Cutting Post Formed Laminate Countertop

How to cut laminate countertop diy this is a short video demonstrating how to cut laminate formica countertop without chipping with a circular saw.

Cutting post formed laminate countertop.

You use a down cutting blade for sink cutouts see below. Cutting countertops to length on site with a circular saw is a challenge that requires two perfectly aligned cuts. Flip the countertop upside down and use a jigsaw to cut it to the correct length. If you need to cut a postform laminate countertop in the field you could try freehanding the awkward cuts and hope you don t screw it up but there s a better way.

In this case you re cutting from the bottom side of the countertop using a standard up cutting blade. Postform countertops are different from custom laminate countertops for this reason. These cuts are complicated further by the need to raise and lower the saw to negotiate the scribe strip and the front lip. You can also use a jigsaw with a fine tooth blade.

Jeff johnson from glen allen va has made a cutting guide that has a 90 degree angle in it so that he can ensure a flush cut both horizontal and vertical first time every time. The best diy tool for the job is a circular saw with a fine tooth carbide blade made for laminate the same blades are typically sold for non ferrous metals and other types of plastics. Cutting a post form laminate countertop to length requires a clean straight cut. Start at the end of your countertop and measure how long the counter needs to be.

The laminate end cap can be removed by heating with a clothes iron and peeling off but be careful not to overheat the laminate or it will bubble. Postform laminate countertops are made with a pre formed backsplash and edges so that the laminate can be rolled over to create a single directional seamless piece of laminate. The fabricator then cuts the tops to size cuts the necessary holes and applies laminate end caps to the raw ends. Allow an overhang of 1 inch on the end of the counter and leave a 1 8 inch gap where appliances like a dishwasher will be so you have room to install them.

The laminate is rolled over to create a single unbroken laminate face. A lot of my remodeling projects use off the shelf post formed countertops. Measure and layout the mitre cover the layout with clear packaging tape on the back side cover the laminate side with clear packaging tape flip the countertop over so that the laminate side is down the saw blade is cutting up start the cut from the backsplash side and make the cut in one go. Clamp the tool far enough from the cutting line so the.