ideas: what can be done with a jigsaw

In fact, your capabilities when cutting with a jigsaw are limited only by your own imagination, time and patience. Most often, home craftsmen cut out picture frames, trim, various toys, trays, shelves, baskets, candlesticks, coasters and many other useful and beautiful things. In addition, using a jigsaw, you can decorate furniture, make comfortable armrests for a chair, or cut out elements of a chest of drawers, cabinets, or beds. Craftsmen often use a jigsaw to make models of weapons, airplanes, cars, and motorcycles.

You can come up with the necessary drawings, patterns and drawings yourself, or download them for free from the Internet. Toys or other crafts can be painted. Of course, the coloring process is not difficult to do yourself, but it is better to involve children in this activity - you will see how interesting and beautiful your products will turn out (Photography).

Sawing with a jigsaw using a stencil: video review

Where to get drawings and drawings for cutting with a jigsaw:

Stencils, patterns, patterns, drawings - tips for beginners:

Tools and accessories for cutting with a jigsaw on plywood:

What they write about on the forums: sawing using a stencil and template

Vasily Okunev, 43 years old, Leningrad region:

Sergey Pankratov, 55 years old, Novgorod region:

I’ve been friends with jigsaws since my school days, and now I’ve decided to introduce them to my grandson. To begin with, I ordered a children’s set for cutting with a “Fantaser” jigsaw. I’ll say right away that it’s very important for a child’s development. useful thing, not only patience and hard work are cultivated, but also work skills are instilled. The set has excellent components. In addition to the jigsaw, the basic package includes all the necessary equipment, including several stencils for cutting, an auxiliary table and a clamp for fastening. I immediately went to the store and bought a couple of dozen saws - for small ones they quickly break, and all the tools are of high quality, no more expenses.

Advantages of the “Fantaser” set: rich equipment, affordable price, high quality jigsaw in the set, the presence of drawings for cutting;

Flaws: When attaching the sawing table, the child will need the help of an adult; there are few saw blades in the set.

Various kinds of crafts made of plywood and wood, made by skilled craftsmen, are highly valued all over the world, causing universal admiration. Undoubtedly, carving is creativity and art, but you can certainly master it with effort and constantly honing your skills. This optimal hobby related to wood and plywood will not require too much free time from you and equipment that is not very expensive. Of course, this means carving plywood using jigsaws!

Openwork carving

It is rapidly gaining popularity: who doesn’t want to make an excellent piece of decoration for themselves, decorating their home, furniture, and creating an artistic ambience! Cut-out products of different thicknesses are optimally integrated into many existing decorative styles, and we get, for example, frames for photo cards with ornaments, words, individual letters, figured shelves made with jigsaw carving on plywood. In addition, such creativity is an action that is accessible to anyone interested in the process, even a beginner. You just need to get an idea of ​​“how it works.” And you can start creating!

Using a hand jigsaw is quite easy

Video to get started:

Choose this material made of wood for the following reasons:

• moisture resistant;
• temperature changes do not have a negative impact;
• quite low cost;
• ease of learning to cut with a jigsaw;
• low weight of products.

It is also necessary to choose plywood of the 1st and 2nd grades for crafts. The rest are not suitable for creativity: the surfaces have cracks with knots and chips (unless they can be used for internal substrates). Birch plywood (3-10 mm thick) is most suitable for cutting.

At present, this material is divided into quite a large number of subspecies - each for specific purposes.

• Experts and folk craftsmen advise using sheets produced using a urea-formaldehyde composition. Such material is marked “FC”. This type of plywood can be bought “clean” or coated, for example, with varnish. It is most convenient to transfer the drawing to untreated plywood sheets for cutting with a jigsaw.
• Plywood marked “FOF” is intended for furniture production, and is often produced over 12 millimeters in thickness.
• The FB brand was originally developed as a boat material, which is why its cost is high (but if it is possible to use it, then it is suitable for cutting with a jigsaw).
• But masters do not recommend purchasing FSF. Although attractive in appearance, it is toxic because it is made using a composition of phenolic resins.

Produced grades of working material

Types of carvings on plywood

It is divided into:

• Openwork,
• Patterned, on a painted sheet of plywood,
• Ewing,
• combined method.

What additional materials and tools will be needed?

• Stencils and drawings with drawings for work. You can come up with them yourself or copy them on the Internet.
• Carbon paper to transfer patterns and lines according to the drawing;
• Glass paper and sandpaper, a set of files - for grinding parts;
• Joiner's (optionally casein) composition for gluing parts;
• Transparent varnish – for coating;
• To make holes inside the material to thread the blade through, use a drill and an awl.

