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 are needed for this? additional tools, 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 universal, since in addition to gypsum plasterboard it can easily cope with small wooden blanks. 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 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 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 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.
To make holes of any geometric shape and grooves, as well as to process 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 appropriate attachments different diameters(depending on what purpose the hole is needed for).
Mills have certain varieties. For making radius and rounded surfaces, a U-shaped tool is used, and for sharp corners, a V-shaped cutter is used.
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 of the future design require smooth lines and bends, cutting the material is done with a 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 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 making various kinds of holes in gypsum board slabs.
You can also make straight holes using a drill.
How to cut drywall correctly:
- Holes are rectangular or square. First you need to determine the exact place on the sheet where cutting is planned. Using an electric drill, drill 4 holes with a large diameter drill 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. A bit with the required diameter is attached to the chuck of an electric drill, the bit of the bit 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 slot location from the front and reverse side slabs;
- 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.
In order to cut a hole in an installed sheet of drywall, a location is selected and the outline of the figure is outlined and a drywall hacksaw is used.
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. The arsenal of 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 basic principle of this action: after continuous even cutting of the drywall has been 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, high-strength (for example, plasterboard or gypsum board made using KNAUF technology), acoustic plasterboard, etc.
Despite the large assortment of GCs, 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 in the required direction. The cardboard on the opposite side is cut along the formed fold line.
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 figured cutting of main body in different situations 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 into a door locking mechanism with latch.
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 sheathed surfaces encounter window slopes or corners along the way.
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.
After learning these methods, beginners will understand how to cut drywall with a minimum set of tools at home. 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 so that the amount of waste is minimal? 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.
Return to contents
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. 
Return to contents
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. Cutting the material is easy, quite sharp blade 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.
Read also
Do-it-yourself doorway expansion
Return to contents
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. To make holes professionally, you should use a 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.
Return to contents
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.
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 so that the amount of waste is minimal? Which one should you have on hand? Let's take a closer look.
Drywall cutting tools In order to correctly apply the markings, you need to measure the plane on which they will be attached. Then, using a tape measure or ruler, you should transfer it, outlining a line with a pencil. Double-check your measurements 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 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. 
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, maybe... 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 on the 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.
Read also
Fastening drywall to a wooden frame
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 switches. In addition, sometimes it is necessary to repair damaged areas in drywall. To do this, you should use a 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. Marking is carried out as in the first option, in this case you need to draw a circle of the required diameter with a compass. 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 it with sharp teeth, insert it into the hole and start sawing the drywall strictly along the line.
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! You should wear a mask or respirator to avoid breathing 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.
Wavy cut
It is easy to do using a jigsaw; the main thing in this process is correct marking. If required, then 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 slab, 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 very 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, you can always trim them with a rasp.
Conclusion
Drywall has become a popular material among builders due to the fact that working with it is not difficult. Just read the manual or watch video tutorials on working with the material and learn how to cut drywall at home.
Industrial production started in 1917 in Great Britain. However, a new building material was invented by a US resident. August Sackett was granted a patent back in 1894. The American fastened 10 sheets of paper with powdered plaster.
The result was a slab 5 millimeters wide. The modern one has a width of at least 1.5 millimeters more, and only if the core is reinforced with fiberglass.
Standard sheets rise 10-13 millimeters. The question arises of how to cut such thickness, because in work you often have to adjust it to the frame. We will describe several ways to divide slabs.
Cutting drywall with an electric jigsaw
A jigsaw is a tool with a reciprocating saw motion. Simply put, we are talking about a miniature version of an electric saw. When working with drywall, it allows you to:
Make curved cuts
Holes inside the sheet
Maximum precision edges without jagged edges or contour changes
Cutting drywall with a jigsaw
Jigsaw cutting drywall along a predetermined contour. Since plaster dust will be knocked out from under the blade, we make outlines with a black marker. It can also be seen under the whitish sediments.
Mark the sheets on the back side. However, drywall is only the basis of structures, which is then covered with tiles, wallpaper, and plaster. Therefore, the marking side is not important. Let's get started:
- Place the gypsum sheet on stools or bricks, leaving the space below the cutting line free. Also, there should be no tension on the cutting line. Its tearing forces will degrade the quality of the cut. Drywall is supported on a base due to the flexibility of the material. Without support, the sheet may break under pressure in unexpected places.
- We install the jigsaw at the start of the cutting line or bring the drywall to the tool’s stand, because it can be not only autonomous, but also stationary. Also, a number of jigsaws have a laser sight. It helps you “follow” exactly the markings. If you work in semi-darkness, backlighting will help out. Not all jigsaws have it either.
