Plywood tools

[fishspike57]

Getting ready to put plywood up or OSB not sure which. I have quite a few outlets and windows to cut around. Any must have tools I should pick up? I have basics. Skill saw, T Square, jig Saw. Building is 36 by 48

Thanks

 

[JoeMcGov]

Hand drill and bits to drill out the corners of cutouts like electrical boxes so you can then run your jigsaw corner-to-corner to make the cutout?

 

[bad_idea]

Case of beer for the 'labor force' (whatever friends you can sucker into helping).

 

[Bdgjr215]

Router for the windows and they make an attachment now for multi tools that vibratory cuts out the electrical boxes

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Tape measure and a Pencil.
Are you using screws or nails? Impact driver if screws, hammer or nail gun if nails.
Flat bar and some shims for positioning the sheets. I also found that a fine rasp and utility knife were useful.
If you are doing the ceiling then a drywall lift would be very nice to have. I have a cheap one and find it's easier to do walls without it. (I use a couple 16d nails to support/position the sheet on the wall then attached the sheet with screws and remove the nails)

 

[Handyfarmer]

I like screws on the walls at least, if you would ever want to run some more wiring or whatever, the wall can be taken down for changes,

 

[maxpat82]

Router for the windows and they make an attachment now for multi tools that vibratory cuts out the electrical boxes

it's gonna take hours in plywood or osb.

 

[Falcon67]

I like screws on the walls at least, if you would ever want to run some more wiring or whatever, the wall can be taken down for changes,

Use decking or construction screws. T-20 is a better driver than phillips. DO not use drywall screws. Yes, they start easier but will pop the heads when they hit the harder surface, especially if using OSB.

Cutting outlet holes in OSB works best with a jigsaw, not a roto-tool.

 

[wasfuzz]

www.amazon.com/Qbit-SQ1000-S-C-Osci...ocphy=9019691&hvtargid=pla-570995669513&psc=1

 

[Bdgjr215]

it's gonna take hours in plywood or osb.

Huh,cut the windows out after the ply is up with a flush cut bit ,like the rest of the construction world does

 

[b-boy]

For outlets -

One of these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YX8KZGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

AND

One of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B010T0G9I2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It takes about 5 minutes per box. I did about 30 of them in my pole barn.

 

[cderalow]

rotary tools with the flush cut bit with a pilot point work great too. drill a hole in center, then run it to edge of box and around.

 

[budget76]

rotary tools with the flush cut bit with a pilot point work great too. drill a hole in center, then run it to edge of box and around.

this is what I was going to. newbie to drywall and just bought the Ryobi cordless one. AWESOME for drywall, not sure how quick the bits would make it thru plywood or OSB though? That yellow magnet setup is slick too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IU6JWAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[b-boy]

this is what I was going to. newbie to drywall and just bought the Ryobi cordless one. AWESOME for drywall, not sure how quick the bits would make it thru plywood or OSB though? That yellow magnet setup is slick too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IU6JWAY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The yellow magnet setup is great. I highly recommend it.

I've used it on OSB and drywall. I add the magnet, screw up the OSB, mark the location suing the other magnet, and then cut out the opening. All while the OSB is mounted to the wall.

I tried using a rotary tool. It didn't work well on OSB.

 

[bradpac]

Something like that will cut through 1/2" or 3/4" plywood?

 

[cderalow]

Something like that will cut through 1/2" or 3/4" plywood?

with the proper bit. yes.

it's a small collett router for lack of a better term for it.

spin something with sharp edges fast enough and it'll cut anything.

 

[Bdgjr215]

Something like that will cut through 1/2" or 3/4" plywood?

Flush cut router bit

 

[Lynden]

Hand drill and bits to drill out the corners of cutouts like electrical boxes so you can then run your jigsaw corner-to-corner to make the cutout?

No drill necessary. For electrical boxes, plunge cut your jig saw on the pencil lines. Bosch jig saw blades are the best. For windows use your Skilsaw (plunge cutting the saw where necessary).

https://www.google.com/search?clien...+cut+with+jig+saw&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1

 

[RKA]

Something like that will cut through 1/2" or 3/4" plywood?

Wrong tool for the job. That tool was meant for drywall. It does come with a 1/4" collet, so you could put a 1/4" router bit in there. There are two caveats:
1. A bearing guided bit will have the bearing on the bottom, so you'll need to drill a pilot hole, not a big deal. This tool was meant to feed into drywall by tilting the base at 45 degrees to the drywall and slowly raising the router until the base is flush with the surface. I would NOT recommend doing that with plywood.
2. Rule of thumb with routers is not to exceed the width of the bit in cutting depth. You can stretch that a little, but at some point it puts too much stress on that bit and it snaps (at 27K rpms). 1/2" ply you might be able to do going slowly. 3/4" ply expect the bit to break. Regardless, if you're cutting a long length for a window or door, you're really using the wrong tool, get a saw.

 

[jd_1138]

I have a Rockwell compact circular saw (4.5 inches), and it's nice and light for cutting plywood and OSB. I think it was $60. Great lightweight tool -- easier to use than a full size circular saw.

Though you probably will mostly be using full size sheets, so maybe just using your regular circular saw will work. Multi-tool (oscillating) is great to have on hand, too, for unusual cuts. Though a jig saw can do the job too.

