4 Tips for Cutting Hardboard

by DoItYourself Staff

Hardboard has many applications in the interior of your house. Nowadays, hardboards are used for flooring, panelling, doors, cabinets etc. Hardboards are also used in exterior applications. Sidings are made with hardboard panels, and they are very durable also. The hardboards can be used exactly as plywood, but they are much cheaper than plywood. It is very easy to cut hardboard and install them. Due to the smooth surface of the hardboard, they can be painted easily, and the finishing is also good. As it can be used for various purposes, you need to cut it and fix it according to your need. A few tips for cutting hardboard are given below.

1. Measurement

Before cutting the hardboard, you must keep it on a stable platform so that it does not move. Take proper measurement of the place where you want to install the hardboard and then using a measuring tape and a pencil, mark the measured dimension on the board. You can also use a sharp edge for marking the board. In case of hardboards, it is better to draw the lines along both the edges. By doing so, it becomes easier to cut the board and line it up. Sometimes, the edges are tampered for many reasons, and so it is better to cut them off.

2. Use Tapes

If you are using a table saw, then the vibration of the saw can damage the hardboard. While cutting the board, if it is not aligned properly, then the material of the hardboard can get damaged. Any torque generated by the blade of the saw can damage the board and rip off the edge. So while cutting the board, it is better to tape the part through which the blade will pass. The tape can absorb any extra vibration and save the hardboard from suffering any damage. Put the tape on the reverse side of the marking and make sure the tape is smooth and is lined up properly with the marking.

3. Hand Saw

If you are using a hand saw to cut the board, it is better to mount the board on a particle board and then cut it using the saw. If you try to cut it directly without any base, then the strokes of the hand saw can damage it and make the hardboard useless. Do not nail it or screw it to the particle board, as then it cannot be detached easily. Use clamps and fix it with the particle board. This makes it easier to release the hardboard after it is cut. The particle board are very easy to cut using a hand saw, and they are also quite rigid, so these are chosen as the base board.

4. Cut in One Go

Hardboards are often damaged if you try to cut it in installments. Once you have started cutting, do not stop in between and then continue after some time. Always cut one line in a single go. If you cut it in parts, then there is a fair chance that the straight line will be distorted, so once you have started cutting, it make sure that the portion is cut.