How drywall is cut. We bend and cut drywall with an improvised tool at home. Cutting according to the given geometry
When working with drywall, many people ask themselves the question: how to cut drywall correctly? This process will not be difficult if you properly prepare the tool and apply markings to the material. How to cut drywall at home so that the minimum amount of waste is obtained? Which one is worth having on hand? Let's consider in more detail.
Tools for cutting drywall In order to correctly apply the markup, you need to measure the plane on which they will be fixed. Then, using a tape measure or ruler, it is worth transferring, outlining the line with a pencil. Check your measurements again before you start cutting. This will help you avoid making mistakes.
Tools and material
Before you start cutting drywall at home, you need to prepare a tool. For this you will need:
- drywall;
- roulette;
- T-square;
- stationery knife.
Important: it is better to cut drywall only with a new, sharp, clerical knife. 
Cutting a sheet of drywall in a straight line
Drywall board is a sandwich in which the gypsum core is surrounded on both sides by thick cardboard. The material is quite durable, maybe. You can cut drywall from any side. It is not difficult to cut the material; with a rather sharp blade, cut through one layer of cardboard and break it.
It is worth remembering that the knife must be carried confidently and strictly along the line that was drawn earlier. If the first time it was not possible to cut the cardboard, then they carry out this place several times until the cardboard is completely cut through. The T-square must be 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 on the gypsum board. This will help break the material evenly, without chips. 
Once you have cut one layer of cardboard on the plate, you can proceed to the next step - break the material along the cut. If you did everything right, then it will not be difficult, holding the sheet with your feet, to fold it in the opposite direction from the cut.
You can attract 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. In fact, cutting drywall is easy. If you doubt that this process will be carried out correctly - try cutting the material first on a small piece.
Read also
Fastening drywall to a wooden frame
How to make a round hole in the plasterboard
It is important to learn how to correctly make holes in sheets of material, since during installation it is often provided or switches. In addition, sometimes it is necessary to repair damaged areas in drywall. For, you should use a special tool and have some skill. Consider how to cut drywall at home, step by step:
Advice! Do not rush and put a lot of pressure on the tool - this can lead to material damage, since the crown can simply be clamped in drywall.
Round hole without the help of a power tool
This is the second way, which will require more effort. Marking is carried out, as in the first option, while you need to draw a circle of the desired diameter with a compass. Once the markup is ready, you need to make a small hole on the edge of the circle. It can be drilled with a brace. Then you need to take it with sharp teeth, insert it into the hole and start sawing drywall strictly along the line.
Cutting a rectangular hole
The first step is to determine on the drywall slab where the hole will be. 
To do this, measure the desired distance from the left edge of the drywall sheet and put a mark. If it is supposed to make a hole for a bar for several sockets, then a bar is substituted for this mark and outlined.
After that, 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 saw freely enters 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 must go along the line. 
Important! It is worth wearing a mask or respirator so as not to breathe dust. It is better to make the hole a little smaller. It is always easier to make a large hole out of a small hole, for this it is enough to walk along the edges of the hole with a rasp.
Once the job is done, you need to inspect the hole made. Take the bar and try it on, preferably with sockets, so you will know exactly how suitable the hole is. If necessary, the hole can be made in already finished construction, you just need to know for sure that there are no communication systems at the installation site. In the video, the master shows how to make a square hole in drywall.
Wavy cut
It is easy to perform with a jigsaw, the main thing in this process correct markup. If required, it is enough to draw a wavy line of the desired curvature over the entire surface of the sheet and carefully, from the edge of the plate, cut the material strictly along the line. In the case when a wavy cut needs to be made in the middle of the sheet, then the following algorithm should be followed:
Advice! If the curve has strongly pronounced waves, then you need to drill holes at a distance of 15 cm from each other, then the saw will go much easier, and it will be easier to make a cut. If the edges turn out to be a little uneven, then they can always be earned with a rasp.
Conclusion
Drywall has become a popular material with builders due to the fact that working with it is not difficult. It is enough to read the manual or watch video tutorials on working with the material and learn how to cut drywall at home.
Plasterboard structures are increasingly appearing 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 is drywall cut 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 the sheet or cut off part of it. Even if the main purpose tool is out of order in the process. But in addition to cutting objects, an auxiliary tool is also needed.
