The best way to cut drywall. How to cut drywall at home

Many people line their home walls and ceilings with plasterboard. Fast, convenient, perfectly smooth. But the sheets are large and do not always fit exactly to size. Or you have to make a hole for an outlet, a lamp, or attach a small piece.

Professionals have special power tools for cutting, but they are always obscenely expensive. What to do ordinary people? How to cut drywall at home? In fact, it's not as scary as you think. If desired, everything can be done in a few minutes. And you will need the most popular tools.

Preparation

Preparatory work happens very quickly. First, tools are selected so as not to run around looking for them. You will need:

Tape measure, construction meter or ruler.
A simple pencil, a nail, a self-tapping screw. Any object that leaves a visible mark.
Knife. Stationery or construction (it is more reliable).
Hacksaw. Preferably narrow, but with a hard blade. You can take one designed for cutting knots.
Hammer. The most common.
Special plane. Easily replaced with a file or medium-grit sandpaper.
Drill. If there is a special cutter attachment for it, that would be great.

Then a sheet of drywall is laid on flat surface. For example, on the floor. Experts can cut drywall by weight; we do not recommend this technique for beginners. Possible damage to the material.

If there is no space on the floor (this happens during renovations), then the sheet is placed on two stools. Strictly identical in height. And they begin.

Description of cutting process

Use a tape measure to measure the required distance. Use a simple pencil to draw a mark. They double-check everything again, because there will be no way to correct the work.

Then they take a utility knife and cut the cardboard along the marking line. If you have doubts about the hardness of your hand, you can cut along the guide. It is very convenient to use the rest of the profile for fastening to the wall or a long one building level. Sometimes effort alone is not enough, after all, drywall is enough durable material. Then cut through several times.

They don’t try to immediately cut drywall with a knife. This is impossible. There is a hammer for this kind of work. All you need is to lightly hit the cut site on the back side of the sheet several times. The gypsum base will safely crack exactly along the cut line.

All that remains is to turn the sheet over and cut the second layer of cardboard with a knife. All is ready.

For a better joint between the pieces, the cut site needs to be cleaned. Sometimes quite large notches remain there. Aesthetically, they do not interfere, because the seam area will still be puttied. But the accuracy of the connection may be affected.

Chamfering is the name of this procedure. This can be easily done with sandpaper or a large file. But we recommend purchasing a special plane for such purposes. Moreover, it costs very democratically.

Cleaning the cuts is done with smooth movements, without strong pressure. Don't try to achieve perfect smoothness. It is enough to remove large rags.

Someone will ask: why was a hacksaw needed? For cutting through holes. After all, you can’t just knock them out with a hammer. Practice shows that a sheet of drywall breaks anywhere, but not along the markings. For through holes, the technique is slightly different.

A hole is drilled in the sheet along the marking line of such a size that a hacksaw blade can fit in. Then, with the same hacksaw, three sides of a square or rectangle are cut out. The fourth side does not need to be sawed. It is enough to cut through the cardboard on one side with a knife, and then knock out the unnecessary piece with a hammer. The cardboard on the other side is also cut through with a knife.

Corner squares and rectangles are cut out in drywall in the same way. One side is cut out with a hacksaw, the other with a knife and hammer.

Advice. There will be very few nicks at the cut site if you hold the knife or hacksaw perpendicular to the sheet of drywall. The lower the blade is tilted, the larger the rags you will get later.

If you have a drill with a special attachment at hand, then small round holes can be drilled very simply. The cutter is pressed strictly perpendicularly to the sheet, then turn on the drill and slowly apply pressure from above. The end result is a little dusty, but perfectly smooth.

Round holes or lines of complex configuration (waves, patterns) cannot be made with a drill. Here you will have to use a hacksaw on the principle of cutting out the inner piece. Drill a line and insert the blade. Then they saw according to the drawing.

Naturally, it is inconvenient to do such work on the floor. You can place drywall on the table so that the cut extends beyond the edge of the tabletop.

Some craftsmen carve round hole in cardboard with a knife, and then knock it out using the usual method. We do not advise beginners to try to repeat this procedure. Without the proper drywall skills, you end up with an unsightly gap with jagged edges instead of a perfect circle.

Advice. Don't try to cut openwork or intricate designs with fine lines into the drywall. The material may simply not hold up. The sheet is strong only with large drawing wide lines.

Some people manage to cut drywall at home with a grinder. We do not recommend doing this. There will be a lot of noise and plaster dust. WITH with a simple knife and with a hammer it turns out much cleaner and neater. And you won’t need to obtain personal protective equipment from anywhere or the ability to work with power tools.
Glasses, plates and pot lids are excellent templates for marking circles. Simply select the desired size and draw a circle line. This is for those times when you don’t have a compass at hand.
A jigsaw greatly simplifies most drywall jobs. Its blade is thin and tough, with small teeth. With this tool you can cut out a square, a dragonfly, or any shape and configuration on drywall. If you don’t have such a miracle of technology on your farm, you can rent it. Many construction companies provide rental of power tools.
First, all the cuts are made and only then the sheet of drywall is attached to the permanent place. If the cut is made on an already fixed sheet, then when possible error you will have to remove the structure and attach a new sheet.
It does not matter which side you cut the drywall from - front or back. It breaks equally well on both sides.
If you have to cut a large sheet alone, it can be inconvenient to lift it with one hand and hit it with a hammer with the other. Then a block is placed on the floor and the drywall is simply broken against it exactly along the cut line.
Some sources recommend using your own knee instead of a hammer. If you have a couple of new ones in stock, then you can use them to knock out unnecessary pieces. True, humanity invented the hammer a long time ago. Try to use it anyway, and leave your knees for other purposes. For example, for the fifth point of the woman you love, let him sit on them.