• Before starting cutting with a jigsaw, carefully sand the material with glass paper, and only then transfer the patterns according to the drawing.
• Transfer elongated shapes of designs with narrow elements onto plywood so that they are located along the fibers of the “face” of the material.

Artistic cutting with a jigsaw: drawing, stencil and work

Let's get to know the devices

A jigsaw is a toolkit that is designed for working on different contours. The device includes a blade equipped with teeth small enough to cut the working material, practically without forming burrs or chips.

Manual

The “founder” of the genus is, of course, the manual jigsaw. Everything ingenious is simple: a metal U-shaped arc, and a working blade is stretched between the ends, which is secured with clamps. They hold the files during operation, and with their help, its tension is also adjusted. Handle for comfortable work located on one side of the frame. The tool clamps can be rotated, thereby creating a different plane for carrying out work, providing opportunities for carving plywood with a jigsaw of increased complexity.

• When creating with the help hand-held device Maximum care must be taken: the design is quite fragile, and with intense pressure the blade sometimes breaks and needs to be replaced. Every novice craftsman should stock up on additional working files.
• When working with a jigsaw, it is convenient to use an auxiliary board: it protects the table and solves problems with the convenient location of the plywood workpiece.

Jigsaws

This device operates using electricity. It is a housing where the mechanism is located, and the control handle is also located there. The sawing element is located at the bottom of the device at the front. The blade is protected, and this allows you to cut along the contour very smoothly, without deviations. Professional models of equipment have many attachments that greatly facilitate the work process, for example, leveling the edge of the material. Jigsaw blades can also have teeth that vary in shape and size. They should be selected in accordance with the material for the saw to avoid damage to the plywood sheets during operation.

• Household electric jigsaws for non-production purposes are usually of low power (from 350 to 500 W). For beginners, this is the most common option when you are just learning to cut out crafts and figures from plywood (usually of small thickness). It is quite safe to operate such a device, especially when it is equipped with protection.
• A professional jigsaw is intended for industrial purposes, has a power of more than 700 W, high speed and cutting accuracy. It can cut sheets over 10 cm thick, aluminum, and thin steel.

Video: simple jigsaw:

Fraser

Sometimes used for carving this device. It is a type of special hand tool, with the assistance of which you can perform different types wood and plywood work. However, working with it requires some skill; but craftsmen who deftly handle this equipment can create real, highly artistic masterpieces of folk art.

Preparing the stencil

Drawings for creative works there are different sizes, depending on the scale of the products being manufactured. For example, for diagrams of a shelf or a piece of furniture, for a three-dimensional toy, you should take a sheet of Whatman paper in A1 format, a roll of wallpaper left after repair may also be suitable, and for small figures (such as souvenirs) we take office paper(A4 or A3 format).

Using a marker or pencil, we draw the contours of the future object on the surface of the paper, adhering to the specified dimensions. Templates are presented in the public domain in a wide range, we choose the appropriate one (for beginners, as a rule, it is not too complicated). Or you can come up with your own options for cutting with a jigsaw and then transfer it to a paper base.

Then we transfer the images to the surface of the working material (plywood, boards). To do this, cut out a figure from paper, apply it to plywood and carefully trace along the contour with a pencil. The lines must be precise and even. If necessary, correct it by erasing it with an eraser.

The contours are applied “from the rear” of the material so that no remnants of the drawing are noticeable on the finished form. The internal areas can also be shaded so as not to cut off an extra piece, thereby indicating an inviolable fragment.

Example drawings

Snowflake

How to carve plywood

Working with the device will not be difficult if you properly prepare for the creative process.

• The work area must have good lighting;
• The working plane must be protected from damage. You can, for example, lay a sheet of plywood or cover it with film;
• All necessary tools and spare blades should be prepared in advance. And we can begin.

The first step should begin with drawing the inner outline of the drawing or drawing. To do this, you need to make slots into which the blades of the device will be inserted. Usually, when cutting large contours, there is no problem, but in small remnants, working with a jigsaw from the inside can cause chips, burrs or cuts. You must act very carefully.

Working with a jigsaw

How to saw with a hand jigsaw

1. Secure the piece of plywood with one hand and hold the cutting jig by the handle with the other.
2. Start moving along the drawn contours, moving the jigsaw up/down. This should be done around the perimeter of the drawing.

Working with a hand jigsaw

As you can see, there is nothing super complicated in this work. And you will acquire a real creative hobby by learning how to operate these devices.

