How To Cut Thin Slots In Wood

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Cutting deep but thin slots? Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 10 of 10 Posts. Phaelax Registered. Joined Dec 24, 2018 227 Posts. Discussion Starter. #1. 3 mo.

Cutting wood slices is an ideal woodworking technique that can be used for a variety of projects. These wood slices make wonderful coaster and ornament pieces as well as chargers and decorative surfaces. You can really let your mind run wild with the possibilities. Learning how to cut wood slices is an easy process if you take your time and do precision sawing. Follow these steps to get started.

Contents

  1. When you cut slots in the edging, put thin cardboard or a few pieces of paper under the joiner. Photo 11: Sand the edges flush The edging will be slightly above the surface of the plywood when you glue it on.
  2. Perfect slots Drilling end holes and sawing out the waste between them is one way to form a slot. But success depends on your unwavering ability to follow the straight cutlines connecting the end holes with a scrollsaw or jigsaw.
  3. With the first cut complete adjust your fence so you make the slot a little wider and once more run the wood through the saw, as before flip your work piece at the end of the first cut and run through again, repeat this process until the slot is just a fraction wider than the head of the bolt.
  • How to Cut Wood Slices
    • 3. Get the Right Saw
    • ​5. Cut Your Wood Slices

How to Cut Wood Slices

​Below are the comprehensive steps we’ve compiled to ​cutting your own wood slices at home, whether you are using store bought and scrap wood or big wood logs.

​1. Gather the ​Supplies and Tools You’ll Need

First, you need to gather all the supplies you will need to make your wood slices. Keep in mind, following these steps on how to make wood slices can ensure you have wood slices that are even and properly prepared for use.

Be sure to assemble the following supplies to get started with this simple project. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • ​Tape measure
  • ​Scrap block of wood
  • ​Clamps
  • ​Miter saw or band saw
  • ​Wood to cut for slices
  • Oven for curing wood
  • Baking sheet(s)

2. Get the Correct Wood

Before you can begin the process of cutting wood slices, you need to find ​some suitable wood to use. For the purposes of this project, we’re going to assume that you want to cut circular slices. However, you can apply the same steps for cutting square and rectangular shapes.

​You can use store bought 2×4’s, for example. This would yield slightly rectangular slices.

You can also use scrap wood, which will probably give you a whole assortment of different shapes and sizes.

In the end, we recommend choosing logs. These can be tree branches and tree stumps, in a perfect world. This type of wood is often easy to find – check Craigslist and someone in your area usually just got down a tree and is trying to get rid of the wood.

How to cut logs into slices isn’t complicated, and is basically the process as cutting wood slices.

3. Get the Right Saw

To cut your ​wood slices, ​we strongly recommend you have either a miter saw or band saw. These are the best saw options to use when cutting log slices, as they can make more precise cuts with the uneven nature of a log. They can also cut thicker pieces of wood than other types of saws.

Yes, it is possible to use a circular saw, chainsaw, or even a hand saw. The problem with both is that they make very rough cuts. For the most part, when you are cutting logs into slices, you’re looking for more exact work. Rough cut saws just aren’t the best tool.

Wood

The same can be said for the cutting the wood with a jigsaw. Even though the jigsaw is known as a precision saw, the fact that it is handheld means that you will undoubtedly come out with uneven cuts. Again – this just isn’t what we are looking for when cutting log slices.

​Using a Miter Saw

If you decide to use a miter saw, you can simply dial in the desired width of your log slice. A miter saw will provide a more accurate cut than a band saw because of this. But, you will need to hold the log steady as you work because it could roll.

Depending on the size of your logs, holding it steady could be a challenge. Another challenge with larger logs is that the miter saw blade simply isn’t thick enough to cut the log.

The miter saw’s capability is limited to ​roughly half the diameter of the blade. So, for example, if you have a 10″ miter saw blade, then you could probably cut wood slices that are around 4″-4.5″ thick.

To summarize, a miter saw will work well if you have smaller logs to cut slices out of.

Using a Band Saw

We think this is the best option. In essence, bandsaws were made for this type of project, and specifically for this type of cut. You might not own a band saw, which is why you’d probably turn to the miter saw. But if you do have access to one, use it for this type of cut.

​One of these saw’s greatest strength is cutting really thick wood. Learn more about which is best in our band saw reviews.

4. Remember Safety First

Now you are ready to start cutting. Before you do, you need to take a few safety steps. ​

You need to take a few safety precautions before you begin. It is always a good idea to wear safety glasses when cutting log slices. They are not uniform wood pieces that will lay flat on your saw table top.

You will also want to wear a good mask for dust​ to keep sawdust particles out of your nose and mouth. This can be irritating as you work. By simply wearing a dust mask, you can cut down on the wood particles you breathe in.

​5. Cut Your Wood Slices

You can now begin the cutting of your tree limb into wood slices. ​Use your miter saw or band saw to make precise slices in the log. Be sure to hold the log steady as you work. Never take your hands off the piece of wood.

Decide How Thick Your Slices Will Be

You can cut slices of varying degrees of thickness, but you need to plan ahead. Coasters, for example, are typically 1/2″ thick. Other more ornate designs and decor, like Christmas ornaments, might be a lot thinner.

Creating a Guide

If you have chosen a band saw for the job, you will need to create a guide that will determine the width of your log slice. Start by using the tape measure to determine the width of your log slice from the blade.

Attach your wood block to this measurement to stop your log from moving past this dimension.

Clamp the wood block tightly in place. This will serve as your guide throughout the entire cutting process of your log slice.