What you need to cut drywall:
- Construction knife. It is very similar to a clerical knife (both externally and in terms of 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 GKL sheet can also be cut with a clerical knife, if this is required once.
- Hacksaw for drywall. This is an object with a narrow blade and serrated edges up to 18 cm long, outwardly similar to a kitchen knife-saw, since its blade is soldered into the handle. The blade is made of high-strength steel, so with a knife you can make both straight and curly cuts without much effort. It is lightweight, compact and very easy to use. This knife is universal, because in addition to the plasterboard, it can easily cope with small wooden blanks. The shape of the teeth of the drywall knife may be different, depending on the company. But this does not significantly affect the process of cutting the material. At home, GKL can be cut with a simple hacksaw, but this is quite difficult and should be done with extreme caution.
- Electric jigsaw. This tool is mostly used for cutting wood, MDF, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, etc., however, if you install blades on metal (which has smaller teeth), then everything will work out. The blade with fine teeth does not tear the cardboard layer of the sheet and there will be fewer chips. An electric jigsaw can make both straight and curly cuts.
- Plane. This tool is not used to cut a sheet or cut out a specific element of any structure being erected, but already at the final stage. With a chamfering planer or a simple peeling one, the places of cuts of a drywall sheet are processed. This is necessary for further processing of joints.
- Roulette, pencil, ruler. In order to cut the sheet correctly and evenly, accurate measurement and marking is necessary. Especially when it comes to figured products for decoration. For a straight line, instead of a ruler and a pencil, you can use a chop thread, but you will have to work hard with curly markings. If you need to cut an even 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 on 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 cutter or electric drill with special nozzles is used to make holes in drywall. For example, for sockets, switches, etc. Let's consider this type of tool in more detail.
How to use a drywall cutter
For making holes of 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 milling cutter is capable of making only grooves, but the second option is better due to its versatility: in addition to grooves, it is able to cut holes of any geometric shape, as well as process the edge of the sheet.
Milling is the processing of any material by cutting. Often, the cutter is replaced with a conventional electric drill with appropriate nozzles of different diameters (depending on the purpose for which the hole is needed).
Cutters have certain varieties. For making radius and rounded surfaces, a U-shaped tool is used, and for sharp corners, a V-shaped cutter.
Wall drywall: how to cut correctly
Any kind of drywall has a certain structure. As a rule, this is a gypsum core or filler, glued on all sides with durable cardboard. Depending on the type of material, cardboard and filler may have different structure, however, this does not affect the cutting methods. For an even cut, it is enough to walk along the sheet with a gypsum board knife and make a break.
Making a straight cut
Before cutting through a sheet of drywall, you need to make an accurate markup, draw a line. Next, attach 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 jerks, confidently, so that chips and notches in the material do not form.
To prevent the cut from turning out crooked, the ruler must be kept even and in one position.
You can cut drywall either laid out on the floor or leaning against the wall. The main condition is that the cut be perfectly even, otherwise it will not be possible to correctly break the sheet. How to make a break? To do this, turn the sheet over and bend it in half along the cut line, and then draw a knife along the resulting bend on the cardboard.
Curly cutting
If the elements of the future design involve smooth lines and bends, cutting the material is done with an electric jigsaw or a hacksaw (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 the exact marking has been made, a jigsaw is drawn along the drawn line, you need to do this from yourself, and not towards yourself, so that the power tool does not cause injury.
How drywall is cut: making holes
What are holes in drywall for? Walls with niches, hatches for communications or the installation of junction boxes, as well as socket boxes, all this involves making various kinds of holes in gypsum boards.
How to cut drywall correctly:
- Rectangular or square holes. First you need to determine the exact place on the sheet where cutting is provided. Using an electric drill, 4 holes are drilled with a large-diameter drill, along the contour of the cut figure. Next, the opening is cut with an electric jigsaw through the holes made.
- Round hole. The most common way is to use special crowns for an electric drill. The layout of the sheet is quite simple: you only need to mark the center of the future hole, making the appropriate measurements. The crown with the required diameter is attached to the chuck of the electric drill, the crown drill is placed on the mark, selected average speed and cut the hole smoothly.
It is important not to press the drill sharply so that the crown does not get stuck in the material.
