Cutting Post Formed Laminate Countertop

A lot of my remodeling projects use off the shelf post formed countertops.

Cutting post formed laminate countertop.

You use a down cutting blade for sink cutouts see below. 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. These cuts are complicated further by the need to raise and lower the saw to negotiate the scribe strip and the front lip. The fabricator then cuts the tops to size cuts the necessary holes and applies laminate end caps to the raw ends.

You can also use a jigsaw with a fine tooth blade. In this case you re cutting from the bottom side of the countertop using a standard up cutting blade. Use wood clamps to hold a straightedge tool on the back of the post form countertop to use as a jig or guide for cutting a straight edge. Clamp the tool far enough from the cutting line so the.

How to cut laminate countertop diy this is a short video demonstrating how to cut laminate formica countertop without chipping with a circular saw. The laminate is rolled over to create a single unbroken laminate face. These tops are pre laminated in 8 10 and 12 foot lengths at a postforming plant and shipped to a countertop fabricator. 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. 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. 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. If the section of countertop can be removed clamp a straightedge to the bottom and run a circular saw against the straight edge.

Postform countertops are different from custom laminate countertops for this reason. 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. Cutting countertops to length on site with a circular saw is a challenge that requires two perfectly aligned cuts. 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.