How To Cut Wood Paneling

Working with wood paneling invariably involves cutting the material to the correct size. Paneling made from wood is easy to cut through because of its thin profile, but achieving a neat result can be slightly tricky. If you observe a few technical recommendations, you can cut wooden panels cleanly and with minimal effort.

How Do You Cut Wood Paneling?

Cut wood paneling with a handsaw, a utility knife (to score and then snap the material), or a power tool like a circular saw, table saw, jig saw, or miter saw. Make sure the panel faces opposite the direction of the blade’s cutting motion, so you can prevent unsightly tear out on the front of the workpiece.

Method 1: Utility Knife

It is relatively straightforward to cut small wooden panel boards with a sharp utility knife. The procedure involves how you cut any paneling. Scoring it with the knife blade and then snapping the material along the scored groove is ideal.

Step 1: Measure And Mark The Panel Board 

Measure the workpiece accurately to fit the dimensions of the space where you are installing it. 

Mark the intended path of the cut with a pencil or the tip of the knife blade, using a ruler or straight piece of wood as a guide to ensure the marking is straight. Make the marking on the front and back of the workpiece if you plan to score it on both sides before snapping it.

Step 2: Position The Board Correctly

Place the paneling board on a work surface that is flat, smooth, and stable to ensure the neatest results. Rough, uneven, and unstable surfaces will scratch the workpiece and cause it to shift during the cutting process.

Step 3: Make The Scoring Cuts

Hold or clamp a ruler or wooden guideboard firmly along the marked line so you can guide the blade when you make the scored cut. 

Now, you can start cutting the paneling by drawing the blade along the guideboard or ruler. 

When cutting the board with the utility knife, it is critical to:

• Cut across the length of the workpiece
• Move the knife in a continuous fluid motion
• Use gentle pressure for the first few passes
• Apply more force to the blade for the last few cuts

After the cut is about 25% of the way through the workpiece, you can flip it over and repeat the procedure on the other side. Scoring both sides is optional but advantageous for the next step of the procedure. 

Step 4: Snap The Panel Board Along The Scored Line

For the final part of the cutting process, you need to snap the board along the scored cut line. 

So, place the panel with the scored groove aligned with the edge of the work surface, and the off-cut side of the board hanging over the side. 

Lean on (or clamp) the workpiece to stabilize it, then grab the overhanging side and snap it off briskly and forcefully. If you score the panel deep enough, the paneling should break without much effort and will not cause excessive splintering.

Step 5: Create A Smooth Finish

For a smooth finish, use some fine sandpaper (P220 or P320 grit) to sand the cut edges of the workpiece. 

Method 2: Power Saws

Power saws are commonly used for cutting wood paneling and are ideal for cutting several large boards quickly and easily. You can also cut irregular shapes in wood using power tools.

Follow these general steps to cut wood paneling straight and clean.

Step 1: Choose A Power Saw

Most types of power saws are suitable for cutting wooden panels, including:

• Circular saws 
• Tables saws 
• Miter saws
• Band saws
• Jig saws 

The optimal tool choice depends on the cut you need to make on the piece of paneling. 

Circular saws are for making straight cuts across the grain (cross-cuts). Table saws are also ideal for long, straight cuts parallel to the grain (rip cuts) and cutting straight edges.

Well-engineered miter saws are best for making short, angled cuts (for example, when cutting wooden wall paneling to install along a staircase). You can also cut a 22.5 degree angle on a miter saw.

Cordless jig saws and quality band saws are preferred for cutting precise, curved lines in wood paneling (which might be the case when working on furniture projects). Cutting acrylic sheets using a jigsaw is also possible.

For the sake of convenience, the following table shows the central features of the power saws you can use to cut wood paneling.

Step 2: Choose An Appropriate Blade 

Choosing an appropriate saw blade (or cutting disc) is one of the most critical steps when cutting panel boards made from wood. 

It is essential to choose a fine-toothed blade that can cut accurately and cleanly through thin layers of wood like panel boards. In addition, to a sharp edge, the saw blade should have the following characteristics: 

• small or short teeth
• high ‘teeth per inch (TPI)’ ratio
• gentle rake angle
• thin
• lightweight

Since precision and neatness are the priorities, avoid rough-toothed saw blades because they are likely to splinter and tear the wood fibers of the thin, delicate panels. 

Step 3: Take Measurements And Mark The Cut Line

Take the necessary measurements and mark the intended cut line on the panel piece.

Step 4: Position The Panel Board

Lay the panel board on a stable, even surface.

When positioning the paneling, always observe the golden rule of orienting the board facing the opposite direction of the blade’s cutting motion. For instance, a circular saw’s blade rotates upward (anti-clockwise), so the front side of the workpiece should face downward. 

The reason for this orientation is that the teeth of the blade push wood fibers out the back of the cut, causing a slightly jagged, tattered edge (a phenomenon called tear out). The teeth should exit on the underside of the paneling since this side won’t be visible once the paneling is installed.

With a hand-held power saw, consider securing the board to the work surface with clamps. It is also worthwhile (though optional) to clamp a guideboard to the panel to ensure a straight cut.

If you are using a mounted power sawing tool (like a high-quality table saw), place the workpiece on the table, resting it snugly against the fence. 

Step 5: Put On Protective Gear

As part of the standard power saw safety protocols, wear safety goggles, cut-proof gloves, and a mask before you cut the panel. 

Step 6: Cut The Paneling

Switch on the power saw and start cutting the workpiece. 

Cut in a slow, controlled manner using light pressure, as this enables maximum accuracy and minimizes the risk of damaging the wood. Never force the blade. Paneling is thin, so it is easy to damage it by improperly wielding a power saw. 

Step 7: Sand The Cut Edges 

The last step is to sand the edges of the panel, just like after cutting wood slices, to get a smooth and neat finish. If you executed the cut properly, there probably will not be much tear out on the bottom edge. 

As noted earlier, choose finely textured, finishing sandpaper to sand the piece of wood paneling. In most cases, sandpaper with a grit rating of P220 or P320 produces a satisfactory result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Cutting wooden paneling is not overly complicated and can be achieved with a utility knife, which is used to score the board before snapping it. Alternatively, one can cut the paneling with power saw, making sure to orient the front side of the panel facing in the opposite direction to the blade’s cutting motion.