 

[manwithtools]

Wrong tool for the job. That tool was meant for drywall. It does come with a 1/4" collet, so you could put a 1/4" router bit in there. There are two caveats:
1. A bearing guided bit will have the bearing on the bottom, so you'll need to drill a pilot hole, not a big deal. This tool was meant to feed into drywall by tilting the base at 45 degrees to the drywall and slowly raising the router until the base is flush with the surface. I would NOT recommend doing that with plywood.
2. Rule of thumb with routers is not to exceed the width of the bit in cutting depth. You can stretch that a little, but at some point it puts too much stress on that bit and it snaps (at 27K rpms). 1/2" ply you might be able to do going slowly. 3/4" ply expect the bit to break. Regardless, if you're cutting a long length for a window or door, you're really using the wrong tool, get a saw.

 

[paredown]

I like having a cheap edge guide for cutting full sheets to width (and a Skilsaw to do it with), not as fancy as Festool and you have to calculate edge to blade, but I find it helps a lot if you are ripping full sheets--use better clamps than what's provided:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002YSBE6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[LS6 Tommy]

rotary tools with the flush cut bit with a pilot point work great too. drill a hole in center, then run it to edge of box and around.

This. Every commercial drywaller I've ever seen does it this way.

Tommy

 

[fishspike57]

Thanks everyone some great tips. Can't wait to get started

 

[ez-duzit]

A track saw and oscillating multi-tool.

 

[rburke65]

Well I guess I’m old....we held the 4’x10’ panels in place and tap outer surface with mallet there by marking the back of the panel with the box. Then cut out the box impression from the back side. Worked well and no oops!

 

[cderalow]

Well I guess I’m old....we held the 4’x10’ panels in place and tap outer surface with mallet there by marking the back of the panel with the box. Then cut out the box impression from the back side. Worked well and no oops!

Works on drywall but you’d probably have a hard time getting that to work on plywood or osb


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RKA]

Works on drywall but you’d probably have a hard time getting that to work on plywood or osb


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Maybe not. Some chalk on the box edge might be enough to transfer to the plywood. That might work.

 

[jhasafety1]

I bought this to cut 95 outlet boxes out of the OSB I put up on my shop walls and ceilings. it worked very well and extremely fast. My cutouts looked very professional. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YX8KZGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used an oscillating saw to make the cuts.

 

[Hooked]

One of these if you're carrying a lot of plywood/osb by your lonesome.
https://www.amazon.com/d/Material-Handling-Supplies/Gorilla-Gripper-44010-Panel-Carrier/B0007TYCA8

 

[manwithtools]

I bought this to cut 95 outlet boxes out of the OSB I put up on my shop walls and ceilings. it worked very well and extremely fast. My cutouts looked very professional. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YX8KZGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used an oscillating saw to make the cuts.

Now that is pretty ******** cool, does it work as well as it seems it might?

Well, now I read your post more clearly, seems it must work pretty well.

 

[jd_1138]

Also, pick up 4 sawhorse brackets (about $15) and some 2x4 material to make sawhorses. They fold up flat and don't take up much room. Comes in handy for laying sheet goods on them and making cuts.

You will use them on a lot of projects over the years, and you can make tables out of them.

 

[Zaxxn]

I bought this to cut 95 outlet boxes out of the OSB I put up on my shop walls and ceilings. it worked very well and extremely fast. My cutouts looked very professional. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YX8KZGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used an oscillating saw to make the cuts.

I just did the same exact thing and it worked out just fine and definitely fast enough. I have the magnetic set for quite some time now, and it held up well through a basement finishing job, some random uses, and the garage. Perfect electrical box cutouts every time. I just wish they'd sell separate target magnets, because I could have used just one more a few times while doing the garage walls. Yes, I am outlet happy. Can't help it. :-D

--Zax

 

[86turbodsl]

I bought this to cut 95 outlet boxes out of the OSB I put up on my shop walls and ceilings. it worked very well and extremely fast. My cutouts looked very professional. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YX8KZGO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I used an oscillating saw to make the cuts.

I really wish this was available when i built my shop...

 

[paredown]

One of these if you're carrying a lot of plywood/osb by your lonesome.
https://www.amazon.com/d/Material-Handling-Supplies/Gorilla-Gripper-44010-Panel-Carrier/B0007TYCA8

I'm on this--thanks.

I hate using a Rotozip--half the time the bit wanders, or jumps the edge (especially with 5/8")--and what I hate the most is that the disasters happen FAST. Give me slow and accurate instead.

I've worked with the pros--but I don't think I will ever get enough practice to actually get good at using a Rotozip...

 

[Natemade]

Just skim read so sorry if i missed some info. But if you havent ran you electrical yet mount your outlets in round boxes. Then you can just a hole saw to drill your sheeting and it goes so fast.

 

[fishspike57]

Thanks everyone. Plywood is delivered on Tuesday.

 

[Handyfarmer]

Well I guess I’m old....we held the 4’x10’ panels in place and tap outer surface with mallet there by marking the back of the panel with the box. Then cut out the box impression from the back side. Worked well and no oops!

I guess I am old as well, take a small cloth and pour some chalk in it, and tie up the corners, (or use the toe of a sock) and make a chalk ball and use that to dust the outlet box, to mark the back of the board,

I would suggest a jigsaw, for cutting the plywood/OSB

 

[jgromada]

Router for the windows and they make an attachment now for multi tools that vibratory cuts out the electrical boxes

I thought those tools were only for drywall, not OSB or plywood.


I think this is the tool you are speaking of https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071J8TJVK/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Under some of the comments people say it wouldn't work well for plywood or plaster.

 

[jonshonda]

As others have mentioned:

Make your own saw horses, I am 6'2" and have yet to find an ots sawhorse (or anything really) that is a comfortable height.

Freud makes a plywood ripping blade for circular saws, well worth the $$.

I made a DIY tracks (4' & 8') for my saw circular saw out of 3/4" and 1/4" plywood. Makes long cuts really easy. Mark length on each side, clamp it down, and rip it!