How to cut drywall at home? Very simple. Accurate measurement and steady hand- these are the main components of certain success. And everything will work out with a bang.

Video: how to cut drywall with a knife

Those owners who have completed more than one repair under their belt claim that there is nothing easier than carefully cutting drywall. But even such a seemingly simple task can lead a novice builder into a dead end. And below you will learn how to properly cut drywall so as not to damage it.

Drywall Cutting Tools

Specialized publications recommend the use of expensive tools, which are primarily useful to professional machinists working to order. We will consider available means that every man will definitely have at home.

Ruler, tape measure, pencil

Please note that marks on drywall are best done using a simple pencil. Traces that will be left by a ballpoint pen or marker cannot be hidden even by careful putty.

Construction knife

If you can replace it with a simple paper knife. Although, a construction knife with a replaceable two-level blade is much more convenient for cutting dense materials. This tool is easy to work with. It will quickly cut the paper layer of drywall and easily cope with the main one. But you will have to tinker to cut a perfectly straight sheet. Therefore, first you need to draw lines with an ordinary pencil, make cuts, and then, when the perimeter of the part is ready, start cutting the drywall. The edge of the cut part will have minor jagged edges - they will easily disappear if you “walk” over them with sandpaper.

Hacksaw

We will need a tool for working with metal. It differs from a wood hacksaw in that it has a thinner blade that will carefully and practically dust-free cut the sheet without damaging the edges. If you choose a hacksaw, then keep in mind that you cannot use it in weight, otherwise the material will deteriorate. Place the sheet of drywall on a stable base, then saw slowly along the pre-drawn line so as not to get lost.

Electric jigsaw

If you buy high-quality files for the tool, you will definitely not have any problems; it is advisable to use a metal file for the work. They are characterized by a smaller chisel, as a result of which many chips will remain at the end of the sheet. Thanks to this tool, you can easily cut rounded elements from drywall.

Bevel plane and roughing plane

Such tools will be required at the final stage of working with drywall, when it is necessary to give a neat appearance to its edges.

Attention! You cannot use a circular saw to cut drywall. The tool produces a huge amount of dust, clogging workroom, as well as your respiratory organs.

How to properly cut drywall at home

Letter G.

Usually this form of material is given if it is necessary to sheathe a doorway. We measure and outline the contours of the parts. Next, the short part is sawed through with a hacksaw, and the long part is cut with a knife.

In a straight line.

Using this type of cutting regular sheet It is important to give drywall the required size. Place the source on a horizontal surface. Once the desired size of the part is marked on both sides of the gypsum board, use a drywall cutting knife and use a metal ruler to cut the sheet layer. For convenience, adjust the knife blade so that it protrudes from the handle to a length that does not exceed too much the thickness of the plasterboard.

You should not cut the material according to the drawn mark without a ruler - this way you are unlikely to get an even cut. Run the knife along the cutting line several times to deepen the cut. In this case, the drywall will be broken in the right place.

Next, place the sheet edge-on on the support and lightly tap it on the opposite side of the cut. You shouldn’t put too much pressure on the sheet - usually the core breaks after just a few blows. All that remains is to tear apart the cardboard connecting the two halves of the sheet.

Working with drywall fixed to the wall

Despite the fact that it is easiest to cut loose drywall, sometimes there is a need to cut and cut off the excess, while the sheet ended up on the frame. This design option is justified by the fact that when covering a corner of a wall or a window slope with plasterboard, its edge must exactly overlap the edges of the surface where it is fixed (for aesthetic reasons). Therefore, it is necessary to fix several plasterboards on the wall bigger size and only then remove the extra centimeters.

Check that the frame securely holds the gypsum board. In such a situation, you will not have any difficulty with which side to cut the drywall, because the answer suggests itself - cut the side that is adjacent to the surface to be sheathed. Strictly follow the intended line with the tool several times, while slightly “squeezing out” the unnecessary part. Then cut the sheet from the back side.

Attention! To give the drywall on the frame an L shape, cut a line horizontally using a hacksaw, and then use a knife to saw a vertical line.

Figured cutting of drywall and non-standard cutting

Often you have to cut drywall not in a straight line, but as required by sockets, built-in lighting fixtures, or your own imagination (for example, curved ceiling). Working with indirect parts requires some skill.

To create a round hole in the plasterboard, you need to use an electric drill equipped with a special attachment. There are different types of attachments and different diameters, which are also called circular saws. Give preference to one that is designed to work with plywood, wood and drywall.

