Saw for Cutting Solid Wood Flooring?

meansizzler · 09-10-2009, 12:36 PM

After 20 minutes of use the Manual Mitre Saw I got form homebase broke, reason I use a mitre rather than a jigsaw is because I can cut straight with it, anyone have any experience with cutting solid wood flooring what would you recommend for cutting straight and quickly, but not too quickly?..

kav · 09-10-2009, 12:39 PM

You can buy saws specifically for cutting flooring - they look like tenon saws but they usually have a rounded end rather than a straight end, like these.

If you're talking about electric saw, you can't go wrong with a circular saw - just set the depth correctly and away you go. You will still need to do corners/edges manually using this method though.

**IronGiant** · 09-10-2009, 12:54 PM

Something like this?

Direct Power BM210J 210mm Compound Mitre Saw - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys

Note that if your flooring is wider than 120mm you'd need either a bigger bladed one or better still a sliding mitre saw (both more expensive though)

Crocodile · 09-10-2009, 2:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanf1

You can buy saws specifically for cutting flooring - they look like tenon saws but they usually have a rounded end rather than a straight end, like these.

If you don't have a local Screwfix, Wickes do them as well.

GasDad · 09-10-2009, 2:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kavanf1

You can buy saws specifically for cutting flooring - they look like tenon saws but they usually have a rounded end rather than a straight end, like these.

If you're talking about electric saw, you can't go wrong with a circular saw - just set the depth correctly and away you go. You will still need to do corners/edges manually using this method though.

A floorboard saw is designed for cutting floorboards in situ (so that you can access pipes etc)

I think the OP is after something that will cut them on the workbench - in which case a chop saw or sliding compound mitre saw will be his best bet.

He hasn't however given us a budget or told us the timber size - basically if the strips are narrow, he'll get away with chop saw, other wise he'll need the sliding compound mitre saw.

**IronGiant** · 09-10-2009, 2:56 PM

Like I said

Crocodile · 09-10-2009, 3:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasDad

A floorboard saw is designed for cutting floorboards in situ (so that you can access pipes etc).

Not solely.

It can do that as well with the teeth on the shoulder of the saw but it is also a normal fine-toothed saw.

Wickes Fine Cut Powagrip Veneer Saw

kav · 09-10-2009, 3:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasDad

A floorboard saw is designed for cutting floorboards in situ (so that you can access pipes etc)

Yeah, for some reason (nothing to do with the OP) I got it into my head that he wanted to cut out flooring that was in place. (it might be because I've been doing a lot of it myself recently!)

shoestring25 · 09-10-2009, 4:23 PM

compound mitre saw will do the job nicely

27neth · 09-10-2009, 5:42 PM

A £8 hand-saw is the cheap and easy solution

John....

branny · 09-10-2009, 6:30 PM

I'm not that 'technical' but when I fitted my laminate I purchased a Black & Decker Jigsaw. The standard blade that comes with it maybe won't be up to the job but you can get loads of different fittings cheap as chips eg wood, metal etc.

Cost me about £30 and made it an absolute breeze.

shoestring25 · 10-10-2009, 5:32 AM

you can use what ever you like but a compound mitre saw will make the cuts nice and straight giving a nice finish. a hand saw will be hard work as the wood is thick and a jigsaw is fine for laminate but its hard to cut straight with these.

bare in mind sold wood flooring is alot thicker than laminate making it harder to cut and as its all wood rather than MDF this also makes it harder to cut aswell

paulyoung666 · 10-10-2009, 9:46 AM

you need a fine blade whatever you use

kevandalice · 10-10-2009, 12:13 PM

Use a jigsaw. If done properly, all cuts will end up underneath the skirting board

GasDad · 10-10-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevandalice

Use a jigsaw. If done properly, all cuts will end up underneath the skirting board

That works in most cases for laminate - but for solid wood flooring, you often have to trim the ends of pieces that are going to be butt jointed in the middle of the floor - in which case a decent chop saw or compound mitre saw is the only option. (or a few years of practice with hand tools)

If the OP does end up with the above, I'd recommend putting the piece to be cut on the saw upside down - so that the saw teeth bite into the underside.
Alternativelty if using a sliding CM saw, put it in the right way up and take a very light cut (less than a mm) - either way will reduce splinters and tearing on the edge.

Of course the OP could have a kit of solid wood flooring already prepared, in which case a jigsaw would work.

27neth · 10-10-2009, 1:32 PM

If you are using solid oak get the type that has tongue and groove on all the edges, then the only cutting will be hidden with skirting or beading.
If you are going to use a jigsaw buy a pack of down-cutting blades instead of the standard up-cutting. You wont need to cut from the underneath then

John..