How and how to cut mdf?
A controversial issue, everyone has their own opinion on this matter.
You can use any tool (grinder, jigsaw of any type, hacksaw, saw), but to get it without chips and scoring, it is better to use a circular saw or you can try a circular saw. If this is not possible, then I prefer an electric jigsaw, and a file with fine teeth to it, but the main thing here is a reliable stop. It's hard to do it straight without flaws at all. I did not do such a delicate job as you did with MDF, but you can use a jigsaw, and then walk on top with a block to trim everything.
And yet, I didn’t have to work, but I heard that there are special nozzles with a reverse direction of the teeth, they seem to have been developed specifically for chipboard and MDF.
And the best option is to take material with dimensions (or ready-made cutting) and go to the point with special equipment, this service is not so expensive, the main thing is to deliver a sheet there, if there are no problems with this, then feel free to contact such a shop
MDF can be of various thicknesses, a thin MDF board (up to 3 mm thick) can be cut with a knife, thicker boards are better cut with a saw.
The requirement for hacksaws is that the teeth are not large.
You can also use a hacksaw for metal (a suitable cutting tooth will not tear the MDF edge).
You can also buy a saw blade for a grinder and cut it off MDF, although a grinder with a speed regulator is better, and take into account that there will be a lot of dust during cutting.
You can cut MDF with an electric jigsaw with saws for wood.
Circular saw and so on.
As for how, first of all it is a markup, you can even draw a line with a marker, or a simple pencil that can be erased from the MDF surface.
And further from the tool, if we work with a hacksaw on a tree with a fine tooth, the main thing is to cut it without a jerk, the MDF is laid on a horizontal surface with reliable fixation (with a foot, for example).
In general, there is practically no difference between cutting off a piece of wood or cutting MDF.
Of course, the volumes of cuts must be taken into account, if they (volumes) are large, then the best option is circular.
To avoid chips, you need to use a high-speed tool, a circular saw is best for this. Well, accordingly, it is necessary that the saw blade is well sharpened, then it will definitely turn out without chips. But it is difficult to achieve an even cut with a hand saw, of course, in this sense, a circular with a table would be the most ideal option.
The rest of the options will give an uneven cut with chips.
But if it is urgently needed, then a hacksaw with a small tooth, for me the best option was a saw for metal, but if the volume is large, then this option will definitely not work.
A hacksaw with a fine tooth cuts faster, but whatever one may say, it leaves chips, since you cannot achieve hardness by hand.
If you stick tightly adhesive tape in the place of the cut, then of course there will be less chips.
With scotch tape, you can also saw with a hand jigsaw with a good, new file.
MDF is a very easy-to-use material, so it can be cut with any tool at hand, but if you want to immediately get a very smooth cut edge, without additional processing, then use hand-held circular saws. In particular, in the picture below you can see a mini circular saw with which the worker cuts the panel. The cut turns out to be very even, and in the future it is enough to trim it a little with zero, sandpaper. To get an even cut, the most important thing is to make neat and correct markings.For marking, we use a tape measure, ruler, corner, level or laser level. Having marked the cutting line, we put the MDF sheet on the workbench, where there should be space under the sheet for passing the cutting edge of the circular saw.
The photo below shows a Makita circular saw. This is a more powerful tool and will work for both thicker material and larger jobs.
In principle, in some cases, when the issue of convenience of work will be decisive, you can use a special electric saw for plywood, and this is the third photo.
What tool is suitable for cutting plastic panels?
In the arsenal of finishing masters, there are many ways to cut plastic. And everyone who is engaged in repairs on their own can choose any of these methods, use a professional tool or improvised means, based on their needs and capabilities. Let's take a closer look at all the pros and cons of each method:
Plastic cutter. Sold in any hardware store. With its help, you can make an absolutely even cut on the PVC panel without much effort.
The only drawback is that it cuts only in a straight line, so you won't be able to make rounded cuts. If desired, the cutter can be designed independently - from a strip of metal about 1 cm wide and 2 mm thick. One side will need to be sharpened at an angle of 45 degrees, wrap the handle with electrical tape so as not to cut your fingers during operation.
