Drywall is a popular building material today, with which you can create not only strong supporting structures, but also complex decorative elements. Depending on the complexity of the product being designed, you need to figure out how and how to cut drywall correctly in order to get the desired result.
Agree, buying a new sheet after every mistake made is an expensive pleasure, especially given today's prices for building materials. That is why it is important to decide in advance on the tool, as well as to disassemble the features of cutting in each individual case.
After getting acquainted with the tools and methods of cutting, the article will provide instructions with a step-by-step implementation of the steps. The briefing will guide you in working with drywall, allowing you to make an error-free cut of the material the first time.
The content of the article:
- Drywall Cutting Tools
-
Cutting methods with detailed instructions
- Option number 1 - cutting in a straight line
- Option number 2 - curly cutting
- Option number 3 - cutting the installed sheet
- Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Drywall Cutting Tools
Many construction publications recommend their readers to use a specialized tool for drywall, the cost of which is often too high. And only a qualified master can handle it.
Among the huge number of drywall cutting devices, it is best to use budget tools such as an assembly knife, plane, hacksaw or jigsaw.
If the tool is needed for a one-time use, for example, for wall cladding or false ceiling structuresthen it is better to choose an inexpensive option.
For those who are not related to the professional installation of drywall, there is a short list of tools:
- Pencil, tape measure and ruler. In this case, you will need to arm yourself with a simple pencil, which will help fix all the necessary marks. A tape measure or a ruler will allow you to make the most accurate measurements.
- Construction knife. Outwardly, the tool is very similar to a simple stationery knife, but more durable. Such a knife will easily cut a sheet of drywall, while it is enough to run the blade over the sheet once.
- Hacksaw. Such a tool is good because it has a thinner blade, which means that it can be used to get the most accurate cut. It is best to choose a blade from a hacksaw for metal.
- Jigsaw. To use such a tool, it is necessary to purchase high-quality files, it is desirable that they are designed for cutting metal. They have smaller teeth, which means they leave a minimum of chipping at the edges of the sheet.
- Plane. It may be needed in the last stages of cutting drywall structures. With this tool, you can give the trimmed edges a neater look.
If you want to create more “sophisticated” curly cutting elements, for example, circular or semicircular shapes, you can use an electric drill or cutter.
And you can cut a perfectly flat circle using a special electric drill with a crown.
A large sheet should be cut gradually, without pressing on it with a ruler, otherwise it may accidentally break off.
It will be very difficult for a person who is working with cutting drywall sheets for the first time to make a straight, even cut, not to mention circular forms.
That is why the most simple tools were chosen, which allow you to slowly but surely make an even cut along the marked lines.
Cutting methods with detailed instructions
Before you start cutting drywall sheet, you need to become a little better acquainted with the features of this material. This material is made of plaster with fillers, which is equipped with sheets of building board on both sides for extra strength.
Due to the cardboard sheets, the material takes on the correct shape and a perfectly flat surface, which makes it more convenient in future use.
The material is intended for the construction of small architectural forms: partitions, suspended ceilings and decorative elements. In practice, plasterboard furniture is often found, which is no less durable than any other substitute for wood.
Next, we will look at several types of cutting, each of which has its own characteristics.
Regardless of the method used for cutting drywall, at the first stage, pencil markings of the required shape are always carried out, which the master will follow in the process of cutting the material.
The degree of strength of the material is determined by its type, which should be taken into account when carrying out work. So, there is a gypsum fiber sheet of increased strength, when cutting it, a more efficient tool may be needed.
Option number 1 - cutting in a straight line
In this case, the cutting of the material is carried out along a straight line, drawn in advance with a pencil or chalk. It is recommended to start cutting the sheet from the back - this is the strongest part of the cardboard. As for the obverse, its structure is slightly different as it is adapted to the primer and other finishes.
The gypsum plasterboard is laid on a hard surface so that there are not even the slightest deflections. Next, a ruler is applied to the marking line, which is firmly fixed by the hand. If you try to make a cut without a ruler, there is a high risk of ruining the sheet.
