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What Can You Use To Cut Insulation? (How To)

If you have to cut insulation for any DIY home improvement project, you want to make sure that you are doing it properly. There is one particular method of cutting insulation, however, that anyone can use and it works great.

The easiest way to cut fiberglass insulation is with a utility knife. Place a piece of scrap wood under the insulation and compress it with a straight edge. Use the sharp utility knife to cut along the fiberglass and it will cut cleanly.

Tools to cut insultation

For the most part, people who were cutting insulation at home are going to be using fiberglass roll insulation. It is one of the most common types of insulation that is out there and it is also one of the easiest to work with. In addition, it is affordable for the most part.

It is important to mention, however, that other types of insulation also exist on the market. These may be cut in different ways, such as cutting a foam board or spray foam insulation.

For the most part, any type of insulation can be cut with a utility knife but for specific types of insulation, such as a structural insulated panel, you may need a special tool or there may be a method that is better used.

What Can You Use To Cut Insulation? (How To)

Not only are we going to consider many of the different tools that can be used for cutting insulation, but we are also going to talk about the best method of doing it in detail. This will help you to get started on the job and allow you to see success in your efforts.

As was mentioned, a utility knife is the best tool for cutting fiberglass insulation but if you’re going to use a utility knife, you need to make sure you’re using it safely. There are many dangers associated with this tool, as well as some associated with cutting insulation.

Considering the hazards that are associated with insulation, you need to protect yourself properly. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Protect Your Hands – The best thing you can do is to protect your hands with a good pair of all-purpose gloves or perhaps some cut-less gloves. Choose gloves that are comfortable for working all day long and allow you at least the dexterity necessary for cutting the insulation.

Protect Your Eyes – Always wear safety glasses and if you’re going to be cutting a lot of fiberglass insulation, you may want to up your game and wear some goggles. You don’t want a lot of fiberglass floating around and getting in your eyes because it can be irritating.

Protect Your Skin – If you’ve ever felt the burn of working with fiberglass insulation, you will appreciate this tip. Always wear long sleeve shirts and long pants when working with fiberglass insulation to protect yourself from getting exposed to the insulation excessively.

Protect Your Lungs – As a final reminder, wear a respirator, such as an N95, when you are cutting and working with insulation. If you get too much fiberglass in your lungs, it can be very irritating. Wearing a mask will also protect your throat.

Of course, you would also want to be cautious when cutting insulation so that you don’t cut yourself in the process.

Let’s consider some different types of cutting implements and which would be suitable and usable when cutting insulation.

Can You Use a Knife To Cut Insulation?

confused man standing

A sharp knife is the best tool for cutting fiberglass insulation. After compressing the insulation with a straight edge, you can cut through it in a single swipe and have a perfectly straight edge ready for installation.

It’s important to note that any type of sharp utility knife will work well for this purpose. If you are using a pocket knife, it may not be able to cut the insulation in a single pass. It can still be used, but you will likely have to cut multiple times to get through it.

Can You Use an Insulation Cutter To Cut Insulation?

confused man standing

Many people use an insulation cutter for cutting fiberglass insulation. It’s a tool that will compress the insulation and cut it in the straight edge along the center of the compression tool. It can be of great benefit when you need to get a lot of cutting done.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on October 9, 2022.

For the most part, an insulation knife such as this will only be used by those who are cutting insulation frequently. If you are just doing a DIY job at home, you might find that it is easier just to use a utility knife.

Can You Use a Circular Saw To Cut Insulation?

Tools to cut insultation

A circular saw is a good way to cut through foam board insulation. It is not the only option that is available, but if you use a proper saw blade that was designed for that purpose, it can cut through it quickly and easily.

You might find that there are other tools available for cutting this type of insulation, such as an angle grinder with a cut-off wheel. It can get through it quickly and easily and is often less cumbersome than a circular saw.

Can You Use a Jigsaw To Cut Insulation?

Tools to cut insultation

Jigsaws are commonly used for rigid forms of insulation, such as cardboard, spray foam, and foam rubber insulation. It can be used to cut through it if you have a blade that is suitable for the process and long enough to reach the other side. Otherwise, you can use a box cutter or utility knife.

If you have to cut an odd shape in fiberglass insulation, you may find that a jigsaw provides you with a good option to do so.

Can You Use a Table Saw To Cut Insulation?

Tools to cut insultation

You can use a table saw to cut rigid foam insulation if you are cutting multiple sheets. It will cut through the insulation quickly and cleanly, leaving you with a straight edge for installation.

Can You Use a Reciprocating Saw To Cut Insulation?

Tools to cut insultation

A reciprocating saw can be used for many different types of insulation, such as spray foam or other types of rigid insulation sheets. It is best used for demolition or for cutting insulation in place.

How To Cut Insulation

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When it is time to cut fiberglass insulation, you want to ensure that you are doing the job right. Here are some tips that can help you to get started on the right foot and be successful.

Step 1: Measure – When installing fiberglass insulation, the measurements don’t need to be down to the millimeter. You have a little bit of wiggle room when it comes to fitting the insulation in place. The real key is not to shortchange yourself when measuring for the installation.

After measuring, you can then measure it out on the roll of insulation and put your straight edge in place.

Step 2: Backboard – One important factor for safely cutting fiberglass insulation is to have a piece of plywood or another type of board behind the insulation when cutting. You’re going to be cutting entirely through the fiberglass and paper, so anything underneath the insulation is going to be damaged.

It is best if you have an area with a sheet of plywood so that you can cut the insulation safely. If you have this in place in advance, you will find it to be much more convenient overall.

Step 3: Compress – Use some type of straight edge, such as a 4-foot level or perhaps a piece of angle iron to demarcate the straight edge where you will be cutting. You should then press down to compress the fiberglass as thin as possible. This will make it possible to cut the fiberglass cleanly.

Step 4: Cut – After pressing down on the fiberglass, use a sharp utility knife to cut along the straight edge. The real key is to cut entirely through all of the fiberglass and the paper in a single pass. This should be possible with a sharp utility knife. If it is not cutting entirely through, you may need to change the blade.

During the cutting process, be aware of the position of your hands, as well as your knees if they are used for holding down the straight edge. It is very easy to get your hands in your way as you are cutting with the utility knife and you could easily cut yourself.

The best tool for cutting fiberglass insulation is a utility knife with a straight edge. You will use the straight edge to mark the edge where the utility knife cuts the fiberglass as well as to compress the fiberglass while you are cutting. After releasing the straight edge, you will have a clean cut as the fiberglass expands.

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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on October 9, 2022.

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