Hacksaw
For plastic, a tool with small teeth is suitable, pay attention that the teeth on the blade are not spread in different directions. So the cut will turn out to be even, smooth, the plastic will not crumple
It is convenient to cut several panels at once with a hacksaw, stacking them on top of each other.
Jigsaw. With it, the process of trimming panels will be much faster than with a hand tool.
But there are some nuances of working with a jigsaw:
1.Switch off the pendulum motion immediately.
2. Use a fine-toothed file.
3. adjust the speed of the file (choose the lowest one so as not to melt the cut).
The jigsaw will perfectly cope with the task of cutting stacked panels, the main thing is that the height of the stack does not exceed the length of the file.
Bulgarian. The most convenient tool for cutting PVC panels, using a grinder with a cutting disc, you can make both straight and curly cuts.
It must be remembered that when cutting plastic, the tool must work at the lowest speed, otherwise the cut edge will melt and the panel will be damaged.
Knife. In the absence of a more convenient tool, you can use a simple kitchen or office knife. The narrower the knife blade is, the easier the cutting process will be.
A serrated bread knife is ideal as it leaves an even edge without breakage or fraying.
Cutting panels at home
You can also cut with a jigsaw
It is quite possible to cut a sheet of chipboard or chipboard by hand. True, in this case you are unlikely to be able to avoid the appearance of chips and burrs, but you can try to reduce their number and size.
There are several rules that should be followed when cutting chipboard panels:
- cutting sheets must be done on a flat, hard surface. Two large tables can be adapted for sawing large panels (their height must be the same!);
- in order to exclude the appearance of chips, stick adhesive tape or good masking tape along the cutting line, which will hold the edges of the laminated layer;
- For sawing with a hand saw, select a blade with a fine tooth. Saw teeth should be well sharpened. You need to drive the saw with slight pressure, at an acute angle to the surface, constantly monitoring its position;
- for cutting chipboard and chipboard boards with a jigsaw, the saw line should be scratched or even cut through. It is best to use a sharp knife to cut through the durable layer of the laminate;
- install a file with a small reverse tooth;
- select the maximum speed of the jigsaw, turn off the "pendulum";
- fix a flat rail along the saw cut line and move the jigsaw strictly along it;
- the jigsaw should be firmly pressed against the surface to be sawn.
All these recommendations help to properly saw and cut the chipboard, but chips, nevertheless, cannot be completely avoided.
How to connect MDF panels?
Mounting MDF only at first glance may seem difficult, in fact, the whole structure is assembled similarly to a children's designer, and even those who have never taken a tool in their hands can radically change the situation.
Fastening panels may resemble the same process with PVC, but it has its own characteristics. The connection between each other is carried out using a spike and a groove, each of the panels has one side sharpened, and the opposite is bifurcated, thus, having put the tip into the groove, a prefabricated structure is obtained.
For fastening to the wall, it is necessary to arrange the lathing, unlike PVC, MDF is sensitive to moisture released from concrete, and the air gap will provide air circulation.
The lathing should be made of wooden planks, but already on them you can fasten the panels with glue. Or with mechanical fasteners.
It should be borne in mind that by gluing the panels, you are deprived of the possibility of quick disassembly, and also, when torn off, the decorative film will tear off, the poem can be reused only on one side of such a panel.
For mechanical fasteners, nails and special fasteners are used - clamps, if necessary, such a cladding is disassembled quickly enough.
How to cut MDF panels?
The panels are more than two meters long, so they are cut right in the store, especially if they do not have their own transport or are inconvenient to carry, but what to do at home, if sawing is necessary?
It is recommended to use the following equipment for cutting:
A hacksaw for wood - it is not recommended to take with a very large tooth, otherwise the edge will turn out to be loose, in addition, the teeth can hook and pull the decorative film along;
Hacksaw for metal - cuts accurately and carefully, but slowly, so it can be used for single cases, when you need to adjust something;
Grinder with a cutting wheel - cuts quickly and accurately, but a lot of dust is generated, therefore it is suitable for working on the street, or during major repairs;
Jigsaw - suitable for indoor work, since it is possible to connect a vacuum cleaner to it.
