Hey folks, I'm in a bit of a bind here. I've been trying to make some underbed storage drawers with soft plywood boards, but my cutting skills aren't quite up to par. I only had a hand saw and a jigsaw, which led to some pretty uneven edges. I've tried sanding and hand planing, but they're still not straight enough to align properly. When I attempted to trim down the edges further with the jigsaw, it just made things worse and even caused some splitting. I'm thinking about recalculating the drawer sizes to fit what I've already got, but is it possible to fix the cuts with a track saw, or do I need something better? I'm feeling really frustrated after putting so much time and resources into this and not having access to better tools or advice.
2 Answers
You can absolutely salvage this project! Using a hand saw and jigsaw can work, but having good layout tools is key. Make sure to draw straight lines and right angles on the wood – this will guide your cuts much better. If you're using the jigsaw, try taping the line you want to cut along; it helps keep the wood fibers intact and gives you a cleaner edge.
As a beginner, getting those perfectly straight cuts with hand tools is tough. I get it! It can be a real challenge, especially with plywood. My best advice? For any fine adjustments, stick with sandpaper instead of trying to use the saw again. It's a lot easier to refine those edges and get a smoother finish that way.