Tearout issues on plywood cuts

[moni360]

Hey all, been working with plywood recently and keep getting tearout on the edges, especially on cross cuts. i tried different blades but still not getting clean results. is this more about blade type, technique, or something else? what actually works for you guys?

[wtnhighlander]

The most effective technique I have tried is to wrap the cut line with painter's tape, and cut through the tape.

[Von]

+1 to @wtnhighlander's blue tape technique. Don't forget the leading edge of the saw is going to emerge from the bottom of the plywood on a table saw, so that's the most important side to tape.

You can also score your cut.

A good plywood or crosscut blade will make a difference in my experience, but some plywood is just finicky.

[Mark J]

A zero clearance throat plate is also helpfull.  (I'm assuming you're using a table saw.)

[Tom King]

What saw?  Table saw, circular saw???

[gee-dub]

As Tom states; knowing more about what saw type and blade you are using will help you get better responses.  Blade alignment, type, saw type, and quality of plywood can all contribute.  I use a 55 tooth plywood specific blade on my tablesaw with a zero clearance insert and get good results.  My tracksaw (Makita) with a newer splinter guard strip installed also gives good results.  ZCI's and splinter strips wear due to the abrasive action of the spoil ejecting from the cut so they do need to be rebuilt or replaced on occasion.  The older style "gazillion" tooth steel plywood blades can also give good results but wear faster than task specific carbide blades.

[Dave H]

If you raise your table saw blade about 1/8" above the table run your piece through the saw, stop the saw, now raise the blade above the piece then run it through again... no tear out. because the rotation of the saw is exiting the piece you're cutting out the bottom and it rips the fibers out on the bottom of the cut so when you cut the shallow cut first it is a scouring cut and when you raise the blade it can't tear the fibers on the bottom.