As single cases, a metal sharpening or a mounting knife can be used for fitting, provided that the panel thickness is not more than 3 mm.
The blade is pressed against the material with force, after which an incision is made sharply and the fragment is broken off by hand, while cutting off the film from the opposite side with a knife, similarly, metal scissors can be used.
Cutter
This tool has proven itself well due to its low cost. It is perfect for home use.
The tool has excellent performance and the cut surface looks smooth. It should also be highlighted the fact that no special physical effort is required to carry out the cutting. A huge advantage can also be called its compactness, in which it does not take up much space during its storage.
Hacksaw
A hacksaw is considered more practical to use, and it does not matter whether it is for metal or for wood. The only requirement when using a hacksaw for wood is the presence of small teeth, which should not be divorced, because this way the surface of the material that needs to be cut into pieces is destroyed.
Such a tool is often used for cross-cutting.
The advantage of this tool is the ability to cut multiple panels at the same time.For this operation, you will need to stack the material.
For convenience, when cutting, it is better to have the planks facing the contractor. When subjecting the length of the panels to decrease, care must be taken not to apply enormous force when pressing the tool, because this can break the PVC sheets.
Jigsaw, circular and grinder
These tools significantly speed up the length change process and also provide a superior cut edge appearance. These devices have proven themselves perfectly if you need to quickly slit a panel longitudinally.
In no case should we forget that when working at increased rotational speeds of the cutting tool on the surface that is being processed, defects may appear in the form of melted edges. In this case, unpleasant odors and substances harmful to health are emitted into the work area. It is necessary to decide which circle to process. In view of this fact, at first all work must be done at reduced speeds. With the help of a grinder, you can get not only straight cuts, but also curly cuts.
Experts recommend using a regular jigsaw to obtain a high-quality surface, as well as increased productivity, as a tool used when cutting. In this case, an excellent smooth edge is obtained, which does not have any creases, and is also very practical in the process. The tool has proven itself perfectly both for longitudinal cutting and for cutting across the bar.
When using a jigsaw, you need to remember that you need to use a file with a fine tooth
Particular attention should be paid to the cutting mode - the minimum speed is selected and the pendulum stroke is turned off. This tool is excellent for cutting multiple panels at the same time.
Knife
This tool is perfect for cutting small quantities of plastic panels. Applying it, you just need to know some little things that can help and facilitate the process of changing the length.
The least suitable for such work is an ordinary kitchen knife, which can be found in any kitchen. Difficulties in working with this cutting tool arise due to the width of its blade. Even when perfectly sharpened, a kitchen knife will not cut through wall panels.
A stationery knife is considered a more suitable tool for this, because using it, the material is not completely cut. After drawing along the front surface of the material, a groove is obtained. Turning over the bar and pressing on the edges, the PVC panel clearly breaks off along it, and the resulting small fringe, which covers the surface of the fracture, will absolutely not harm the appearance of the room in any way, because in any case it will be hidden either under the curbs or under the skirting board.
A bread knife made of ceramics can also carry out such work. It will do a great job with plastic panels due to the presence of a wavy cutting edge. Working with such a tool, it will not be difficult to obtain an element that will perfectly fit into the interior of the bathroom.
To cut PVC panels, you can use different tools, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. There are also specialized professional tools to speed up and facilitate cutting.
To learn how to cut a PVC panel using a clerical knife, see below.
How are plastic panels cut? Tools and rules of work
Quite often, in residential apartments and offices, you can find wall and ceiling decoration with plastic panels. And this is not at all surprising, because this material is very inexpensive, good in operation and retains an excellent appearance for a long time. And the work is incredibly simple. Even a person who works with him for the first time is unlikely to have any difficulties.
