Thread: Feasible: handcut thin sheet from hardwood?

Hi there,

Hopefully I have understood what you want to do.

Sounds like a bit of a tough task, to be honest - cutting with a jigsaw isn't the most delicate operations in many instances, but you might be able to get away with it if you set up a jig/guide to hold the jigsaw the exact distance from the opposite face that you require (I wouldn't use the thin side as you'll press the cut against itself).

The problem is the high likelihood that you will break through the thin side.

Do you have a plane? Honestly I think an easier proposition is to cut a slightly thicker piece (or, for that matter, buy a bunch of the 4mm thick strips from bunnies and glue them together) and then plane it down to a thickness that works.

There is also another option of just making your recesses in the other side (the side against the wall), make them deep enough (say 17mm deep into the oak - use a good depth stop on your router) and then glue the magnets from the other side - no cutting required!

Best of luck,
sCORCH

if you are near bribie island region you are most welcome to come and use my bandsaw.i will give you a hand if you like bob

I like the idea of a deeper cut from the other side.

What about another material instead of wood, like perspex over the top.

just an idea,
iron on veneer could work

I think the easiest way would to drill holes the size of the magnets stopping just short of going thru hold them in place with hot glue
les

Good ideas - I'd considered the route from backside in and will test out how accurately I can do this.

I do have a plane and gluing the 4mm stuff over and planing down appeals to me if the rear routing doesn't work well.

Hadn't considered iron-on veneer, at first I thought you meant the melamine looking iron on stuff but I'm guessing there is wood veneer that you can iron on. My experience with iron-on stuff is that the glue is not particularly strong (?) - I'd probably consider this if I could find something that still feels/looks like real wood (and similar to the tas oak) and use another bonding agent. Does Bunnies have this sort of veneer or is it more specialist?

If I wasn't trying to keep a stealth look to it then I'd certainly go down this path.

Thanks for the offer of using the bandsaw - I'm a bit far away though (Western Melb) (all the decent woodwork store also happen to be in the eastern suburbs too )

gidday there,

yes - bunnies sells tasmanian oak veneer in the iron-on form. It works OK as long as you make sure you heat and press it down properly.

Cheerio,
sCORCH