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Hi guys, I'm building a new workbench for my shop and want to use masonite/hardboard as the final top (so once I screw it up, I can replace it). I went to Lowes and asked them to cut it, but they didn't cut masonite because their (extremely crappy) blade on their panel saw splinters and destroys masonite. I say the blade sucks because I asked the guy to cut a few sheets of plywood for me and the tearout was brutal when cross cutting.
Now the thing is that I know I must have gotten masonite cut somewhere before, because my current old workbench (which doesn't have space to mount a woodworking vice, hence the new bench) has a masonite top. And the reason I have to get it cut at the store is because even with a minivan I can't fit an 4x8 sheet in the back. I can't remember where I got the old masonite!
Alternatively, I can bring a handsaw or a jigsaw, but I don't have a battery powered saw so I'd have to hook my jigsaw to an inverter in the van (bah!) But that leads to crappy cuts too.
Any ideas?
V
Yup, HD sucks. Go to a lumber yard. When I built my stand I had ashby lumber cut my wood. Everything came out perfect.
Ashby Lumber is the bomb as far as lumberyards go 
Vince you may want to try Millbrae Lumber, they kick ass!
If you are in SJ area, Southern Lumber on Alma is great. A bit expensive but much better quality than HD or Lowes.
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Phong
I ended up going to HD, their panel saw cuts masonite just fine. Too bad their employees are stupid.
I asked for for a cut of six and a half feet so that I could account for a bad cut and do a precision cut at home. Too bad the employees don't know the difference between 6 feet and 5 feet 
and I didn't notice until I lay the board on my 6 foot workbench top. Dag nabbit!
V
Ouch
-Mike 
I had that issue at Lowe's. It took the dude there 3 cut to get me some vinyl tubing cut to the right length ... and he even had a tape measurer!
I asked for for a cut of six and a half feet so that I could account for a bad cut and do a precision cut at home. Too bad the employees don't know the difference between 6 feet and 5 feet and I didn't notice until I lay the board on my 6 foot workbench top. Dag nabbit!
V
No, you LOVE to say it!
This is kinda funny too. So I bring the sheet to the saw, after asking some guy if they would/could cut it. I'm behind another lady. The employee comes buy pushing a cart with a 4x8 plywood sheet on it, the woman he's pushing it for is a total hottie. Although this other woman and I are just standing around waiting to get our stuff cut, he pushes our carts out of the way and proceeds to cut the hottie's sheet. Then after seeing her off, he gets around to cutting/butchering our wood. But then again, what do you expect from an HD employee?
I briefly wonder if I should bring back the cut masonite and demand a new cut sheet. But they have no way of knowing that I didn't take it home and screw it up myself. Not sure if it's worth the effort of bringing the pieces back, but then again, why should I pay for something that the HD employee F'ed up!?
Sort of sucks when your wife gives you the afternoon free (by taking the kids to the SJ Children's Discovery Museum) and you have to stop working on your project because someone screwed up a cut and then you don't even have the mini-van to get a new piece...grrr!
I'll bring a tape measure next time and double check. Dang, I wish I the van were just a touch longer and a touch taller!
V
HD won't guarantee their cuts under 1/8" IIRC. It may even be greater then that. Worst place to get lumber cut