But in stores, panels are mainly sold with a length of 2.4 meters. Therefore, during the repair, you have to cut the panels to the required size yourself. And the question arises: "How are plastic panels cut?"
Knife
You can also use a simple knife, only having previously sharpened it as best as possible. Although this is not the best solution, or rather, the most unfortunate one. After all, the cutting method is not suitable for cutting panels. But still, this tool will eventually cope with the task as well.
It is convenient to cut the panel with a stationery knife. To begin with, an incision is made along the line from above, and then the material breaks.
Or you can make a knife yourself: from a piece of cast rolled metal, cut it off at an angle of 45 degrees on one side and sharpen it, and wrap the handle with electrical tape to make it convenient to hold.
But the most convenient and reliable way is to purchase a special construction knife. Among all the answers to the question of what plastic panels are cut, the last one is the most suitable.
Saw
If a saw is used for wood, then the teeth should be for transverse or mixed sawing, and preferably undiluted, then the plastic will be cut neatly and evenly. Therefore, a saw is not the worst answer to the question of what plastic panels are cut with.
Bulgarian
A grinder is a good option for working with panels. But there is one important nuance: you need to work extremely carefully with this tool, because plastic is an incredibly fragile material and there is a possibility that it will break. After cutting with a grinder, you need to grind the corners with a special machine. If it is not found in construction equipment, it is better to look for another way.
Power tool
If someone is wondering how to cut plastic wall panels, and there is an electric jigsaw among the tools, then you can cast aside all doubts and apply it. After all, this is one of the power tools that is suitable for this task. But first you need to try to cut an unnecessary piece. And all in order to understand which side will be cut neatly. There is also an important detail: the file must be with a fine tooth, and the pendulum stroke is disabled.
So, paying attention to all the recommendations, you can easily cut the panels. Moreover, this method significantly saves time, because with the help of an electric jigsaw, you can cut several panels at once by simply folding them together evenly.
Hacksaw
But often for those thinking about what to cut plastic PVC panels, the choice falls on a hacksaw for metal or wood, but it is important that the teeth are small. The advantage of this method is that you can cut several panels at the same time.
It is necessary to cut with the right side, at a slight slope and try not to press hard on the material.
Panel slicing rules
If the panels have just been brought from the street, especially if there is a low temperature, in this case, you cannot immediately start working. For some time, they need to warm up, since they become even more fragile when cold, and you can easily harm the material.
Before you start cutting, you need to note where the cuts will be. A felt-tip pen is best suited for these purposes. It is clearly visible on the panel, and later is easily erased.
During work, one must not forget about safety precautions, it is better to wear gloves and glasses. The thing is that, breaking, the panels form very sharp fragments, and there is a danger of being injured by them.
And in general, this material is very fragile, so you need to work with it very carefully and carefully. Therefore, if someone else asks himself: "What is the cut of plastic panels?" - then we can safely say that there are many options
And surely in the end there will be the most suitable
Therefore, if someone else asks himself: "What are plastic panels cut with?" - then we can safely say that there are many options. And surely in the end there will be the most suitable one.
How to bend an MDF panel?
It is far from always necessary to revet only a rectilinear surface, if you have imagination, you can create decorative elements of a semi-oval or round profile in a room that significantly diversify its style, but what about MDF panels that have only a rectangular profile?
As it turns out, the bending of this finishing material is quite possible, but provided that the thinnest panels are used, with a thickness of no more than three millimeters and only for painting.
For bending, you need a template, you can make it with your own hands, in this capacity any material that can transfer the radius of a circle to the panels is equal to that of the surface to be faced.
Since MDF has a structure in its density located between plywood and cardboard, it will need to be softened to bend it. This can be done with alcohol glue, water-based solutions such as PVA, they are not useful here, the product can swell from them.
A layer of glue is applied to each panel using a notched trowel, after which it is stacked, when the stack is collected, it is tied at the ends, placed on a template, after which the ends are pulled with force and fixed.
Drying lasts two days, then the panels are separated, sanded and painted.
Than cutting panels, effortlessly!