The cut is made clearly along the edge of the ruler, and it is important to ensure that it does not slip off. After completing the cut, the sheet must be turned over and folded along the cut line in the direction of the uncut side.
So, the sheet, not completely cut through, breaks along a straight line, and the cardboard from the outside is cut already along the bend.
The incision must be made with a deepening into the plaster "filling", otherwise you will not be able to break the plaster evenly
In this case, the back side for cutting was not chosen by chance. Thanks to the denser structure, it will be much easier to cut the cardboard, which means that the line will turn out perfectly straight. By the way, it is recommended to use a special metal ruler for measurements during construction.
Option number 2 - curly cutting
This method is used when it is necessary to create a non-standard shape of a certain structural element. In this case, the procedure is somewhat complicated, so it is advisable to have at least a little experience working with drywall and a high-quality working tool for cutting.
At the initial stage, marking is also carried out, in this case curly. To get the most even circle, you will need a special template or compasses. You can create an unusual shape with circular elements using a pattern. You can cut a perfect circle in any of four ways.
In the first case, the figured cutting of drywall is done using an electric drill with a crown. This method is suitable for cutting a circle with a small diameter, for example, for socketand no markup is required here. It is enough to make a barely noticeable mark that will serve as a guide for the master.
You can create a markup of a perfectly flat circle using a thread, a needle and a pencil, which will serve as an excellent alternative to the usual compasses.
The second method involves the use of a jigsaw. Before starting work, an accurate marking of the form is carried out, along which the cut will pass. The main advantage of the jigsaw is that the diameter of the cut circle in this case does not depend in any way on the diameter of the crown, as is the case with an electric drill.
In the third method, a special hacksaw is used as a cutting tool. By the principle of its operation, it resembles a knife with teeth, but with a reinforced handle. Such a hacksaw is especially convenient when working with drywall, because it can be used not only in classical, but also in curly cutting. Such a tool is ideal for cutting out any non-standard shapes, for example, flowers or butterfly wings.
The latter method does not involve the use of a special tool. In this case, you can get by with an ordinary knife and hammer. Cutting the material is carried out along the contour of the marking, while it is better to try to insert the knife as deep as possible. Upon completion of the cut, it is necessary to lay the sheet on a flat surface with a recess so that the section with the element to be cut is just in this recess.
You can put two stools at a short distance, put a drywall sheet on them, and strike with a hammer in the center of the cut out shape
If a really deep cut was made, then the drywall should break in the required direction. The bottom layer is trimmed and the edges are sanded with sandpaper if necessary.
This method is perfect for people who have previously worked with cutting drywall sheets, and know how the material will behave in this case.
Option number 3 - cutting the installed sheet
Of course, it is most convenient to cut a sheet that has not yet been fixed. However, in practice, there are often situations in which cutting of the material is required after it is mounted on the frame.
This is due to the fact that the sheathed surfaces must be “adjusted” to the window slopes or corners. The sheet is fixed on the wall with a small margin, while the excess centimeters are removed after installation.
It is important here to make sure that the drywall sheet is securely fixed to the frame. After the first cut, a few more cutting movements are made so that the section to be cut can be simply “squeezed out”. If necessary, you can cut the sheet from the other side.
Uneven edges along the cut line can be sanded or trimmed with a hacksaw for a perfectly straight cut
The presented methods of cutting drywall are effective only if you need to do a small amount of work.
If you need to cut plasterboard sheets in large quantities, the best solution would be to contact professional craftsmen.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
You can learn how to cut drywall quickly and evenly from this video:
An overview of the best tool for cutting gypsum boards is presented in this video:
The article presented the best ways to cut drywall sheets using improvised tools that everyone can find at home.
Following the sequential instructions, you can cut drywall yourself while maintaining all proportions. So, you no longer have to spend money on the services of a master, which will obviously cost you more than replacing a damaged drywall sheet.
If you have experience in cutting such a durable building material as drywall, then you can always share it with our readers. You may be familiar with simpler cutting methods that you have used in the past. If you wish, you can leave your comment in the special field under the article.
