what kind of tool do i use to cut thin wood without splintering?

Question

Would a rotary tool work?

I'm cutting a hole in the back of an entertainment center and i don't want to ruin it. would a rotary tool work?

Sorry i have to further explain, thanks for the comments, But the hole is to be rectangular, like a 1' x 1 1/2' section cutout, so a receiver can stick out of the back of the entertainment center.

Answer 1

An exacto knife. It has an extremely sharp edge and works great with Balsa wood, too.

Answer 2

I have used a jigsaw with a very fine tooth blade. Look for blades make specifically for wood and that prevent splintering. You can also place some masking tape over the line to reduce splintering as you cut.

Answer 3

if you were able to remove it , the best way to avoid splinters is to sandwich your cut betwee two other pieces of wood...sounds like that is not an option so...the scoring with a razor blade might be a good start...if you are really good at measureing do it on both sides....if it is just the really thin almost cardboard that is usually on entertainment centers...try just repeatedly scoring with a good blade...you will get through...otherwise...the finest jigsaw blade that you can find...masking tape off the cut area will give you the least amount of splintering...take it slow... test to see which side will splinter and make sure you keep that to the back

Answer 4

Depending on how thick the entertainment center's wood is, I would either use an exacto knife or if it's a bit thicker I would use a hole cutting attachment that would work with your corded or cordless drill. Either way, I would tape off the area to be cut, that will prevent splintering around the edges of the hole.

Answer 5

If you know the thickness of the wood you wish to cut, you should be able to adjust the dept of cut on a circular saw to that thickness. You can also use a 'hole saw' that fits a drill. Mark the depth by taping around the hole saw. Then simply stop drilling when you reach that depth. Another option, if you are going to destroy the side of the cabinet, is to get a pry bar and pull the side of the cabinet off. Lifting the counter up from the top may also work.

Answer 6

Based on the thickness of the wood, you most likely need only one side and you will always get splintering but for less i would use a cut off saw.

Answer 7

You can make multiple cuts with a shap razor knife. If you use a saw cut from the back side that whay the teeth pull the wood toward you and any splintering that might occure will be on the back side.

Answer 8

Thin Entertainment Center

Answer 9

Apply some masking tape in the area you are cutting out and it will keep the splintering to a minimum. Also using a fine tooth saw
will keep splintering down.

Answer 10

A jigsaw would work, or a "Roto-Zip", or Router with a panel cutting bit.
If you want to do it by hand there is a hand saw that is called a "keyhole saw" that will be good for that sort of work. Often if the wood is thin enough I use a utility knife & draw it against a straight edge.

Answer 11

Use masking tape along the cut out and for blade ask for fine teeth(for metal) 2 prevent splintering