If you don't have a circular saw, don't despair. You can completely use a jigsaw: draw a circle of the required size on the drywall, inside which make a hole. Next, insert the tool blade and, following the marking outline, make a round hole. But keep in mind that you need to use a narrow file with small teeth and take your time when cutting the sheet. The result of unhurried work is a smooth edge of the part. Operate the jigsaw slowly, but it should also work at maximum speed.

If you do not have any of the above tools, as a last resort, a hole in a sheet of drywall can be made using a hammer and a special knife for plasterboard. For this:

mark the worksheet;
pressing well, cut the marked lines (in such a situation, the main thing is to cut sufficient depth in the sheet of drywall);
place plasterboard sheet on a surface with a recess so that it is located under the future hole;
hit the intended hole with a hammer so that the core of the sheet breaks, but do not overdo it, otherwise a crack may occur;
Next, break off unnecessary pieces of drywall by cutting off the cardboard from the back of the sheet.

The easiest way to make shaped cutting of drywall is with a jigsaw. However, if you don’t have one, then you can get by with a convenient and worthy replacement, namely a hacksaw for gypsum boards. You can also cope without it.

take measurements and put future dimensions on the sheet;
the cut contour must be divided into straight segments, then cut through them with a knife, cutting the cardboard and scratching the plaster;
break off the resulting sections in the same way that we talked about in the previous version of cutting drywall.

This technology is especially effective when cutting out large shapes. To prepare elements with a small radius, it is better to use a hacksaw.

Processing plasterboard sheets after cutting

The edge of the plasterboard, along which the working tool “walked”, does not look aesthetically pleasing. To make it smooth and even, ready for the filling process, use a plane and chamfer. For this purpose, you can use a regular knife. The chamfer is removed to 2/3 of the gypsum board thickness, maintaining an angle of 45°.

hacksaw for metal;
metal scissors;
jigsaw with metal saw;
manual or table-top cutting machine;
Bulgarian

Some useful tips

Drywall should only be cut on a stable and level surface, otherwise the material will bend and will be much more difficult to work with.
Make sure that the drywall is dry (it is afraid of moisture and can be damaged).
Cut large sheets in several steps.
The frame for gypsum boards can be created from small parts metal profile, the main thing is that these pieces are securely fastened to the wall.
When working with a profile, you don’t have to worry about the fact that the cuts are not quite even and neat - the profile will still “hide” under the drywall.

As you can see, there is nothing difficult in working with drywall. To secure the material, we recommend watching a video on how to cut drywall with your own hands:

Everyone who works or plans to start working with HA is faced with the question of how to cut drywall. There are several ways to perform this simple and at the same time difficult operation.

The most popular is cutting plasterboard sheet in a straight line. To do this, the gypsum board is laid on a flat surface in a horizontal position. After this, using a pencil and a rule, a straight line is marked along which the incision is made. Then the sheet is turned over and cracked along the cut line on the other side. To understand how to cut drywall correctly, we will consider all situations and cutting methods in more detail.

First, let's decide what tool we need for this operation. How to cut drywall:

Regular or special drywall cutter with interchangeable blades
Roulette
Ruler, rule or cord for marking
Jigsaw with a fine file (for cutting sheets along uneven lines)

After cutting the plasterboard sheet, its edges will need to be processed, so for this we will use:

Chamfering plane
Roughing plane

How to cut drywall in a straight line

Cutting plasterboard in a straight line is not that difficult. To do this, lay the plasterboard on a flat horizontal surface (on the floor or on a table), take the necessary measurements using a simple pencil. It should be noted that it is not recommended to use a marker or pen for marking, as they leave marks that are then almost impossible to putty on.

After measurements, we leave marks on the bottom and top of the sheet. We apply a rule or level to these marks and draw a line.

Now let's start cutting. To do this we need a sharp knife with an adjustable blade length. In this case, the blade should protrude from the knife handle to a length not exceeding the thickness of the drywall. We make a cut along the left line. In order to make the line more even, you need to go over the cut with a knife 2-3 more times, this way we will deepen it.

If the sheet was lying on the table, then it is necessary to move it so that the part to be cut protrudes beyond the edges. Now you need to take the edges of the sheet and, with a sharp movement, carefully break it along the cut line, after which we make another cut with a knife from the back side.

If cutting the plasterboard sheet was carried out on the floor, then after making the cut it must be placed on its edge, and by lightly tapping on the whole side, make a break and then cut the cardboard with a knife.

On a note! Not suitable for cutting drywall circular saw. Using this tool can be compared to hammering nails with a stone. Such a saw creates a huge amount of dust, which has a detrimental effect on the mechanical parts of the tool and on your lungs.

How to correctly cut drywall in the shape of the letter L

Typically, a plasterboard sheet is cut in the shape of the letter L to cover a doorway. The operation is not difficult, but to perform it we will need a hacksaw, which we use to saw through the short part. The long part is cut according to the pattern described above with a knife.

How to cut drywall along an uneven line

More difficult process cutting drywall along a curved line, for example when we need to cut an oval or circle. For this work we will need an additional tool - jigsaw with a fine file. You can try to cut the sheet with a knife, but there are very few guarantees that the cut will be smooth and neat.

When cutting drywall with a jigsaw, a lot of dust is generated, so you need to take care of the tools personal protection(safety glasses, respirator).