- All that remains is to turn on the jigsaw and smoothly move along the markings.
- Finally we will process the edges sandpaper or with a plane or file.
Understand how to cut drywall with a jigsaw It's only worth it if you have the tools. The simplest models cost from 1,100 rubles. If the expenses are unjustified or you don’t have an already purchased jigsaw at hand, figure cuts are made...
Cutting drywall with a hacksaw
A hacksaw is also a type of saw, but it’s manual. The tool usually costs several hundred rubles. The blade of a hacksaw varies. You need something smooth with fine teeth. This is a hacksaw for metal.
Cutting drywall with a hacksaw
When working with drywall, it gives the most even cut. The thinness of the saw blade allows it to easily bend inside the sheet, passing exactly along the curved markings. Let's start the process:
- Mark the drywall and use a drill or knife to make holes in its corners for the hacksaw blade to enter.
- Inserting a hacksaw into the slot and sawing to the opposite point.
- Processing the edges of the cut with improvised means.
Which side to cut drywall from? with a hacksaw it doesn’t matter, but in what place it’s important. When cutting a sheet from the edge, the tool produces a smooth, neat line, although it requires considerable time. The hacksaw produces uneven through holes on the plasterboard sheet. Here it is better to use a jigsaw.
Cutting drywall with a mounting knife
The mounting knife has replaceable blades. There are blades for cutting different materials; the protrusion of the metal part beyond the handle is adjustable. There are the same stationery models, but they are low-power for working with drywall.
You can even cut drywall with a utility knife.
A mounting knife costs from several hundred rubles. The tool is good when it is solved how to cut drywall at home in a straight line. Curly lines with a mounting knife are obtained anyhow. Let's get started:
- We draw drywall according to pre-made marks.
- We attach to one side of the marking steel profile for drywall or a metal ruler. They will prevent the knife from moving to the side while cutting.
- We place the blade to the edge of the marking and move along it with a pressure of about 3 kilograms.
The knife should not pass through the sheet. Correctly cutting drywall- this is to guide the blade with a recess of about half a centimeter. The rest will break along the line when we bend the panel with our hands.
The cut should be at the top. To bend the drywall you will need to support it. You can simply place the sheet on the floor, or you can put it on chairs or the edge of the table.
The nuances of cutting drywall depending on its type
Drywall sheets can be specialized, for example, waterproof. The paper on these is impregnated with polymers. They close the pores in the cardboard, making it resistant to moisture and reliable protection for the compressed gypsum powder inside.
However, the edges of even waterproof plasterboard are not protected. Accordingly, the workplace should not be wet. Once in the gypsum, water will cause it to swell and change the geometry of the building sheet.
Arched drywall
Arched plasterboard stands separately. It is as thin as possible, only 6.5 millimeters in thickness. It would seem that such a sheet would be easier to cut than a centimeter sheet. However, fiberglass is laid inside the arched panel.
It reinforces drywall and gives the flexibility necessary to deform a sheet intended for curved doorways, ceilings.
Because of the fiberglass inside, the arched material is more difficult to cut simple drywall. It's better to use a power tool. A mounting knife or a hand saw “goes” hard.
General rules for cutting drywall
Microparticles of gypsum inside the cardboard cover are light and volatile. Breaking out from under the paper during cutting, the mineral suspension rushes into the air, getting into the eyes, settling in the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is advisable to wear a protective mask.
It is recommended to lay on the floor under the fabric to be cut plastic film, lightly sprinkling with water from a spray bottle. Moisture will help the gypsum particles flying from above to swell, become heavier and fall onto the polyethylene. At the end of the work, it remains to be rolled up and thrown away. Particularly thrifty people wash the film in the bathroom, dry it and reuse it.
If gypsum dust settles directly on the floor, washing off the powder will be problematic. There will be divorces. If there is a porous coating on the floor, such as matte porcelain stoneware, gypsum particles will clog into it.
A solution of warm water with sunflower oil at the rate of half a glass of product per 10 liters becomes life-saving. Afterwards, the floors are wiped with a vinegar solution.
The method is not suitable for glossy surfaces. There it is better to make do with a solution of potassium permanganate. It is added to warm water until it turns light pink.
Cutting a profile for drywall
Since work has begun with the hero of the article, the question is also relevant: how to cut a profile for drywall. It is used to create a frame for paper-mineral sheets.
They are attached to the profile with self-tapping screws. Accordingly, drywall covers the profile base. There is no need to focus on the accuracy of cutting steel rods. Their ugliness will be hidden by the sheets.