PVC panels lend themselves well to cutting. But this business has its own subtleties. In the article we will tell you how and how to cut plastic (wall) products.
Molar knife
The easiest PVC cutting tool. But an unusual kitchen or shoemaker, here you only need a molar knife.
Its blade, while new, is very thin and sharp. And when it gets dull, the blade can be replaced instantly. By biting off a piece or inserting a new one. An ordinary knife is inconvenient, it cannot be sharpened quickly. Also, it will not be so thin.
The molar knife is limited in scope. You can cut the panel with it only along. Of course, you can try to make a cut and across. But nothing good will come of it.
How to cut panels lengthwise? This is difficult to explain within the framework of the article. However, the basic principle can be described.
The blade extends a short distance of 3 mm.
On the back side of the panel, select the place where the cut will be made.
The strip of plastic falls out and a groove forms.
Then, on the same back side, you need to make a shallow incision near the desired rib. And on it to break the body.
The molar knife has advantages: speed, noiselessness and simplicity. And its disadvantages are that the panels can only be cut lengthwise.
Jigsaw
The jigsaw has a special feature. It tears the edge of the panel in places where there is very little left to cut. At this time, panels burst very often (especially in cold weather).
Therefore, it is worth using a file with a minimum tooth. For ourselves, we chose a Bosch metal blade with a 0.8 mm tooth. This file will protect you as much as possible from a ragged cut.
The main advantage of the jigsaw is its versatility. Cut PVC panels, you can both lengthwise and across. In any spatial position.
The minus of the jigsaw is weight, the presence of a wire. With an incorrectly selected blade - a torn cut.
There is one secret
When you have to harvest a lot of sticks, frame size. For example, you need to cut off 20-30 pieces at once.
You will need clamps (bench presses) as in our photo. Take several at once, usually 5 pieces. Adjust them so that they do not stick out each other and clamp them with bench presses. Two on each side of the panel.
And calmly saw. In this way, you can cut up to 5 panels at a time. You can cut more, but a Bosch file does not provide this opportunity.
You will speed up the slicing process five times and make your job easier.
Bulgarian (angle grinder)
Not every grinder is suitable for cutting panels. It should be small so that you can easily hold it with one hand. You cannot use a large grinder.
The grinder gives an amazingly even cut, without chipping and, as they say, "snot" among the people.
The grinder does not tear plastic
It doesn't matter which part of the panel you cut and what kind of weather. Both in frost and heat - using a grinder, you will get an even cut
With the help of a grinder, you can literally cut off millimeters from the wall panel.
The disadvantages include the fact that it is heavier than a jigsaw and even more so a knife. But the biggest disadvantage is that the grinder gives a lot of fine dust. It goes to all places.
Universal cutter
The tool is not cheap. But having bought it, you will not be able to get by with something else.
The cutter, unlike all other tools, oscillates.
We mainly use two main types of files: wide - 25mm * 40mm and narrow 10mm * 20mm.
Very often during installation, it is necessary to cut the PVC panel in place. Often this can only be done with a Bosch cutter. No other tool can crawl into difficult places.
The cutter greatly simplifies and speeds up work. You can cut wall products along and across. You can even cut off the top or bottom layer of the panel.
Let's talk about the cons. The price of the tool and consumables for it is off the charts. For example, a jigsaw file will cost 100r, and a file for a cutter at 800r. Files quickly deteriorate.
What are they made of?
The raw material for PVC wall panels is polyvinyl chloride, which is poured into a die (casting mold) under high pressure.
This method is called the extrusion method. To add color, ground natural chalk is added to the composition of the material, the amount of which is, as a rule, no more than 40%.
In addition to coloring, panels are decorated using thermal or offset printing, but the latter method is used less often, due to its higher cost.
Thermal printing is applied on a special machine using a hot roller, which presses the thermal film to the surface of the product. Thus, it is possible to achieve fast transfer of the pattern and a clear and bright print, and the panel itself does not need to be varnished, in contrast to the use of offset printing.