Best way to cut a laminate kitchen top with minimal tools

[adamcohen]

I'm a complete beginner with no tools and I need to cut a 2400mm x 600mm x 25mm laminate benchtop to fit in my kitchen. You can see the stair-step cut I need to make in the following image to get the bench to fit flush against the corner where the windows are:

278277

So I need to cut this stair-step pattern, as well as cut the table top from 2400mm to 1200mm. As I mentioned, I've got no tools, so I'm wondering what would be the cheapest and easiest way to cut this table top? Can it be done with a hand held crosscut saw with a piece of guide wood clamped to keep the cut straight? I've also heard Japanese pull saws are good for hand work, should I use one of these instead? Is it possible to make a straight cut with a hand saw? I want to avoid taking the piece of wood to bunnings or a lumber store, since it's too big to fit in my car and would require me to rent a van just to take it to the store.

I'd like to avoid buying a power tool for this, since it's such a small job and I'm sure it can be done by hand, I just don't know the best way, so if anyone can give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks,

Adam

[Timless Timber]

If I were you - with no tools - I'd use a hand saw to make a say 6mm MDF template of the corner, by scribing it, and sand or plane it to a neat fit - then take that and your laminate top to a cabinet maker - who can cut the laminate top with a scribe saw fitted panel saw, so it doesn't chip the laminate.

Hand tools (saw) will chip the laminate (on the upstroke) and unless your tiling or fitting a splash back to the rear edge (which is unlikely in that corner by the windows) you won't be able to cover over the laminate chips which will forever more look ugly and make you wish you took it to the bloke with the right gear.

my 2c

[rwbuild]

Cut a large piece of cardboard or thick poster paper VERY ACCURATELY to fit the corner, then tape it to the bench top, fit a coarse hacksaw blade in a hacksaw then cut to the shape of the template you made. Works a treat and no chips in the laminate.
In lieu of tapping the template to the bench you can use masking tape to cover the area that has to be cut and then trace the shape of the template onto the masking tape and cut with the hacksaw. This is better because there will be no slipping / shifting or lifting of the tape.
Under cut from your traced template mark by about 2mm to 3 mm and you will have a perfect fit also it is easier to fine tune the fit with a file if you have to.

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with Timless Timber on making a template out of some scrap MDF.

I am only going to guess on the Japanese pull saw as they do make a very neat cut and I would be using them from the underside to pull the teeth into the laminate. I am just not sure if this will chip out as much. You could cover this with masking tape(blue painters tape my thoughts) to again minimize chipping.

One thing to keep in mind now all walls are NOT square. So the final fit might need some adjustment.

[Lplates]

As the guys before mentioned already, create template from cardboard or thinner MDF...whatever you have around the place. Then tape that to your bench and start cutting. IN regards to chipping you can avoid it if you are careful. Usually you will get chips when you pull the saw towards yourself so you can try just sawing away from yourself (push the saw into the wood, lift it and pull back and then repeat).

The main thing i would keep in mind is that you don't need to be super perfect in terms of fit here since you will need to silicone that gap anyway if this bench is in a kitchen. Otherwise the first spill you have on the bench will flow into the gap and down the wall. Just get some white (or another non opaque colour) silicone and create a nice bead to cover any minor gaps. Job done.

[Handyjack]

You may wish to consider hiring a tool such as a jigsaw. As others have mentioned chipping will be an issue. This can be covered by a moulding that can be cut by hand perhaps in a mitre box. Some sort of gap filler/silicone can also be your friend. A work colleague of mine refers to one of these as 'No more skills'. :D

[adamcohen]

Thanks for the great responses guys, I've purchased a Japanese pull saw and have cut some MDF board to fit the wall pattern. I'm just in the process of sanding the MDF, then will attempt to cut the laminate with the pull saw, with hopefully minimal chipping if I pull towards the laminate. I'll be sure to update with another post when I've managed to complete it. Thanks again!

Adam

[jrock_au]

Another tip is to score the bench top with a sharp Stanley knife, hopefully then if laminate is going to chip it will only go as far as the knife line.

[RicB]

I'd like to avoid buying a power tool for this, since it's such a small job and I'm sure it can be done by hand, I just don't know the best way, so if anyone can give me some advice, I'd really appreciate it! Thanks,

Adam

If you never buy a tool.......you will never have any tools.:p Seriously though, a nice little trim router with a trim bit will come in mighty handy in the future. I love using mine instead of grabbing the big Makita jobbie, if I can get away with it.

It is the best way to build your shed armoury, buy a tool as you need it, in twenty or so years time you will have a collection that didn't really seem to cost that much, but if you had to buy them in one hit:oo:.

Sorry if I haven't answered your question and disregarded your wish not to buy any tools, but once you are over a certain age, you give out advice like politicians give out promises.