How to properly cut drywall installed on a wall

If it is necessary to sheathe a window slope or a corner of a wall with plasterboard sheets and at the same time make sure that its edge perfectly coincides with the edges of the wall, then cutting the plasterboard is done “on the spot”, that is, the sheet already installed on the wall is cut. As a rule, to do this, attach a piece of drywall slightly larger than necessary and then cut off the unnecessary parts.

To perform this operation correctly, the plasterboard sheet must be securely fastened to the frame. The cut is made along the side of the sheet that is adjacent to the surface to be sheathed. We draw along the outlined line several times, lightly pressing on the unnecessary piece. After this, we cut the sheet from the reverse side. In order to cut a sheet in the shape of the letter L on a sheet already attached to the frame, we cut through a horizontal line with a hacksaw, after which we cut a vertical line with a knife.

How to cut a hole in drywall for an outlet or light bulb

Such holes are cut into the plasterboard sheet, usually after it has been installed. . How to cut drywall in this case?

For this operation we will need a drywall crown (circular saw) or a drywall hacksaw. IN construction stores You can purchase a set of crowns for HAs of different diameters. These devices are installed on a screwdriver or drill.

Cutting a hole with a hacksaw is more difficult, and the edges of the hole will not be as smooth.

Processing the edges of drywall after cutting

After cutting, the edges of a sheet of drywall are usually not very even and smooth. To make them more accurate and at the same time prepare the joints of the installed sheets for puttying, you need to chamfer them with a special plane. This can be done using a regular knife. Typically, the chamfer is removed at 2/3 of the sheet thickness at an angle of 45 degrees.

Cutting drywall correctly is not a difficult task, and we recommend an excellent video to help secure the material.

How to cut drywall video:

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Anyone who has ever worked with drywall understands perfectly well that this construction material must be cut to required sizes. IN ideal conditions Most drywall sheets are installed in one piece. If you are leveling the walls in a large room, then you will have to cut the gypsum boards a little, and this can be done using a ruler. However, in small rooms you will have to constantly trim the sheets so that they lie perfectly flat.

Everyone who has started a renovation using drywall has to think about how to cut drywall. of this material. It’s good if you just need to cut the material to the required size, but what to do if you need to create non-standard forms, such as arcs, triangles, ovals, etc.? Let's consider all these nuances in more detail.

There are special rulers for cutting drywall

On preparatory stage everything is quite simple. It is necessary to place the sheet to be cut in a convenient position. If a professional in some cases can carry out cutting by weight, then a beginner requires a flat, hard surface on which to lay drywall. Most often used big table or, as a last resort, lay the sheet on the floor. If there is no table, and the floor is not an option due to the tools used, then the sheet is simply placed on two stools (or more).

It is better to cut sheets of drywall from the front side.

It is necessary to ask not only the question of how best to cut drywall, but also which additional tools may be needed for this. What can be useful?

A tape measure or ruler is required to take accurate measurements before cutting.
The cutting is carried out directly with a construction knife. You can use a utility knife as a backup option.
A hacksaw can be used instead of a knife.
A pencil is needed to mark the incision site.
An edge plane is necessary to immediately trim the cut edges. Once cut they don't look very good. You can also immediately remove the chamfer.
For the same purposes as in the previous paragraph, you will need a file or sandpaper if the cut was not smooth (a plane is only good for straight edges).
The jigsaw is used by the most experienced craftsmen for large volumes of work. It makes no sense to rent or buy a tool for a dozen straight lines.

Of course, not all of these tools will be useful. It all depends on what kind of cutting needs to be done.

Which tool to choose

How to cut drywall at home? To answer this question you need to understand what kind of work needs to be done. If you need to make a hole for a socket, then this is one situation; if the sheet is simply cut to fit the size of the wall, then this is a different situation. A completely different approach is required in cases where the edge of the sheet is given shaped shapes.

Regardless of the tool chosen, it is always necessary to make preliminary markings. Only after marking and checking its correctness can you begin to cut the drywall.

The most commonly used cutting tools are:

hacksaw;
jigsaw

Stationery or kitchen knife and - these are completely amateur instruments. It makes sense to use them only when there is nothing else at hand. As they say, if you don’t have a pencil, you can make the markings with a nail. So here, if you don’t have a construction knife at hand, you’ll have to take any other one. However, thick sheets will be difficult to cut with such tools.

Everyone determines the entire list of necessary tools for themselves

How to cut drywall with a construction knife? First you need to make sure that the selected tool is correct. A construction knife must have a double-sided blade. It is clear that you can only work with sharp blade. It is necessary to lay the sheet on a hill and make several cuts with such a knife along the intended line. It is advisable to attach a metal ruler or profile along which the cut will be made. Then the sheet is broken along the cut line. The cardboard on the back side of the sheet is easily cut when the gypsum board is already broken.

A hacksaw is good because it has thin blade. As a result, the edges of the sheets will be practically without jagged edges due to the thin cutting (the structure of the saw teeth and its thickness accompany this). When working with a saw, the drywall should be suspended, because you need space on both sides.

A jigsaw is good in cases where you need to cut out shapes of varying complexity.

