Painters Tape Trick for Clean Plywood Cuts

Quick tip that saved me an hour of sanding yesterday – blue painter’s tape on plywood before crosscuts.

Run tape along your cut line on both faces. The adhesive supports the surface fibers and prevents tearout at the blade exit.

Works best with:

• Birch plywood
• Oak ply with thin veneer
• Any laminated sheet goods

After cutting, peel the tape slowly at an angle. Clean edge, no fuzzy splinters.

Doesn’t replace a good zero-clearance insert, but it’s a solid backup when you’re in a hurry.