Handy tool: how to cut drywall at home
For smooth cutting of the material, you can even use scissors or a simple blade, a clerical or kitchen knife, using them on the principle of a drywall knife. Curly cutting can be done with a conventional hacksaw for metal. The principle of its application is similar to the use of a jigsaw, but there are differences. You can start sawing the sheet with a whole hacksaw, but the handle will not go into the depth of the sheet, so you will have to remove it and continue cutting only with the blade.
Round holes can also be cut with a regular knife, for this you need:
- Mark the place of the slot on the front and back sides of the plate;
- Outline the shape of the hole by circling the outline on both sides of the sheet;
- Use a knife to cut through a layer of cardboard on both sides;
- Tap the plaster lightly with a mallet.
In order to cut a hole in the installed sheet of drywall, a place is selected and the contour of the figure is outlined and a drywall hacksaw is used.
Tool overview: how drywall is cut (video)
It may not always be possible to cut a drywall sheet perfectly the first time. If you are not confident in your abilities, practice on scrap material so as not to spoil the whole sheet.
Happy repair!
It is necessary to cut drywall during repairs almost every 5-10 minutes. Why? Because the sheet of this material will be at least 2 square meters and without residues it is impossible to mark a wall, ceiling or any other structure. The smaller the structure, the more you have to cut, and it is not always necessary to cut it evenly (corners, uneven walls and ceilings have also not been canceled). What to do? There is only one way out - to learn how to quickly and efficiently cut drywall.
You will need to make not only cuts “under the ruler” across the sheet, but also cut out triangles, rectangular pieces, ovals or circles (for example, for lighting elements). It is advisable to consider several options for cutting drywall at once, from a regular clerical knife to an electric jigsaw. Now we will consider the simplest and most high-quality ways of cutting and processing the edges of drywall.
How to cut drywall with a mounting knife "without noise and dust"
hand tool this action is much easier and faster. The most interesting thing is that the quality of the cut will also be much better if you need to spread the sheet along or cut off an even piece from it. The theory is superfluous here, let's move on to practice and immediately cut drywall:
- We make the necessary measurements and draw a line. It is advisable to stock up on a marker so that it is convenient to look at the “fat” mark from any side.
2. Along the edge of the line, you can attach a long metal ruler or a profile that is used to fasten drywall.
3. We put the tip of the knife on the edge of the line, we begin to lead, exerting a pressure of 2-3 kg on the drywall mounting knife.
4. After the line is cut, it is necessary to bend the sheet so that the cut is on the outside. You can put the sheet on the floor, hold the edges with your hands and lightly kick with your knee at the cut, but on the opposite side, the sheet will crack and bend.
5. You will have a drywall corner, now you need to take a mounting knife and cut the paper on the other side of the corner. We put the knife on top and stretch it to the very bottom, we get a high-quality cut.
This method is ideal when cutting long strips ONLY, because you need a large pressure arm for a good break line. If the lines are made oval or cut off a piece only 5-10 cm from the edge of the sheet, it may break unevenly, and the edge will crumble. After the cut, you need to use a drywall planer to “smooth the edges and remove the corner for subsequent plastering (then there will be no “eyebrows”).
It is convenient to cut on the table or on the floor, putting a sheet of drywall on 2 wooden bars next to the cut line. Keep in mind that gypsum often crumbles after a drywall break, so it would be better to put something under it if the cut is on a clean surface.
Features of cutting drywall with a hacksaw - an option for the hardworking
It is better to use a hacksaw if you need curly cutting, when you need to cut drywall in a semicircle or make holes of various shapes inside it. With the help of a mounting knife, this cannot be done, at least with good quality. Now let's look at how to cut a sheet of drywall with a hacksaw and make holes inside it.
STEP 1: markup. It is necessary to draw a sheet of drywall on the back side, make holes in the corners of such a size that a hacksaw blade can fit in them (you can use a sharp knife or a drill). 
STEP 2: sawing. We insert a drywall tool (hacksaw) into the hole and saw to the other extreme point, it is better to avoid turns. 
STEP 3: when the cut has been made along all the drawn sides, and the figure inside the sheet has “fallen out”, you can process the edges. Use a planer or file if the hole is very small and no other tool can be placed there. 
