best way to cut out a square out of 3/4 oak plywood?

[mscamp02]

So I'm in the process of building my stand and have everything done except for cutting out the doors for the front of my stand. I'm not quite sure how to go about it without chipping the edges of the oak finish.

The stand will look similar to the ones glasscages sells.

any idea?

Oh and after I'm done I'll post up some pics.

 

[CarvinSigX]

Depends on how you want to do it. I built mine in strips, much like a cabinet maker would. If you insist on having a one piece front, I would plunge cut with a circular saw.

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[mscamp02]

^ That's what I was thinking about doing just worried about the finish

 

[joe jaskot]

Easier to do if you have a router with a plunge cut bit. Mark opening on ply wood. Drill holes near corner. Use router, jig saw, or circular saw. You may want to tape the plywood to prevent splintering the wood.

 

[CarvinSigX]

Yeah...You could build a template and router it out as well.

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[joe jaskot]

Here is a silly video on how to do something similar with a jigsaw: http://video.about.com/homerepair/Make-a-Center-Cut-with-a-Saw.htm

 

[mscamp02]

dont have a plunge router

 

[KLee79]

How many teeth are on your circular saw? Buy a carbide blade with a lot of teeth for a fine cut. Cut on the side that will give you less splintering.

 

[mscamp02]

How many teeth are on your circular saw? Buy a carbide blade with a lot of teeth for a fine cut. Cut on the side that will give you less splintering.

How can you can tell which side will give you less splintering? they look the same to me.

 

[KLee79]

Well I guess its a little hard to explain. But just use the backside of the plywood to make your measurements and cuts..The way the circular saw spins, it pulls on the plywood's side you're looking at upwards on cross cuts. So for a nicer finish, sawing on the backside allows the front to take less splintering..