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Tips on cutting this laminate counter

11 years ago

We're re-doing the kitchen in a small rental. It's U-shaped and I bought 3 prefab slabs of laminate counters with 1 mitered side. The challenge is that the piece along the back wall needs to be mitered on 2 sides.

I need to cut the miter on the currently straight side and then router out draw bolt holes on the underside. It's simple in concept, but I'm a little skittish about cutting the miter, in particular through the backsplash portion.

Any tips on how to do this easily--and, more importantly--straight and cleanly?

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Comments (9)

hags00
11 years ago
Here is a great website

Here is a link that might be useful: Cutting laminate
Clarion
11 years ago
This is not a DIY project. You will need a large tablesaw sufficient to cut the backsplash, and the angles will need to be measured. Doubtful that the cabinets and walls are all exactly 45 degrees.

After that, you have the sink cut-out.
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Thanks for the responses! I'm still not sure if we're going to change the kitchen or not, but if we do... Our kitchen has a 'desk area' that is around the corner and drops down from this other counter top. What I'd like to do is trim off the overhang and take off the desk area counter top...and lift it up to be even with the rest of the counters. This would mean removing the lower counter top and putting new base cabinets in....then placing the top back on. I was hoping to trim off the extra counter top by the range, so that the previous desk area would fit against it. If I do this, I'll also be cutting out the cooktop, to put in a range...which means I'm cutting both sides of this little counter top area. That's why I may just end up covering it with tile.
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If your long straightedge is bowing from the pressure of the router, you could support it in the middle by butting a two-foot-long scrap of particleboard (or almost anything, really) against the back of the straightedge and clamping it to the far side of the counter. That said, as long as the bow in the front edge is a smooth, even contour without abrupt jogs, it shouldn't cause any problem with the laminate. It might be better aesthetically if it were straight, but the laminate doesn't care if it's got a gentle curve in it. It's hard to imagine the counters are sagging on the sawhorses so much that they'll be permanently distorted by gluing laminate on them in that position. However, you'll need them fairly well supported for the glue up so you can lean some of your weight on the roller you use to press the glued surfaces together. For that reason alone it's worth supporting them well. You don't need a lot of sawhorses; I'd just put a couple of 2x4s on edge, on top of the sawhorses to provide even support along the whole length. You'll need to stabilize those 2x4s a bit, probably by nailing or screwing a couple of cross pieces between them, so they don't fall over flat at some inopportune moment. What size router do you have? There's nothing wrong with holding the router sideways except that you don't have practice doing it, and it could be difficult if you have a large, heavy router. The ones made for laminate trimming are small and light and can be held at odd angles with one hand. If you're stuck with a bigger, general-purpose router then it may be worth getting some help to set the pieces on edge as you described. You don't need a giant vise; just clamp it to some stable vertical object like a cabinet frame or the side of a sawhorse. When the clamp gets in the way, stop routing and repostition as necessary. Whichever way you go, if you've never done it before and you can't afford to goof, PRACTICE on some scrap!
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If you want a glossy laminate, go Wilsonart instead of Formica. They have a much more durable finish. Either their Aeon or HD finishes will wear much better. I had an old display of Blackstar that was pretty horribly scratched up. It was where the stone countertop samples landed all the time because it had the best under cabinet lighting for viewing.
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Just don't use any abrasive to clean the counter. Don't cut directly on counter. I mostly just use dish soap and water. If icky from working with meat I also add some bleach. Also kitchen magic for counters works good.
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User
11 years ago
Either buy a couple of cheap sections to practice on, or call around to find a fabricator. It's not at all easy to do, even for a pretty experienced DIYer.
angie_diy
11 years ago
I should preface this by saying that I have never cut laminate, so I am not sure this will work. However, I suggest making yourself a straightedge guide for your circular saw.

Oh, I just looked at hags's link, and see the same idea, but even extended to a guide that wraps around the backsplash. Best of luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: saw guide
cabmanct
11 years ago
Find a local cabinet shop with a sliding saw, you will need at least a 12" or greater 100 tooth laminate blade.
They will be able to miter it at both ends so it fits perfectly and the laminate doesn't chip.
User
11 years ago
Do a 3,4,5 measurement to figure out how out of square those corners are and that will tell you if you really even want to think about tackling this. The hassle factor and mistake chances are high, and the reward is little for this to be a DIY project when just paying someone to do it isn't gonna break the bank.
CEFreeman
11 years ago
I see on the DIY shows that you should also cut with the good side facing down, and lay tape to cut thru to minimize chipping.

I'll do a lot of things on my own, with ignorance being the guiding factor.
This is one thing I wouldn't do myself. To do it well, it's a bigger job than just running a circular saw thru it.
weedyacres
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the advice, everyone. I checked out the links and googled some other stuff, and didn't see an error-proof way to get the miter cut clean through the backsplash portion, even cutting from the bottom side, taping it, and making a straightedge saw guide.

So I called around and found a place that will cut the miter and router the draw bolt holes for $30 while I wait. I'm afraid this intrepid DIY-er is going to hand it to the pros.
angie_diy
11 years ago
The better part of valor is discretion

Henry The Fourth, Part 1 Act 5, scene 4

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