We looked at how to cut drywall and cut a hole in it with the desired rectangular shape, but there is an even more difficult task - non-standard or oval figures inside the sheet. Here it is already necessary to work with thin blades on a hacksaw, which will be convenient to turn during internal cutting. In such cases, it is better to abandon the hacksaw and use a jigsaw, since the quality of the edges of the cut hole inside will be much higher.
We cut drywall with an electric jigsaw - an option for the lazy
If you do not know how to cut drywall at home and are afraid to experiment, then it is better to entrust the processing of the material to an electric tool. A jigsaw is the best tool for cutting drywall, as it allows you to make a canvas of any shape and can make holes inside a sheet of drywall. Curved lines will be as accurate as possible, and the edge will be much easier to handle with a drywall planer.
Consider step by step instructions how to cut drywall with a jigsaw:
1. We draw a line along which it will be necessary to cut the material. It is better to use a black marker so that it is clearly visible. 
2. We install a drywall sheet on several bricks or stools so that so that there are no objects under the cutting line(they can be hooked by a saw). The sheet should lie balanced, be not tense at the cutting points - the quality of the cut will improve significantly. 
3. We install the jigsaw at the beginning of the line, turn on the laser sight (if there is one on the tool) and lead exactly along the desired path. Or we bring drywall to a tripod with a jigsaw. 
4. We demolish the edges at 45 degrees, for plastering the surface. You can even do it with sandpaper, if the processing area is not too large. 
5. If you don’t have a planer or corners are bad, then a drywall cutter will become an actual tool. It can be put on a screwdriver or drill, set the cone between the sheets and draw along the joint. cutting knives they will remove the edges of each sheet at the same angle - it is very convenient for large volumes of work, where you need to process many sheets quickly and efficiently. 
Perhaps you wanted to ask how to cut L-shaped drywall under a door or window opening? There is no universal tool here, you must use both a hacksaw and a jigsaw, because with just a jigsaw or a hacksaw you cannot get inner corner 90 degrees.
A jigsaw will be the ideal tool for you if you don’t have anything to cut drywall profiles, as it will also work for metal. You need to buy a few files "for all occasions" and it will be possible to cut not only drywall, but also metal, wood, stone and other materials. Now let's see a video of cutting drywall with a paint knife without noise and dust:
Successful repair and pleasant work with your own hands!
Drywall or GKL is a versatile material when renovating a room. Sheets can be used for partition walls, wall and ceiling cladding.
big positive quality material is its susceptibility to processing, bending to the desired shape. But when constructing structures, it is often necessary to divide a single sheet into separate parts, to make holes in it. The article will tell you what drywall is, how to cut it to the required dimensions.
Material Features
Before cutting drywall at home, you should get acquainted with its features. In terms of its structure, GKL is a three-layer "sandwich". For the manufacture of the outer layers, thick cardboard is used, and for the core, a gypsum mixture is used.
On the side long sides of the drywall there is a rounded edge protected by cardboard. The ends of the sheets are not protected.
Cardboard is used in several types. It could be:
- Ordinary gray material (GKL);
- Moisture resistant, with a green tint front side(GKLV);
- Fire-resistant, having a pink or light purple color (GKLV);
- Moisture-resistant with a dark green tint (GKLVO);
- Innovative blue drywall designed for soundproofing walls.
The standard dimensions of the plasterboard are 2500 × 1200 mm, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich is 3 m². Less common are canvases with other sizes: 2000 × 1200 mm, sheet area 2.4 m²; 3000×1200 mm with an area of 3.6 m². The thickness of the sheets are: 12.5 mm; 9.5mm; 6 mm. Thin canvases are used to create ceiling structures.
Drywall sheets are quite bulky and heavy. When working with them, care must be taken: due to careless handling under a fracture load, the product may break.
Tools used in cutting the fabric
Before cutting drywall, you need to get acquainted with the basic tools for the job.
An approximate list of them is presented in the table:
| Name | Peculiarities |
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This tool is useful for long cuts, especially if you need to cut a complex curved section. |
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It can be a special or ordinary clerical knife, which comes with a set of interchangeable blades. |
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Such a tool has a small set of teeth, or a hand file designed for cutting drywall |
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GKL cutting equipment is equipped with a set of large-diameter feather drills and crowns to drill large round holes for laying communications, glasses for mounting sockets and switches |
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This is a tool for working with drywall or just a planer for wood. Used when processing edges after cutting material |
In addition to the listed tools for measuring and marking GKL, you need:
- Marker or simple pencil;
- Roulette;
- Square;
- A ruler or even metal profile, which is used to mount the frame under drywall.
