the_ben•1mo ago

I finally learned how to prevent tear-out when routing plywood edges.

A scrap piece of wood behind the cut makes the edge come out CLEAN.

3 comments

3 Comments

the_nora1mo ago

That backer board trick adds more setup time than it saves... isn't tear-out mostly about having a sharp bit anyway?

king.aaron1mo ago

Did you hear about my buddy's project last week? He used a sharp bit but still tore up the plywood... said it was exactly what @rodriguez.felix described, a total mess. After that, he started using a backer board every time and saves so much hassle now.

rodriguez.felix1mo ago

Wait, are you actually saying a sharp bit alone fixes plywood tear-out? I've ruined enough projects to know that's fantasy. The bottom layer of plywood just shreds no matter how new the bit is. That backer board takes two seconds to clamp and saves you an hour of filling gaps.