Replies

1. 
   Rennie | Aug 24, 2006 08:25pm | #1

   Hi Boomer,

   I've had good luck with blades specifically made to cut laminate. They cut on the down stroke which minimizes chipping. They are fine toothed and are labeled for laminate use.

   Good luck!

   Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
   Frank Lloyd Wright

1. 
   Boomer62 | Aug 24, 2006 08:49pm | #2

   Thanx,

   I'll  look for them tonight in my "shopping spree"

   B

2. 
   gb93433 | Aug 26, 2006 02:02am | #3

   I usually use masking tape and then draw the lines on it where I want to make a cut. The masking tape helps to keep it from chipping.

3. 
   UnclePablo | Aug 26, 2006 02:34am | #4

   Boomer,

   As someone said they make blades that cut on the down stroke. The teeth face down. With conventional blades the teeth face up and cut on the up stroke. I have found these special laminate cutting blades to be a PITA to use because they tend to want to bounce the jig saw up off the work.

   The best advice I can give is to drop cut the straight lines with a hand held circular saw with a good quality carbide finish blade. Finish-up the corners with a jigsaw with a good quality conventional wood cutting blade. I sometimes like to cut a rough hole way in the center of the to be cut-out area first so I have a handle for the drop. I have cut out more sink holes than I could count using this method. If you want to run some masking tape around where the cut is to be made you can, but I've never experienced a problem with major laminate chipping.

   More important is to measure your sink VERY carefully. Then measure it again. Better put a tape on it for a third time. Too much money to waste for haste!

   Good luck,

   -Paul

4. 
   gb93433 | Aug 26, 2006 06:04pm | #5

   You can use a hole saw on the corners and cut the straight lines with a circular saw.

1. 
   cowtown | Aug 28, 2006 08:00am | #8

   gb9433 was saying.....something like cutting the corners for a sink cut out with a hole saw and using a circular saw....All I can say is more power to ya fella... I hope all yer cut outs has straight lines.Eric

1. 
   Boomer62 | Aug 28, 2006 10:58pm | #9

   thanx all for the comments, I did buy a new jigsaw, albeit not a bosch, not in stock and being the north (canadanorth) not much choice selection, but I did go as high as I could in quality. measured, measured again and again....put tape down so as to not mark up the laminate with the plate and the cut was spectacular!!!  whew....now back to flooring..1 room left to do!!!

   cheers to all

1. 
   user-195576 | Sep 05, 2006 02:07pm | #11

   Your question is exactly my question.  The best blade and technique to cut a post form laminate countertop?  Now that you're an expert, I just want to confirm.  You used a downcut laminate blade in a jigsaw.  Did you use a hole saw in the corners or just follow your layout line?  Any further comments will be appreciated.

2. 
   Chainfall83 | Sep 06, 2006 08:51pm | #13

   Use a metal cutting blade in the Bosch jigsaw and the cut will be perfect everytime

2. 
   gb93433 | Sep 01, 2006 09:31pm | #10

   If the cuts do not have straight lines and will not show then I use tape on the cut and draw the line I need then cut the hole with a jig saw. If the edge will show then I make a template out of baltic birch or some other good material such as MDF and use a router to cut the hole.

   Edited 9/1/2006 2:31 pm by gb93433

5. 
   highfigh | Aug 26, 2006 06:35pm | #6

   If you have a decent jigasaw and sharp blades, you shouldn't have any problem. Tape the area and mark the line, cut through the line and peel the tape off. If it chips badly enough that you can see it with the sink in place, there's a problem with the glue-up or the laminate itself. Go extra wide with the tape so the finish surface won't be scratched by the saw's foot. I have the Bosch orbital saw and it comes with a plastic insert but if yours is a metal foot, you can tape that, too. Keeps things from getting dinged up and it's cheap insurance. The Bosch saw also has a little clear plastic insert for this kind of work, where it acts like a zero clearance insert on a table saw, keeping chipout to a minimum.

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
6. 
   splintergroupie | Aug 27, 2006 07:01am | #7

   Buy a Bosch jigsaw. You can also saw out the sink opening before you laminate, the cut the sink opening with the router trim bit when you trim the edges.

   Unless you are buying ready-made counter top, then ignore that last. Buy the Bosch, though.

   Put tape under the sole so it won't scratch the laminate.

   You can also cut from the back side if you can't find a blade to cut on the downstroke. You won't have to tape the sole, but you do have to be sure the counter doesn't get marred by the sawhorses.

7. 
   user-194720 | Sep 06, 2006 12:47am | #12

   Thanks for the info. Had a similar question for ripping a groove for an inlay. I take it that a circular saw with a taped bed and guide would work?