For straight, long straight cuts, it's good to have a rule handy. How to cut drywall at home, the video shows in more detail.
Types of knives for cutting
In order to choose the right way to cut drywall at home, it is worth getting to know the most popular tool, a knife, in more detail. These tools fall into three categories.
The table shows their categories and types:
| Category and type of knife | Peculiarities |
| By Category | |
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The price of the product is the most affordable, which is its advantage over other types. This is simple design, which contains four elements:
Such knives are not very reliable. When cutting GKL, the blades quickly begin to become dull. |
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Compared to the standard ones, these are more expensive models. Unlike the previous ones, they have a metal guide installed in the body, and more securely fixing the blade. When cutting, the rigidity of the position of the material is ensured. |
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The tool is designed for craftsmen who use it constantly in their work. There are a lot of options for professional knives. They differ from each other in ergonomic appearance, the principle of operation of the locking mechanism and the cost, which is higher than other models. |
| Type | |
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This is a simple stationery or wallpaper knife, the most affordable option. The thickness of the blades ranges from 0.3 - 0.6 mm. The larger it is, the better - the higher the strength of the tool |
|
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Knife with a trapezoidal blade. This is best option to work with GKL. Advantages of the tool:
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This folding design has a trapezoidal blade designed for cutting drywall. The model is very convenient, when folded the knife is safe, it is convenient to carry it in your pocket, without fear of injury. |
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The knife is equipped with disk blades and is used for cutting plasterboard. When working, perfectly smooth edges, even curved ones, are obtained. The disc is placed near a metal ruler, which is set along the cut line, pressed and moved along it. When the knife moves, an even cut is obtained, along the entire length of the same depth. On a round blade, if necessary, you can press, apply a fairly significant effort. Folding disc knives are also available. In this case, the disk, when pressed on the movable part of the handle, comes out of the housing. |
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Differs in design and appearance. It consists of two disks, which are located horizontally and parallel to each other at a certain distance. During operation, the cutter is installed on the drywall and moves along it, simultaneously cutting two layers of cardboard. The cutting round parts are removable, which allows them to be replaced with new ones if necessary. With this tool, you can cut strips of drywall with a width of 120 mm. This is especially important when forming multi-level ceilings and structures where narrow strips of the same width are required. The handle of the cutter is also a guide for setting the required cutting width. The cutter is installed on the end of the web, and moves along the entire length of the material. |
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Cutter for GKL "Blade Runner" is professional tool, speeding up the cutting process twice. The design of the tool consists of two detachable parts held together by magnetic clamps during operation. The blades are housed in small blocks located in two parts of a metal case. The cutting elements can be replaced if necessary. When cutting drywall, the two halves of the tool are divided and placed on both sides of the canvas on a line marked in advance. Then, the thickness gauge moves along a given reference point, cuts the cardboard layers from both sides at once. The tool cuts perfectly even and curvilinear complex cuts. The video shows how to cut drywall with such equipment in more detail |
The better to cut drywall, we have listed in the table. If you are to large volume diverse work, you can consult a specialist or watch a video: "How to cut drywall at home."
drywall cutting technology
Cutting the GKL is quite simple.
Tip: For the convenience of working and obtaining accurate dimensions of parts, you should choose a well-lit and free room.