You can cut the profile with metal scissors
To cut a profile for drywall, use 3 tools:
Metal scissors. They are good for cutting sheet steel. Working with U-shaped profiles for gypsum sheets is inconvenient, but profitable. Manual option a tool that resembles wire cutters costs between 200 rubles. Also, the inconvenience of working with scissors is smoothed out by their independence from the mains and noiselessness.
Jigsaw. Cuts neatly and quickly. It is convenient to work with the tool only when the profile is firmly fixed. It is made of thin steel. If it “walks” under the jigsaw blade, the cut will turn out uneven.
Miniature grinder. When working with an angle grinder, the profile is placed on a bend. In other words, the part to be cut should hang above the air and bend downward under its own weight as it is cut. The rest of the profile rests on a chair or table.
The ease of handling a power tool is overshadowed by the noise emanating from it. However, you can wear headphones. Of the mandatory protective equipment, it is worth mentioning glasses.
Cutting the profile with a small grinder
Chips may fly off the steel being processed. It can get into your eyes, damaging them. Such pieces of metal are called scale and are removed in emergency rooms.
Danger of profile cutting electric tool consists not only of damage to human health, but also to the decoration of the apartment. Hot shavings fly off the steel.
Drywall or plasterboard - universal material when renovating the premises. The sheets can be used for partitions, wall and ceiling cladding.
Big positive quality material is its flexibility to be processed, bent to the desired shape. But when constructing structures, it is often necessary to divide a single sheet into separate parts and make holes in it. The article will tell you what drywall is and how to cut it to the required dimensions.
Features of the material
Before cutting drywall at home, it is worth getting acquainted with its features. In terms of its structure, gypsum board is a three-layer “sandwich”. Thick cardboard is used to make the outer layers, and a gypsum mixture is used for the core.
The long sides of the drywall have a rounded edge protected by cardboard. The ends of the sheets are not protected.
Cardboard is used in several types. It could be:
- Regular gray material (GKL);
- Moisture resistant, with green tint front side (GKLV);
- Fire-resistant, having a pink or light purple color (GKLV);
- Moisture-resistant with a dark green tint (GKLVO);
- Innovative drywall of blue color, designed for soundproofing walls.
The standard dimensions of gypsum boards are 2500×1200 mm, the area of which 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 is: 12.5 mm; 9.5 mm; 6 mm. Thin fabrics are used to create ceiling structures.
Drywall sheets are quite bulky and heavy. When working with them, you must be careful: due to careless handling when under stress, the product may break.
Tools used when cutting fabric
Before cutting drywall, you need to become familiar 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 convenient to use for long cuts, especially if you need to cut a complex curved section |
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This can be a special or regular stationery knife, which comes with a set of replaceable blades |
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Such a tool has a slight set of teeth, or a hand saw designed for cutting drywall |
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Equipment for cutting gypsum boards is equipped with a set of large-diameter pen 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 wood plane. Used when processing edges after cutting material |
In addition to the listed tools for measuring and marking plasterboards, you need:
- Marker or simple pencil;
- Roulette;
- Square;
- A ruler or flat metal profile, which is used to install a frame under drywall.
To perform smooth, long length cuts “under the ruler”, it’s good to have a rule on hand. The video shows how to cut drywall at home in more detail.
Types of knives for cutting
To choose the right way to cut drywall at home, it’s worth getting to know in more detail the most popular tool – a knife. Such tools fall into three categories.
The table shows their categories and types:
| Knife category and type | 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 a simple design consisting of four elements:
Such knives are not highly reliable. When cutting plasterboard, the blades quickly begin to dull. |
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Compared to standard ones, this is more expensive models. Unlike the previous ones, they have a metal guide installed in the body, which more securely fixes the blade. When cutting, the rigidity of the position of the material is ensured. |
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The tool is intended for craftsmen who use it constantly in their work. There are a lot of options for professional knives. They differ in ergonomic appearance, operating principle of the locking mechanism and 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 best option for working with gypsum boards. Advantages of the tool:
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Such 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 disc blades and is used for cutting gypsum boards. When working, you get perfectly smooth edges, even curved ones. The disk is placed near a metal ruler, which is aligned along the cutting line, pressed and moved along it. When moving the knife, an even cut is obtained, along the entire length of the same depth. If necessary, you can press on the round blade, applying quite a significant amount of force. Folding ones are also available disc knives. In this case, the disk, when you press the movable part of the handle, comes out of the housing. |
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It 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 gypsum board and moves along it, simultaneously cutting two layers of cardboard. The cutting round parts are removable, which allows you to replace them with new ones if necessary. With this tool you can cut strips of plasterboard 120 mm wide. This is especially important when forming multi-level ceilings and structures where narrow, uniform strip widths are required. The cutter handle is also a guide for setting the required cutting width. The cutter is installed on the end of the blade and moves along the entire length of the material. |
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GKL cutter “Blade Runner” is professional tool, which doubles the cutting process. The design of the tool has two detachable parts, held together by magnetic clamps during operation. The blades are housed in small blocks located in two parts of the metal body. 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 pre-marked line. Then, the thicknesser moves along a given guideline and cuts the cardboard layers on both sides at once. The tool cuts perfectly straight and curved complex cuts. The video shows how to properly cut drywall with such equipment in more detail |
We have listed the best methods for cutting drywall in the table. If you have a large amount of varied work to do, you can consult a specialist or watch the video: “How to cut drywall at home.”
