Wood paneling is a very cheap and easy way to add some style to a room, but sometimes this wood can be particularly difficult to work with.
Even the most seasoned carpenters will find themselves needing a a power saw and they don’t want to mess up the paneling on their walls.
But what if you don’t have a power saw?
Don’t worry!
In this guide you’ll learn to make do and learn How To Cut Wood Paneling With A Utility Knife.
Step By Step – How To Cut Wood Paneling With A Utility Knife
Materials Needed:
- Utility Knife
- Wood Panels
- Measuring Tape
- Marker or Tape
Budget: $50-$100
Duration: 30 – 50 Minutes
Step One:
First you have to decide where you want the cut to be made. Make sure that you can make the cut without causing too much of a mess. You should measure out where you plan to cut from the opposite side so that it will be slightly offset when finished. Use a marker or tape to mark off the line for easier accuracy.
Step Two:
Next, using your utility knife make the cut on this line. Before cutting, make sure that there are no nails or screws holding this part of the paneling in place. If there are nails or screws making up part of this wood frame, carefully remove them and set them aside for later use (you can stick them back in once your cut is done).
Step Three:
Before you start cutting into the wood, make sure that you are careful. If the material is not strong and solid, it could pull away from the paneling. Too much pressure could also cause the wood to pull or break due to stress, so be cautious. Invest in a good quality utility knife and you won’t have to deal with these problems.
Step Four:
Once you have carved through all of the paneling, use your utility knife to carefully cut along the inside of this new cut line that was made previously. Once you have done this, you should have a place that is big enough for you to fit your fingers through.
Once done, admire your work!
Tip: If you want to remove wood paneling but are afraid of tearing it or ruining its finish, spray adhesive on one side of the wood and carefully scrape along the other side with a pry tool.
Below is a Video that properly demonstrates How To Cut Wood Paneling With A Utility Knife:
Step By Step – How To Cut Wood Paneling At An Angle With A Utility Knife
Cutting a wood panel depends on how thickness varies of the wood paneling by cutting down at a 45-degree angle.
Step One:
Once again, like in the first step you have to decide where you want to make the cut and measure out where it will go. From this measurement, measure at a angle that is equal to that measurement and make your mark with a marker or tape.
Step Two:
Next, use your utility knife (on its side) and cut through the wood paneling so that it has enough room to fit your fingers through.
Step Three:
Once done, you can use your utility knife to cut down through the line made in the previous step and remove all of the wood paneling.
Step By Step – How To Cut Wood Paneling For Outlets With A Utility Knife
Step One:
Measure out where you want to make the cut and mark it. Make sure that when you do this, that the bottom of your measurement is not going over any walls or ceiling supports as this can cause problems when it is time to repair or replace the outlets.
Step Two:
If there is a bump in the wood paneling, mark it with your marker or tape where you want to start cutting from. Then use your utility knife on its side and cut through the paneling at a 45-degree angle until you get through both sides of the bump. At this point, remove all of the wood paneling from around the outlet.
Step Three:
Once done, you can use your utility knife to cut down through the line made in the previous step and remove all of the wood paneling.
Below is a Video that properly demonstrates How To Cut Wood Paneling For Outlets With A Utility Knife:
Step By Step – How To Cut Laminate Wall Panel With A Utility Knife
Step One:
Mark the area of the laminate panel where you want to begin and then take your utility knife and cut down through the panel. In order to make this job easier, put your laminate panel up against a wall, board or any flat surface that the wood end is facing out.
Step Two:
This is where you can use your utility knife to cut through the wood unit.
You can only use this utility knife if you have a floor jack or jack stands (if not then take your car) and put them underneath one side of the unit.
Use one hand to jostle it from side to side, placing each jostle closer and closer towards what will be the top of the outlet opening.
Step Three:
After you get a sufficient amount of movement, use a pry bar and the tip of your knife to gently tap on the other side of the panel. Do not use any sort of pressure on this pry bar; just poke at it with your utility knife. Use this method to open the outlet for the first half inch or so.
Step Four:
Once at this point, use your utility knife and gently pull away from the rest of the panel and free it from all wood pieces.
Once it’s off, use a heat gun on low heat setting or an inexpensive blow dryer to dry out any remaining glue or excess moisture in the wall that will cause problems later on when you install your outlets in their new home.
Now you’re done!
Below is a Video that properly demonstrates How To Cut Laminate Wall Panel With A Utility Knife:
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Tool To Cut Paneling?
The Sabre Saw. To get a precise cut, the best tool to cun paneling is with a Sabre Saw. Invest in a sabre saw. Generally, sabre saws with a fine tooth blade are recommended for cutting panels. It’s very easy to use and with a proper guide, you can cut even with free hand.
Can You Cut MDF With A Utility Knife?
Yes. You can cut MDF Board with a utility knife. It takes a lot of tries before you cut through as the MDF board is thicker than most boards. You just need some patience and wrist power but you’ll cut through that MDF board in no time.
Can you cut MDF with a cutter?
No. A cutter is too thin and shallow to cut through a thick board like an MDF. If you want to manually cut an MDF you can use a utility knife instead or a handsaw. You can also use power saws like circular saws with cutting an MDF Board. In the end, a cutter cannot cut an MDF board.
Final Thoughts on How To Cut Wood Paneling With A Utility Knife
This ends our How To Guide of How To Cut Wood Paneling With A Utility Knife.
We hope the knowledge you gained here will help you in the future with your DIY or Professional Panelling and Wall installation projects. We want you to be sure of that what you get from us are 100% facts, so please don’t hesitate to ask for advice or to advise us in return with accurate facts.
You may be interested in our other How To Utility Knife Guides:
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Weldon is a Single Dad who loves teaching others about the workaround in the house. He loves to write about DIY and Home Improvement Hacks and just recently had his first child. You’ll have some fun read with his write-ups and more of his works in his own home!
