Can Home Depot Cut Plywood? Heres How!
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Particleboard may be cheaper than plywood, but it is the least durable of all the materials we have discussed. While the sheet goods below aren't technically types of plywood, they can be an adequate substitute in some cases. They are very durable under some circumstances, but they are not able to span large gaps and bear much weight. Whether they can cut it or not depends on the store and your agreement with them. If you’re a regular, they will most likely accommodate.
A platform cart will also work if you’re buying other bulky items. Also, it usually has a higher number of veneer layers than interior plywood. This is so that there is more glue in the plywood, which makes the sheet more resistant to water and mildew. However, you still need to apply a water resistant coating, like exterior paint, to protect the wood from rotting.
C/D grade plywood
However, I was told it would cost a small added fee, though this may not be the case in all stores. Also, Home Depot staff are only trained to handle wood that’s inside the store. They can attest to its quality, and the company is answerable in case the wood is found to have defects while cutting. It is made from small wood splinters which are scraps from the large saw mills which fabricate other wood products. Softwood plywood or sanded plywood is usually cheaper, and is made out of pine, fir or spruce.
I used prefinished hardwood plywood to build my kitchen cabinets. It had a flawless wood veneer on both sides, and a clear finish that protects the wood from heavy use. The grade of your plywood refers to the quality and appearance of the wood, particularly on the outside layers you can see.
A grade plywood
For painted projects that will have both sides of the boards showing, like this entryway storage bench, I'll use B grade plywood. The holes in the outside layers are patched, and the paint will cover up any knots or imperfections for a flawless finish. You may see the term "sanded plywood" when shopping for plywood sheets for your project.
Most of the time, customers get their plywood cut in-store, so it will be easier to fit inside the vehicle. They will just polish it at home to suit the exact size they need. There are tons of different types of plywood and the selection can be overwhelming. I cover the main ones below, but you can always ask the employees at your local lumber yard what they would recommend. Aside from that, the blades they use are for multi-purpose cutting. Also, it’s being used all day, so you shouldn’t expect the edges to be smooth.
Will Home Depot cut my plywood?
The first thing to look out for when buying plywood is whether the board lays flat. If it's warped, swelling, or has waves in it, stay away! This can be a sign of water damage, or just bad quality in general. I've been known to dig down three or four layers before finally finding a good sheet. All those thin veneer layers take a lot of effort to glue together, which can increase the cost.
It is made by mixing ground up wood fibers and sawdust with glue and then pressing this paste into a sheet. Sometimes the outside is covered with a thin layer of melamine so it doesn't need to be finished after assembly. It will be less expensive than other options, because it's a softwood plywood that has knots and imperfections. You can use it for furniture making, but will take a lot more work to make it look nice.
letter grade plywood
I have had the experience in one store that they won’t cut less than 12″. If you’re patient, friendly, and not arrogant, the staff will produce accurate cuts. And since I’m a regular, I’ve landed a few discounts before as well.
Grade A plywood will have a perfectly smooth surface which is good for when you want to stain your project or leave it natural. There will be no knots or imperfections, and both sides will be flawless. This is the most expensive type of plywood, and is usually referred to as cabinet grade plywood.
On cheaper 7 ply plywood, big chunks can break off of the cut edge and weaken the joint between two pieces. Notice how the top and bottom layers of the 7 ply sheet is super thin, while the rest are pretty thick? Now imagine sanding that piece of plywood, and how easy it would be to sand through to the next layer. The 11-ply sheet has more consistent layers, and a thicker top and bottom layer that's harder to sand through.
It's more likely to dent or scratch, so it shouldn't be used on tabletops or desks that get a lot of heavy use. Plywood prices in Home Depot change from time to time, but the average would be around $33 to $35 for a 32” x 4’ x 8’ sanded pine plywood. This is just my estimation since the prices have escalated lately due to the pandemic. A few Home Depot stores I’ve visited have the ‘Reduced Lumber’ corner. Basically, it’s a pile of wood products with minor damages, but still useful. These are extremely discounted, sometimes even up to 70%.
Take a look at both sides of the sheet before you buy it so that you don’t get any surprises later on. Hardwood plywood may have a different species for the inner core, or even a solid wood core, which can save you money. Structural plywood is used for roof sheathing or subfloors, and will probably be covered up with something more decorative. Structural plywood comes in both C and D grades, but no higher. This grade is typically used as subfloor plywood, and is covered up with something else to make it look nice. Do you need to buy expensive Baltic birch 11-ply plywood for your first basic project?
For thicker decorative plywood without the huge price tag, you may want to consider lumber core plywood. Many of my woodworking plans call for plywood, and I get a lot of questions from readers asking about the types of plywood I use. The type of plywood used on garage storage shelves will be very different than the kind used on a kids bookshelf or a pantry cabinet. Take note that the plywood cutting service of Home Depot isn’t meant to fit your desired size by the inch. That is unless you bring your own tape measure and pencil to do the markings.
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