The table provides a brief instruction for cutting drywall:
| Name and photo of the operation | Process description |
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Gypsum board is produced enough large sizes. In order for the marking, and then cutting it with your own hands, to be accurate and of high quality, the material must lie horizontally on a solid foundation. It can be a floor, a table and even stools. But the latter should be located next to each other at a distance of up to 300 mm to prevent breakage of the sheet when pressed on it. |
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According to the required dimensions, using a tape measure, pencil, ruler or rule, the cutting lines of the material are marked. At the same time, from which side to cut drywall, it does not really matter. If necessary, beat off strictly perpendicular lines on the material, a square is used |
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On the drawn line, close to the ruler, a drywall cutting knife is attached with a blade, and the tool is carried out along the entire length of the guide. In this case, the blade is slightly pressed, so that only the outer layer of cardboard is cut. |
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The sheet of drywall is shifted to the edge of the table and the cut is gently tapped on the other side of the sheet. As a result, the gypsum layer along the cut line will lose its integrity. |
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The sheet is bent along the cut line and divided into two parts, cutting through the cardboard on its reverse side. |
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After dividing the sheet, its edges are cleaned with a special or ordinary planer. This is necessary in order to remove sloppy notches, and they did not interfere with the joining of the canvases on the wall. How to cut the edge of drywall? To prevent the material from crumbling, chamfering should be carried out without strong pressure. At the same time, it is not worth achieving an ideal edge surface, it is enough just to remove strongly protruding parts and irregularities on the cardboard that turned out when cutting the sheet. Beveled chamfer, necessary for durable reinforcement of the joints of the canvases on the wall. It can be done after they are installed so as not to destroy the edge of the sheet that is not protected by cardboard. |
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To cut into drywall round hole or any curly, you constantly need to follow the bend line. The cutting process can be performed with a narrow hacksaw or an electric jigsaw, which allows you to make the cut more accurate, but this requires experience with the tool. When performing the operation, it is very important not to crumble the edge of the sheet, especially if there is no cardboard edge on it. |
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You can cut through openings of any shape with a hacksaw or jigsaw. For this:
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A round hole for installing an outlet or switch is cut with an electric drill with a crown nozzle of the appropriate diameter, a jigsaw or a narrow hacksaw. Holes are cut out most often after the installation of the GKL on the crate. Otherwise, the strength of the sheet may be impaired, and even a slight distortion, often when carrying the sheet or installing it, causes a break. |
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When planning to cut a hole with a hacksaw or jigsaw:
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Tip: The evenness and quality of the cut depends on the hardness of the hand and the skills of the master. But you should not cut drywall to its full thickness, which can cause sloppy edges and a quick failure of the blade. In order to properly cut the drywall with your own hands, the video tutorial will help with all the details.
Cutting after installation of plasterboard
Cutting unfixed material is much more convenient. But there are situations when you need to cut off the excess after mounting the canvases on the frame. This happens when it is necessary to make slopes for windows or corners on sheathed surfaces.
In this case, you should make sure that the sheet is securely fixed to the frame. The incision of the material is made on the side in contact with the wall.
In this case, the cutting movements are repeated several times along the markup. Then the excess parts of the material are "squeezed out". The sheet is cut on the other side. How to cut the protruding drywall, already fixed on the frame under it, shows the video in detail.
Before you cut drywall, you should use a few tips to help you avoid fatal mistakes:
- Do not use the "grinder" when working. Such a tool for cutting drywall is not used - it makes a lot of noise and a cloud of gypsum dust, which will have to be removed, wasting your time and effort;
- If it is necessary to use a hammer when cutting the material, it should only be rubber - a mallet, a metal tool can cause serious damage to the material. In addition, when working, you need to measure the strength of your blows;
- To reduce notches on the edges of the sheet, it is better to hold a hacksaw or knife at an angle of 90 °. With a decrease in the angle of inclination of the blade, the size of the cardboard tatters increases;
- The main cuts of the material must be made before attaching the sheets to the crate. In this case, in case of an unsuccessful cut, the sheet can be replaced with a new one, and the damaged one can be used for inserts.
Tip: Windows and openings should be cut after fixing the material to the frame.
- It is not necessary to cut out complex drawings in drywall that have thin partitions, like those of openwork nets;
- Cutting a whole sheet is most often done on the floor. Therefore, after cutting along this line, a bar is placed under the canvas. Then it is pressed on two parts of the sheet, which is easily broken along the cut line.
How and how to cut drywall, everyone chooses on their own. The process of carrying out the work is quite simple, which makes it easy for anyone who does not have experience in construction to cope.
When in doubt, you should try your hand on a small piece of material and make sure that everything is simple. It is enough to follow simple technological recommendations and use a quality tool.
Today, drywall is widely used in construction and repair. You can work with this material yourself. However, you should first find out how drywall is cut, so that there are no difficulties during the repair process. Below are the main ways to work and list the tools you will need.
Cutting tools
How to cut drywall? For its cutting, there are special devices that
are quite expensive. They are used in enterprises where work with drywall is carried out on a large scale. For home use You can use improvised means that can be found in every home.