We use a construction knife

It is rational to use a knife in cases where you need to cut off an even piece of drywall or dissolve it into two parts. These are the situations that prevail in the repair process.

The procedure for cutting plasterboard with a knife

The first step is to take measurements to determine which piece needs to be cut. By drawing a line along the location of the future cut, we will simplify the whole process. Often several sheets are marked at once or one sheet in several places. Therefore, take a pencil, the line from which will be clearly visible.

A ruler or profile is applied along the edge of the line, which should fit snugly against the drywall. In this case, the building material should not sag. The tip of the knife is pressed into the line and pressed along the line several times.

Now the sheet needs to be broken with the cut facing outwards. To do this, the drywall is laid on the edge of the table so that the cut protrudes slightly beyond this edge. Usually they hold the sheet with one hand and break the cut part with the other.

A break can be made using a precise strike with the palm of your hand from the back side of the sheet. Someone taps with a hammer or presses with their knee.

The broken sheet is placed at an angle on the floor, after which an entire piece of cardboard is cut to separate the cut piece. The edges are processed with a plane in order to remove burrs and make a groove for high-quality sealing of seams.

From the video below you can learn how to properly cut small drywall directly on the floor.

Rules for working with a hand saw

If you need to cut a piece of drywall of a special shape, then it is rational to use a hacksaw, because such an effect cannot be achieved with a knife. It is necessary for creating arcs, waves and other shaped edges on a sheet of drywall. These forms are especially relevant when creating multi-level ceiling and interior partitions.

Again, the whole process begins with markings being made on the plasterboard. The order of marking depends on the specific task. It’s one thing to make a circle for a hole for a socket and a completely different thing to make a “daisy” marking on the ceiling.

It is especially convenient to cut arcs with a hacksaw

When creating a design, pattern or lines to be cut, you need to consider the entry point for the hacksaw. Somehow it has to get through the drywall to cut it. After the hacksaw is inserted into the plasterboard, you just need to cut along the intended lines. It is advisable that they do not have strong bends, because such a turn is extremely difficult to repeat.

This diagram is understandable if you need to cut from edge to edge. But how to cut drywall if the shape does not touch the edges of the sheet? In this case, you need to punch a hole somewhere in the middle on the marked line with a knife. The hacksaw will be inserted into this hole.

A jigsaw is used to create complex cuts

How more complex form cut, the more refined tools you need to use. When it comes to complex figures made of plasterboard, you need to cut the sheets using a jigsaw.

A jigsaw is often used to create holes inside a sheet

The drywall must be marked and then laid on the stools so that they are not under the cut lines. We don't want the jigsaw blade to catch anything along the way.

The tool itself is installed at the beginning of the line, along which it is then drawn. There is nothing difficult about the process itself. The main thing is to fill your hand and guide the tool clearly along the lines.

Big disadvantage this method is the creation of a large amount of dust that will scatter throughout the apartment.

The undoubted advantages of a jigsaw are:

thin blade, so the material does not deteriorate. At the same time, the blade is rigid enough to make even cuts;
the presence of small teeth on the blade makes the cuts smooth and the drywall core does not tear;
this tool allows you not only to cut the sheet into even pieces, but also to do this, simultaneously creating curly patterns;
Due to the electric motor, not much physical force is applied.

Now you know how to cut gypsum boards different situations. You can clearly understand the operation of a jigsaw from the video below.

To work with plasterboard sheets, it is better to select high-quality and practical tools. Plasterboard structures are appearing more and more often in our homes, offices, schools, shops... it can be a simple wall or decorative element any type. When assembling any interior element from gypsum plasterboard, cutting of the material is required (even when installing simple partitions and ceilings). How do you cut drywall and what additional tools are needed for this? How many ways are there? You will find the answer to these and other questions in this article.

A professional installer will always have something to cut a sheet or cut off part of it. Even if the tool for its main purpose fails during operation. But in addition to cutting objects, an auxiliary tool is also needed.

Before you start working with plasterboard sheets, you should prepare everything in advance necessary tools and materials

What you need to cut drywall:

Construction knife. It is very similar to a stationery knife (both in appearance and in the mechanism of the device), however, it is more durable. With long-term use, the only part that fails is the blade, which is easy to replace. This tool, regardless of the company and manufacturer, is very versatile, so you don’t have to select blades of a certain brand. The gypsum board sheet can also be cut with a stationery knife if it is required once.
Hacksaw for drywall. This is an object with a narrow blade and serrated edges up to 18 cm long; it looks like a kitchen knife-saw, since its blade is soldered into the handle. The blade is made of high-strength steel, so you can use a knife without special effort and straight and curly cuts. It is light, compact and very easy to use. This knife is universal, since in addition to plasterboard, it can easily cope with small wooden workpieces. The shape of the knife teeth for drywall can be different, depending on the company. But this does not significantly affect the process of cutting the material. At home, gypsum board can be cut with a simple hacksaw, but this is quite difficult and should be done with extreme caution.
Jigsaw. This tool is mostly used for cutting wood, MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, etc., however, if you install metal blades (which have finer teeth), then everything will work out. Blade with fine teeth does not tear the cardboard layer of the sheet and there will be fewer chips. A jigsaw can be used to make both straight and curved cuts.
Plane. This tool is not used to cut a sheet or cut out a specific element of any structure being built, but only at the final stage. Using a chamfering plane or a simple roughing plane, the cut areas of the drywall sheet are processed. This is necessary for further processing of joints.
Tape measure, pencil, ruler. To cut the sheet correctly and evenly, precise measurements and markings are necessary. Especially when it comes to figured products for decoration. For an even line, instead of a ruler and pencil, you can use a tapping thread, but with curly markings you will have to work hard. If you need to cut smooth circle, the pencil is tied to a rope, the other end of which is fixed in the middle of the sheet and this device is used according to the principle of a compass. In the same way, semicircular bends are marked, where the length of the rope depends on the radius of the circle.