How to cut plywood with a jigsaw

Sawing plywood with an electric or manual jigsaw is undoubtedly a creative process. And you will be able to create decorative items of various styles with your own hands: from fairy-tale cartoon characters for children to decorations for furniture and home.

Photo gallery of examples of work

All photos from the article

According to historical data, mass production of plywood dates back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. And since this material at that time was produced exclusively for decoration and furniture production, almost simultaneously this type of craft appeared as a do-it-yourself craft.

For more than 2 centuries, this type of art has not lost its relevance. It is loved for its simplicity and the end product is of decent quality.

By and large, anyone, regardless of gender and age, can engage in this type of art. A huge advantage is the absence of serious financial investments.

In addition to your own great desire, you only need a sheet of plywood, the jigsaw itself and stencils or, as the craftsmen also call them, drawings for artistic sawing plywood jigsaw.

Preparation for work

Despite the apparent simplicity of this type of creativity, it should be taken seriously. Success here largely depends on how thoroughly you prepare. Namely, you will select and process a plywood sheet and select drawings that are suitable for your product that can be cut out of plywood with a jigsaw.

Choosing a quality sheet

Now plywood is divided into many types, each of them was developed for specific purposes. And as strange as it may sound, not every material is safe to work with.

Speaking about artistic cutting, you should remember that during work you will inevitably breathe fine dust and fumes from plywood, and this moment they are not always safe.

• Experienced craftsmen prefer to work with sheets made on the basis of urea-formaldehyde compounds; they can be easily recognized by the first letters of the “FK” marking. Such plywood may already come with decorative coating type of varnish or have a clean “shirt”. In the latter case, it is more convenient to apply drawings to the sheet for cutting out of plywood with a hand jigsaw;
• Sheets marked “FOF” are aimed at furniture manufacturing and are often also quite safe. But they have another disadvantage: they most often refer to and have a thickness of more than 12 mm;

• The FB brand was developed as plywood for construction or finishing various kinds boats and yachts, so the price of such material is too far from affordable, although this plywood is also safe;
• What you definitely shouldn’t mess with is plywood like “FSF”. No matter how beautiful it looks, you should clearly remember that in its production compositions with high content phenol, which itself is considered one of the serious and quite toxic carcinogens.

Important: for artwork, especially for cutting with a jigsaw, it is highly not recommended to take sheets that have knots in the top jacket. They will fall out during operation.

Let's move on to the drawings

The easiest way to make, for example, drawings of animals for cutting out of plywood with a hand jigsaw is to use scrap materials and simple carbon paper. Everyone has a lot of printed material in their home, such as old postcards with birds, fish and other living creatures.

A pre-prepared carbon copy is placed on the prepared and sanded sheet, the image you have chosen or a photo of your favorite animal is placed on top of it, and secured with push pins (now you can use tape for this purpose). After which you just have to clearly outline the outline of the image.

Important: do not worry about the carbon paper getting dirty Blank sheet, while you press your drawings for artistic cutting out of plywood with a jigsaw. After the workpiece is cut, it will in any case need to be sanded with sandpaper; during this processing, all contaminants will be removed.

You should not immediately take on complex highly artistic products with thin fragments. For an inexperienced craftsman, it will be difficult to process small parts without damaging them with careless pressure.

If there are children near you, then it is better to use, for example, simple drawings for cutting out machines from plywood with a jigsaw or to make cutting board. Thus, you will not only gain basic work skills, but will also delight the kids.

Important: do not forget that professional drawings of plywood boxes for cutting with a jigsaw necessarily contain fasteners that are part of the overall plate. Therefore, it is better to start here by cutting out internal cavities and fragments.

If you don’t have enough choice of images from your home archive, we recommend turning to ready-made collections. Nowadays, such stencils are used not only for cutting plywood, but also whole line arts and crafts takes them as a basis, so it won’t be difficult for you to buy such sets in stationery stores, and sometimes even in underground passages.

Advanced users who have a good printer at home can download one of the common graphics programs to their computer and use it to create professional original works.

Product cutting process

Particular attention should be paid to preparing the jigsaw. As already mentioned, it is better to start with manual option. The price of such a tool and instructions for working with it are accessible to almost everyone. A couple of decades ago, such work was part of the compulsory labor training program for boys in schools.

Initially, you should properly secure the cutting blade. The teeth of the blade should only point down, towards the handle. First, one of the edges of the blade is securely clamped, after which the second end of the jigsaw is slightly compressed by 10 - 15 mm and the opposite edge of the blade is fixed. There is no need to stretch it too much; the fabric may burst during operation.