How

Use your tape measure to your desired width from the blade. Set your scrap piece of wood at the edge and clamp it in place to the saw table. This will be your guide to hold the tree as you cut.

Making Your Cuts

​If you haven’t spent the time, make sure you learn how to use your band saw before you start. Make some practice cuts to get the feel of how your specific wood responds to being cut.

Cut your tree limb into as many wood slices as you can manage. The more, the better. You can use these wood slices for a variety of projects.

It is very important that you have a firm grip on your tree limb at all times. This will move around as you saw and you need to maintain control of the wood to ensure an even cut.

How To Cut Thin Slots In Wood Dowels

Also, be sure to avoid areas of the tree limb that have knots. You don’t want to cut through a knot. This will create issues as you cut, and you’ll never be able to get a clean or even cut. Work around the knots and slice your tree limb in the areas that have the least resistance.

6. Bake Your Log Slices

Once you have completed cutting your log slices, ​we recommend you bake them in the oven. ​Logs have a high moisture content and must be dried. If you don’t dry ​the wood slices, they can warp and bend over time.

Granted, if you are working with really old, dried out wood, then you can skip this step. Most of the time, though, you’re starting with wood that still has some moisture in it.

Place them on a baking sheet and allow them to cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 200 degrees. This will dry the wood out completely and prepare the surface for any additional finish treatments you have in mind. It will also kill any organisms living in the wood, so they don’t get into your home.

This temperature isn’t high enough to “cook” or “burn” your log slices, just hot enough to dry them out.

Let your log slices cool until they are no longer hot to the touch before you get ready to use them in your woodworking project.

Wood

7. Decorate the Wood Slices as Needed

Now that your wood slices are complete, you can use them in their natural state or decorate them with paint or other decorative products. Let your imagination go wild! There are endless possibilities to using these wood slices.

You might want to sand down the slices to get them smoother. While they will be relatively smooth from the cutting, sanding them will make them quite a bit softer and smooth.

​You can apply a finish to them to seal them or let them age naturally. You can also paint or stain them as you like.

If a wood slice ends up having a chip or crack, you can use a stainable wood filler to repair, and then proceed with staining or painting.

Conclusion

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Creating wood slices is easy when you keep these steps in mind. Knowing how to cut wood slices can come in handy in a number of woodworking and craft projects. You’ll be able to come up with several creative and fun ways to use these wood slices. Plus, it is so easy to make more.

I’m working on a new woodworking project that involved cutting through-slots for bolts in a couple of boards. The two boards will act as adjustable arms to hold a dowel handle for a garden cart.

I have cut shorter and narrower slots using a table-mounted router for a coin bank. These bolt slots were considerably longer and 1/4' wide so I was reluctant to use the same technique. I don’t have a plunge router – which would probably be the fastest and easiest way to do this.

Crowd-sourcing ideas

After checking a couple of woodworking forums for ideas – including one where someone trying this on a router table said the board 'shattered' (yikes!) – the general consensus seemed to be todrill out most of the material and clean up the slot later with a coping saw.

That sounded good (and safe) to me.

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Since my slot was only 1/4' wide, I decided best approach was to use a 1/4' Forstner bit in a drill press to define the slot and remove most of the material, then clean up the slot with a file and sandpaper.

The shaft on the 1/4' bit was larger than the bit itself so I had to flip the board over to drill all the way through the 3/4' material. It’s probably a good idea to do this anyway to avoid tear-out unless you have a backer board underneath when you’re drilling.

What to do

Drilling

  • Mark the centre points for each end of the slot in the blank and use a nail or awl to punch a small hole for orienting the bit.
  • Set up the drill press with a Forstner bit the same size as the slot you’re cutting. You’ll need to attach a fence to the drill press table to maintain a straight line as you drill along the length.
  • Place the blank against the fence and lower the bit. Adjust the fence and blank so the point of the Forstner bit enters the small punched hole. Clamp the fence in place, slide the blank to the mark at the other end of the slot and check that it’s aligned properly.
  • Put a mark on the edge of the board that’s against the fence. Keep this edge against the fence when you flip the board over and drill the other side. This ensures the holes are in line even if your a hair off centre of the board.
  • Turn on the drill press and drill the each end hole to define the slot – drilling about two-thirds to three-quarters of the way through the board. After that, just keep drilling holes and moving the work piece along the fence, overlapping holes just enough to keep point of the bit entering new wood. The slot will fill up with shavings which you should clear out if they get in the way.
  • Once you’ve drilled the length of the slot, clean it out with a screw driver or something similar. Flip the board over (keeping the same edge against the fence).
  • Repeat the process starting with the end holes. It doesn’t matter which direction you work in.

A COUPLE OF NOTES:

  • If you’re making a wider slot, you may want to make an additional pass to remove the 'peaks' between holes.
  • If you have a mortising chisel & bit you could swap that in once you’ve drilled the end holes.

How To Cut Thin Slots In Wood Lathe

Cleaning up the slot

  • After the drilling is complete, clean out the shavings with an awl or small screwdriver.
  • Clamp the work piece on edge to your bench and use a flat file to remove the high points left between the drilled holes being careful not to hit the rounded ends of the slots.
  • Wrap a small piece of sandpaper around a drill bit (smaller than the slot) to sand the ends of the slot.
  • After filing off most of the rough surfaces in the slot, wrap some sandpaper around the file and use it to finish cleaning up the slot.

If the slots were 1/2” wide or more, I probably would have used a jigsaw and straightedge to clean up the slots before sanding.