Cutting Laminate Benchtops

[sCORCH]

Hi All,

I am about to embark on the ludricrous kitchen reno project in a semi-half-hearted fashion.

However my question actually relates to jigsaw blades, so I thought I'd throw it in the general forum.

Bosch make a lovely little laminate special jigsaw blade - however it's specs only suggest that it can be used up to 30mm depth. Benchtops are generally around 33mm depth.

That being the case, anyone got any suggestions for what blade I can use for my cutouts? (sink, cooktop etc).

Cheerio,
sCORCH

[Honorary Bloke]

Are you talking about a laminate benchtop on which the laminate itself is a thin veneer of, well, laminate, backed by particleboard or MDF? If so, any good wood cutting blade will do the job.

Or maybe I don't understand the question.

[sCORCH]

Are you talking about a laminate benchtop on which the laminate itself is a thin veneer of, well, laminate, backed by particleboard or MDF? If so, any good wood cutting blade will do the job.

Or maybe I don't understand the question.

Gidday,

Sorry - yes I am talking about a particleboard backed laminate benchtop.

Fair answer - I would assume that I should get a fairly fine cutting blade to avoid tearout though.

Thanks for your help,
sCORCH

[Honorary Bloke]

Gidday,
Fair answer - I would assume that I should get a fairly fine cutting blade to avoid tearout though.

Thanks for your help,
sCORCH

Yes.

And also, you might want to tape the cut line with mask tape, which will help prevent tear out. And keep the shoe of the saw hard flat against the benchtop (DAMHIKT! :D ).

The lip of the new sink, cooktop, etc. should cover any minor tear out, if it occurs. :)

[Wongo]

Scorch,

I would just use a sharp new blade for the job. It is for a sink and cooktop right? You don't need a tip top finish. I've done the same on 3 bench tops (ironbark and chipboard) using a standard rip blade. Just go slowly and it will work fine.

[Wongo]

Don't listen to Bob, listen to me. :D

[DJ’s Timber]

You can get one from them that has the teeth reversed so that it cuts on the down stroke, I use this one when I did the cutouts on laminex benchtop, but beware you need to hang on to the jigsaw as it will try to push it up whilst cutting.

The part number is Bosch T101BR, they don't like tight curves thought but you can still do it just need to go slower or pre-drill the corners first with a hole saw or spade bit.

[Pusser]

I believe you can get an upcut down cut blade where the teeth change over half way for plywoods and laminated boards. I think mine was a makita and my top was thicker than normal (last house so cannot measure). But I agree with the others that providing you are careful and stick to the template the lips will cover the chips.

[sCORCH]

Don't listen to Bob, listen to me. :D


Thanks Wongo.

Should I listen to DJ, do you think? :q

sCORCH

[Wongo]

DJ is OK but Bob is not.:U

[Honorary Bloke]

Don't listen to Bob, listen to me. :D

Scott,

Don't make me fly all the way over there. :~

:U:U

And yes, there is a down cut jigsaw blade. But let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. :D

[Honorary Bloke]

Thanks Wongo.

Should I listen to DJ, do you think? :q

sCORCH

Only listen to me. They are having a lend of you. Bunch of Galahs! :D:D

[Pops]

Hi fellas,

Now I must confess to knowing stuff all about this, :) however, the only tip I got from a kitchen bloke was to cut out the sink holes from the bottom.

That is, mask the bench top on the cut line, turn it over, duplicate the cut line on the bottom side and cut out with a standard up stroke blade with the jigsaw on the underside face. This way you get reduced top face tearout and the saw is held against the face as normal.

Well that is it, my only knowledge on the subject. If you were already doing this and I have missed it and just wasted some electrons writing this, then apologies in advance, please ignore and carry on. :)

Cheers
Pops

[Gaza]

just use a chain saw with a sharp chain, the sink and cook top has a good 25mm cover all the way around. no need to pre drill the coners.

[Wild Dingo]

Dont lissen to any of the other wombats!! Pops is da man!! he knows all lissen to Pops :2tsup:

Says he with huge quantities of major stuffups with kitchen benchtops under his belt and jugsaw blades! :doh: REMEMBER TO TAPE THE DAMNED THING!!!! BOTH SIDES!!! friggin unholey mess will result if you dont... AND!! another thing start with a drilled hole about a half inch inside the line of cut DO NOT BELIEVE the bussards that say you can just lean the jugsaw down and it will make its own entry slot... flucked up my last one at a cost of 400 with that bloody bit of bs :~

But then Im always lissenin to the so called "experts" gotta stop doin that :doh:

But lissen to Pops... dont lissen to Scot the wollywongo or that seppo wannabe bloke DJ kinda knows a few things so hes okay just not them other sods they'll not hessitate to lead you fair up the garden path down to the creek an leave the flamin paddle on the shore!... drunken soaks the lot of em! :o Just my kinda good people eh! :2tsup: But then I never said lissen to me neither :no: that would or could be right dangerous! :o

Just gerrinnait boyoh its not brain science like dovetails an other such mysteries!! :;

[sCORCH]

just use a chain saw with a sharp chain, the sink and cook top has a good 25mm cover all the way around. no need to pre drill the coners.

Excellent - I now have another Christmas present request - "darling, maybe you could get me a chainsaw - you know we need one to do the kitchen benchtops right?"

Thank you all for your suggestions - I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheerio,
sCORCH

[Wongo]

You are not really going to buy a chain saw for the job are you?

[sCORCH]

You are not really going to buy a chain saw for the job are you?

I hate this new fangled technology! Sarcasm (which is my default position) is a little difficult to detect when in written form...

No - I will not be endeavouring to do the cutouts with a chainsaw - but I appreciate your concern :2tsup:

It would be a fun conversation though...

sCORCH

[russs]

I have done several and just use a keyhole saw for the curves, and a panel saw for the straight edges. Cut from the laminex side, the saw will blunt fairly rapidly, but it's a simple job.

[Honorary Bloke]

I hate this new fangled technology! Sarcasm (which is my default position) is a little difficult to detect when in written form...

The same can be said for Wongo. :wink: :D:D