How to Prevent Wood Splintering with Painter’s Tape

Painter’s tape can prevent wood splintering and “tear out”.
Plywood can be used in many home projects, but there’s one thing that’s well known: its tendency to get rough and jagged edges after cutting. This appearance can, unfortunately, ruin the look of your projects. So why does this happen and how can painter’s tape prevent it?

Why does wood splinter?
Wood is composed of a series of tiny fibers that stretch across its entire length. When you cut wood against the grain, your saw is actively trying to cut those fibers in half. Because the fibers are flexible, it is susceptible to splitting apart; if there is nothing supporting the fibers as you cut, they can easily splinter.

Where to begin
If you’re using a portable circular saw or a jigsaw, you’ll want to cut the panel on the back side. If there is still splintering, it will only be on the back rather than on the finished front side.

However, sometimes you have to work on both sides of the wood panel, or you simply can’t work from the back side. In those cases, masking tape can help prevent splintering.

Apply your tape
Before you apply your tape, you’ll want to score the cut line; intentionally cutting the fibers gives you some control in where they snap. You can only score one side, so make sure you choose the right one.

Next, apply painter’s tape over the cut line to hold the wood fibers together and prevent splintering. When you’re done cutting, remove the tape from the wood surface. Your wood surface should now have a smooth, clear appearance with no jagged, or splintered edges – perfect for use in whatever project you are working on.