Drywall cutting technology
Cutting gypsum board is quite simple.
Tip: For ease of work and obtaining accurate dimensions of parts, you should choose a well-lit and free room.
The table shows brief instructions drywall cuttings:
| Name and photo of the operation | Process description |
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Plasterboard sheets are produced sufficiently large sizes. In order for marking and then cutting it with your own hands to be accurate and of high quality, the material must lie horizontally on a solid base. This could be the floor, table and even stools. But the latter should be located next to each other at a distance of up to 300 mm to prevent the sheet from breaking 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, which side to cut the drywall from does not really matter. If it is necessary to mark strictly perpendicular lines on the material, use a square |
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A knife for cutting drywall is placed on the drawn line, close to the ruler, and the tool is drawn along the entire length of the guide. In this case, the blade is pressed lightly, so that only the outer layer of cardboard is cut |
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The sheet of drywall is moved to the edge of the table and the cut is carefully tapped on the other side of the sheet. As a result, the layer of gypsum along the cut line will lose its integrity. |
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The sheet is folded along the cutting line and divided into two parts by cutting through the cardboard on its reverse side. |
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After dividing the sheet, its edges are cleaned with a special or regular plane. This must be done in order to remove sloppy nicks so that they do not interfere when joining the panels on the wall. How to trim the edge of drywall? To prevent the material from crumbling, chamfering should be carried out without strong pressure. At the same time, there is no need to achieve an ideal edge surface; it is enough to just remove the strongly protruding parts and irregularities on the cardboard that were created when cutting the sheet. A beveled chamfer, necessary for strong reinforcement of the joints of the panels on the wall. It can be done after they are installed so as not to destroy the edge of the sheet unprotected by cardboard |
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To cut a round hole or any shaped hole in drywall, you constantly need to monitor the bend line. The cutting process can be performed with a narrow hacksaw or an electric jigsaw, which makes 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 a socket or switch is cut out electric drill with a crown attachment of the appropriate diameter, a jigsaw or a narrow hacksaw. Holes are most often cut after installing gypsum boards on the sheathing. Otherwise, the strength of the sheet may be compromised, and even a slight misalignment, often when transporting or installing the sheet, becomes the cause of 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 strength of the hand and the skills of the craftsman. But you should not cut drywall through its entire thickness, which can cause sloppy edges and rapid blade failure. In order to correctly cut drywall with your own hands, a video tutorial will help with all the details.
Cutting after installation of gypsum boards
Cutting unfixed material is much more convenient. But there are situations when it is necessary to cut off the excess after installing the panels on the frame. This happens when it is necessary to make slopes for windows or corners on the sheathed surfaces.
In this case, you should make sure that the sheet is securely fixed to the frame. The material is cut on the side in contact with the wall.
In this case, the cutting movements are repeated several times along the markings. Then the excess parts of the material are “squeezed out”. The sheet is cut on the other side. The video shows in detail how to trim protruding drywall that is already attached to a frame underneath it.
Before cutting drywall, you should use a few tips to help avoid irreparable mistakes:
- You should not use a grinder when working. Such a tool is not used for cutting drywall - 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 a material, it should only be a rubber 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 nicks on the edges of the sheet, it is better to hold the hacksaw or knife at an angle of 90°. As the blade angle decreases, the size of the cardboard rags increases;
- The main cuts of the material must be made before attaching the panels to the sheathing. In this case, if the cut is unsuccessful, 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.
- You should not cut out complex designs in drywall that have thin partitions, like openwork mesh;
- Cutting a whole sheet is most often done on the floor. Therefore, after cutting along this line, a block is placed under the blade. Then press on two parts of the sheet, which is easily broken along the cut line.
How and with what to cut drywall, everyone chooses for themselves. The process of carrying out the work is quite simple, which makes it easy for anyone with no experience in construction to handle.
If 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.