First of all, you need to mark out a sheet of drywall to cut it evenly. This is done with a tape measure, a simple pencil and a long ruler.
Several tools can be used to cut material. So, how to cut drywall:
- hacksaw for metal;
- construction knife;
- jigsaw.
In rooms with high humidity moisture resistant drywall is used. It differs from conventional material by the presence of antiseptic additives in its composition. Some people have a question about how to cut. It does not differ much from ordinary material. It can be easily recognized by its green color. When cutting it, you can use the same tools. We will tell you in more detail how to work with each of them.
What is the best way to cut drywall
It differs from the one with which a tree is sawn, with a thinner blade
blades. With its help, drywall is cut very easily. The edges of the material remain smooth and practically do not have nicks. A sheet of material must be placed on some kind of support and cut along the marked line.
A construction knife with a double-sided sharp blade can easily cut a dense sheet of drywall. To make the edge of the sheet even, you must first draw a marking line and attach a metal ruler to it. An incision is made on it with a knife. In the case when the drywall is thin enough, you can replace the construction knife with a regular clerical knife, which is used for paper.
It is convenient to make curly cuts with an electric jigsaw. When working with drywall, it is recommended to purchase files with fine teeth, which are used for metal.
How to cut drywall
There are several useful tips to make your job easier:
- Drywall is a flexible material. In order not to break it during work, you need to put the sheet on a stable, flat surface.
- When cutting a large sheet, do it gradually.
- There must be no moisture in the workplace, otherwise the material will get wet and become unusable.
- Which side to cut drywall is not so important. However, it is best to cut on the surface with which it will be attached to the wall.
- When cutting a profile, do not worry about jagged edges. They will subsequently be covered with a sheet of drywall.
- When working with the material, it should be understood that it can crumble heavily and create dust. Be sure to protect your eyes and respiratory organs.
Cutting in straight lines
First you need to lay drywall on a flat horizontal surface and
mark on both sides of the line along which the cut will be made. After that, a metal ruler is applied to them and pressed by hand. We take a knife in the other hand and draw it along the line several times to make the cut deeper.
Some believe that they can do just fine without a ruler. However, it should not be neglected. It is quite difficult to make an even cut without it. Of course, it is possible, but you will have to spend time to get the edge neat. With a ruler, everything is done much faster.
When the cuts are deep enough, the drywall sheet should be placed on edge and tapped on the back side. Usually, a few weak blows will cause the drywall sheet to break along the line. Now it remains only to cut the cardboard layer with a knife.
Curly cutting
There are situations when you need not a straight cut, but a curved or round one.
For example, if you are making an arch or opening under lighting. In this case, it is best to use a jigsaw.
They need to work slowly, drawing clearly along the marked lines. The saw should be narrow with small teeth. It must run at high speed. With careful cutting, the edge will turn out to be even.
If you do not have a jigsaw, you can use a hacksaw or a construction knife and a hammer. Make deep cuts strictly according to the markup. Lay the drywall on a flat surface with a recess so that it is under the cut hole. Now hit this place with a hammer. After the unnecessary part falls off, turn the drywall over and cut off the excess paper.
Edge processing
When drywall is cut, its edges should be slightly aligned so that they do not have
Notches and chips. You can do this with sandpaper. Gently go over all the edges until they are smooth.
The final stage of preparing the material includes its fascia. To do this, cut off a few millimeters of gypsum from each edge (about two-thirds of the thickness of the sheet). The chamfer is removed with a planer or knife at an angle of about 45 degrees.
After installing drywall, all the gaps between the sheets of material must be puttied. When the seams dry, you can start painting the surface or pasting it with wallpaper.
How to cut a profile
Drywall sheets are attached to a special profile. It is made from metal
for maximum structural strength. How to cut You can cope with this work with:
- hacksaws for metal;
- jigsaw;
- metal scissors.
It is not recommended to use a grinder at home, because it produces a lot of sparks. will be quite enough. They are able to easily cut iron without creating unnecessary debris and chips.
The profile can be cut into small pieces. After that it won't be visible. The main thing is to screw the profile well to the wall or other surface to ensure the strength of the entire structure.
Working with drywall is quite simple. Because of this, it is in great demand for indoor use. Now that you know how drywall is cut, you can change your apartment beyond recognition on your own without spending money on professional finishers.