A milling cutter or electric drill with special attachments is used to make holes in drywall. For example, for sockets, switches, etc. Let's consider this type of tool in more detail.

For making holes any geometric shape and grooves, as well as processing the edges of a sheet of drywall, a disk or shaped router is used. A disk router is capable of making only grooves, but the second option is better due to its versatility: in addition to grooves, it is capable of cutting holes of any geometric shape, as well as processing the edge of a sheet.

In order to quickly make a hole in drywall, you can use a special router

Milling is the processing of any material by cutting. Often the cutter is replaced with a conventional electric drill with corresponding attachments of different diameters (depending on the purpose for which the hole is needed).

Mills have certain varieties. To make radius and rounded surfaces, a U-shaped tool is used, and for sharp corners– V-shaped cutter.

Any type of drywall has a certain structure. As a rule, this is a gypsum core or filler, covered on all sides with durable cardboard. Depending on the type of material, cardboard and filler may have a different structure, but this does not affect the cutting methods. For an even cut, just go over the sheet with a gypsum board knife and make a break.

Making an even cut

Before cutting through a sheet of drywall, you need to make precise markings and draw a line. Next, place any flat object (ruler, rule or profile) along the drawn line and draw a knife along the line several times. This must be done without jerking, confidently, so that chips and nicks do not form in the material.

Accurate markings on the sheet will help you cut the drywall correctly and evenly.

To prevent the cut from being crooked, the ruler must be held straight and in the same position.

You can cut drywall either by laying it on the floor or leaning it against the wall. The main condition is that the cut be perfectly even, otherwise it will not be possible to break the sheet correctly. How to make a break correctly? To do this, turn the sheet over and bend it in half along the cut line, and then run a knife along the resulting bend on the cardboard.

Shaped cutting

If the elements future design assume smooth lines and bends, cutting the material is done with a jigsaw or a hacksaw for metal (which is much more difficult). In order to cut out an element with rounded shapes, the sheet must be laid out on the table. The edge of the sheet should hang over the floor. After accurate markings have been made, a jigsaw is drawn along the drawn line; this must be done away from you, and not towards you, so that the power tool does not cause injury.

How to cut drywall: make holes

What are holes in drywall for? Walls with niches, hatches for communications or installation distribution boxes, as well as socket boxes, all this involves doing various kinds holes in gypsum board slabs.

You can also make straight holes using a drill.

How to cut drywall correctly:

Holes rectangular or square shape. First you need to determine the exact place on the sheet where cutting is planned. Using an electric drill, drill 4 holes with a drill large diameter, along the contour of the cut out figure. Next, the opening is cut with a jigsaw through the holes made.
Round hole. The most common way is to use special bits for an electric drill. Marking the sheet is quite simple: you only need to mark the center of the future hole, making the appropriate measurements. Crown with required diameter is attached to the chuck of an electric drill, the core drill is placed on the mark, the average speed is selected and the hole is smoothly cut.

It is important not to press the drill too hard to prevent the bit from getting stuck in the material.

Tools at hand: how to cut drywall at home

To evenly cut the material, you can even use scissors or a simple blade, a stationery or kitchen knife, using them according to the principle of a drywall knife. Shaped cutting can be done with a regular hacksaw for metal. The principle of its use is similar to using a jigsaw, but there are differences. You can start sawing the sheet with a whole hacksaw, but the handle will not go deep into the sheet, so you will have to remove it and continue cutting only with the blade.

You can cut drywall yourself, the main thing is to do it correctly and with the utmost care.

Round holes can also be cut with a regular knife, for this you need:

Mark the location of the slot on the front and back sides of the slab;
Outline the shape of the hole by tracing an outline on both sides of the sheet;
Use a knife to cut through the cardboard layer on both sides;
Lightly tap the plaster with a mallet.

To cut a hole in established sheet drywall, a location is selected and the outline of the figure is outlined, and a hacksaw is used for drywall.

Tool review: how to cut drywall (video)

It may not always be possible to cut a sheet of drywall perfectly the first time. If you are not confident in your abilities, practice on scrap material so as not to ruin the whole sheet.

Happy renovation!

homeli.ru

Drywall cutting

Beginners in the construction business do not know what and how to cut drywall the best way. After all, any work, be it creation ceiling structure, partition or complex decorative element, requires knowledge of the rules for cutting gypsum boards and strict adherence to them in practice. Different tools are used for these purposes. It all depends on the chosen cutting method. So, the recommendations below will tell you how to cut drywall at home.

Getting to know the toolbox

Mandatory list tools for sawing gypsum fiber with your own hands includes three groups of items

1. Devices for applying markings on a sheet of plasterboard - a simple pencil, a tape measure, a long ruler.

2. The actual cutting and sawing devices.

Knife. You can cut GVLV with a stationery knife, as well as with a specialized construction knife with a double-sided replaceable blade (suitable for denser materials).
Hacksaw. It is better if it is a tool for working metal rather than wood.
Jigsaw. Ideal for cutting rounded elements. High-quality metal saws with fine teeth leave the least amount of chipping on the ends of drywall.
Electric drill. Needed for making holes. For large d gaps, you will need round bits (which are used to cut into the core of door snap locks) and feather drills.

3. Edge processing devices:

roughing plane;
plane for chamfering.

This list clearly shows what home craftsmen use to cut drywall. Of course, it is far from complete. Arsenal experienced craftsmen may include professional equipment, for example a special cutter for gypsum plasterboard. However, for those who are working with the material for the first time, this set is quite sufficient. To better understand how to cut drywall correctly, you need to clearly understand the structure of this material.

The structure and purpose of drywall

Plasterboard sheets are a layer-by-layer combination of two types of materials - gypsum (internal contents) and sheets of thick cardboard glued to it on both sides. It is clear that if the cardboard layers are damaged, sawing the rest is not difficult.

Therefore, in order to be able to quickly cut a sheet of plasterboard, it is not enough to know what is the best way to cut drywall. It is important to know the basic principle of this action: after continuous, even cutting of drywall is carried out, the second step immediately follows - breaking the sheet.

Sawing drywall, like any hard, porous material, is not difficult. It also lends itself well to drilling.

The functions of the material make it possible to distinguish it into varieties: moisture-resistant, fire-resistant, standard, increased strength (for example, gypsum board or gypsum board, made using KNAUF technologies), acoustic plasterboard, etc.

Despite a large assortment GC, panels of any variety lend themselves well to being divided into parts using available material at hand.

Selection of cutting methods

What method of cutting drywall to resort to will become clear after studying the options that exist for these purposes.

Standard cutting

Cutting the sheet in a straight line is the easiest way to cut. It comes down to this:

GVL is placed on a hard and flat surface. Then mark the future cutting line.

Whatever knife you choose, you should cut it strictly, placing a ruler on the side. An uneven cut is guaranteed if you decide to do it without a ruler. Cutting begins from the back side (there is a denser cardboard layer). The front part of the Civil Code is somewhat different, as it is intended for finishing work. When cutting, they try to push the knife as deep as possible into the gypsum contents.

Upon completion of the process, the GC is turned over and bent in the direction of the solid (without cutting line) side. Plaster that is not touched by a knife will be broken into the necessary direction. The cardboard on the opposite side is cut along formed line fold.

It doesn’t really matter which side you start cutting the drywall from. However, it is much easier to do this on a flat, dense surface than when holding the GL suspended.

Before cutting drywall with improvised tools, you should familiarize yourself with two more types of simple cutting that you can do yourself.

Double-sided cutting. Most often, cutting in the shape of any rectangle is performed in this way. Using a hacksaw, one of the sides is sawed, the other is simply trimmed with a blade. After which the material is broken, and the cardboard is cut off on the opposite side (as with simple cutting). The finished trim is brought to perfection using a plane to finish the edge.

Cutting along an uneven line. To cut material along uneven lines, you must first prepare a drawing.

Cut according to a given geometry

Shaped cutting of drywall is used in the situation of creating unique shapes for a specific structural element. This procedure is more complicated, and you cannot do it without basic experience and a sufficient arsenal of tools.

When cutting in shapes, the material is also first marked. If you need to draw a circle, but there is no compass at hand, then they arm themselves with a needle and thread and a tied pencil.

For shaped cutting of HA in different situations, we apply one of the methods described below.

Option one. Describes the process when a hacksaw is selected as a tool. Manipulating a hacksaw is akin to working with a knife with teeth and a handle. Using a hacksaw, you can cut out fragments with any non-trivial shapes from plasterboard (for example, butterflies or flowers).

Option two. An electric drill with a cylindrical attachment allows you to create even circles of small diameter in drywall. The circle is not marked here, but is limited to marking in the desired area.

Option three. To cut gypsum fiber boards with a jigsaw, clearly mark the contour of the required shape. Priority in choosing a jigsaw is given when the diameter of the circle being made must be greater than the diameter of the electric drill bit, and the rounded lines of the shapes are not limited to a circle.

Option four. The most primitive one is when the choice of tool comes down to a knife and a hammer. Drywall is cut along the intended border. At the same time, they try to press as hard as possible on the blade.

After which the HA is placed on a flat surface that has a recess. Moreover, the separated part of the element must fall into this hole. It is less effective to rest the sheet on the wall. Next, hit with a hammer in the middle of the separated fragment. The part to be removed should break. The layer of cardboard from below is cut off, aligning the ends as necessary. GK experts strongly advise against resorting to this technique for people without experience. Since you have to spend a lot of plasterboard sheets to train your hands and practice pressing force.

The nuances of making circles

Circles in the ceiling structure are made primarily for mounting lamps. The easiest way is to cut a circle of a given diameter in the gypsum fiber with a blade. And carefully knock out the middle part with a hammer. However, it will be easier to implement your plan with a drill with special equipment - a cylindrical attachment. The same one that is used when cutting a locking mechanism with a latch into a door.

Cutting after installation of gypsum boards

Of course, it is more convenient to cut material that has not yet been fixed. But in practice, there are situations when it is necessary to cut off the excess after installing the sheets to the frame. Such pruning is due to the fact that the surfaces to be sheathed meet on their way window slopes or corners.

The sheet is fixed to the wall, leaving a small margin of size. Already on the wall, excess centimeters are removed.

Here it is important to make sure that the HA is securely fixed to the frame. The incision is made on the side that is in contact with the wall. The cutting movements are repeated repeatedly, following the markings. At the same time, they try to “squeeze out” unnecessary parts of the material. The sheet is cut on the other side.

By learning these methods, beginners will understand how to cut drywall if they have a home minimum set tools. If you need to cut HA in large quantities, these options will not work. The best solution will turn to professionals.

izgipsokartona.com

How to cut a plasterboard sheet and what tools are needed

When working with drywall, many people ask the question: how to cut drywall correctly? This process is not difficult if you properly prepare the tool and apply markings to the material. How to cut drywall at home to create waste minimal amount? What tool should you have on hand? Let's take a closer look.

Tools for cutting drywall Return to contents

Marking

In order to correctly apply the markings, you need to measure the plane on which the gypsum board sheets will be attached. Then, using a tape measure or ruler, you should transfer the dimensions onto the slab, outlining a line with a pencil. Double-check your measurements before you start cutting. This will help you avoid making mistakes.

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Tools and material

Before you start cutting drywall at home, you need to prepare your tool. For this you will need:

drywall;
roulette;
line;
stationery knife.

Important: it is better to cut drywall only with a new, sharp, stationery knife.

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Cutting a sheet of drywall in a straight line

A gypsum board is a sandwich in which a gypsum core is surrounded on both sides by thick cardboard. The material is quite durable, can be moisture-resistant and fire-resistant. Drywall can be cut from any side. It is not difficult to cut the material; use a fairly sharp blade to cut through one layer of cardboard and break it.

It is worth remembering that the knife must be guided confidently and strictly along the line that was drawn earlier. If it was not possible to cut the cardboard the first time, then pass over this place several times until the cardboard is completely cut through. The rail should remain stationary during cutting. It is pressed tightly against the material, otherwise the cut will be uneven. The paper layer is cut through with a slight grip gypsum board. This will help break the material evenly, without chipping.
Once you have cut one layer of cardboard on the board, you can proceed to the next step - breaking the material along the cut. If you did everything correctly, it will not be difficult to hold the sheet with your feet and fold it in the opposite direction from the cut.

You can involve a second person if the layer of material is large. In principle, it does not matter how the material is broken, the main thing in this matter is an even and high-quality cut. Once you have folded the drywall along the cut, you need to carefully cut the second layer of cardboard. Cutting drywall is actually easy. If you doubt that this process will be carried out correctly, try cutting the material on a small piece first.

How to make a round hole in plasterboard

It is important to learn how to correctly make holes in sheets of material, since installation often involves installing sockets or switches. In addition, sometimes it is necessary to repair damaged areas in drywall. For professional hole making, use special tool and have some skill. Let's look at how to cut drywall at home, step by step:

Advice! Do not rush and put too much pressure on the tool - this may lead to damage to the material, since the crown may simply be jammed in the drywall.

Round hole without power tools

This is the second method, which will require more effort. The marking is carried out as in the first option, in this case you need to draw a circle with a compass required diameter. Once the marking is ready, you need to make a small hole at the edge of the circle. It can be drilled using a brace. Then you need to take a thin hacksaw with sharp teeth, insert it into the hole and start sawing the drywall strictly along the line.

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Cutting a rectangular hole

The first step is to determine on the drywall board where the hole will be located.
To do this, you need to measure the required distance from the left edge of the drywall sheet and put a mark. If you plan to make a hole for a strip for several sockets, then the strip is placed against this mark and outlined.

After this, you need to set the geometry - the bar must be strictly level. Draw the sides of the future hole well.

Then you need to drill holes in the corners of the rectangle; it is worth remembering that the drill must be of such a size that the jigsaw blade fits freely into the hole in the material. A saw is inserted into each hole and a cut is made. This must be done very carefully, without strong pressure. The file should follow the line.
Important! When working with drywall, you should wear a mask or respirator to avoid breathing in dust. It is better to make the hole a little smaller. It is always easier to make a large one from a small hole; to do this, just walk along the edges of the hole with a rasp.

Once the work is done, you need to inspect the hole made. Take the bar and try it on, preferably together with the sockets, so you will know exactly how suitable the hole is. If necessary, a hole can be made in a ready-made structure, but you just need to know for sure that there are no communication systems running at the installation site. In the video, the master shows how to make a square hole in drywall.