As a professional worktop installer I always cut the sink hole away from the
units

I use a circular saw to cut the straight runs & jig saw for curves &
corners. Use a good jig saw, with a fine tooth SHARP/NEW blade, I use a pro
bosch jig saw with a127D blade, get about 4 sink or hob holes per blade.
It is a bit of a knack plunging a circular saw into a worktop, easier if you
are left handed, you need a blade with lots of tungsten tipped teeth, mine
cost around £60 each. If you try it hang on tight it will want to move
backwards, & make sure the guard works EVERY time

To safely handle the worktop with the cut out/s made turn it on its edge,
stiffer that way up, don't do anything sudden, its the shock that makes it
whip & snap.

fit the sink [not pottery or china] while the top is off the units, you can
get to the screws easier that way

always put wide masking tape on the top to draw your lines & stop the sole
plate marking the laminate, particularly on that gloss stuff.

I use decorators caulk, an acrylic type mastic to seal all raw edges, spread
it with a filling knife, make sure all the small holes in the cut edge are
filled.

Ask a pro tiler the best way to seal the top for tiles.

As for MDF dust you wont get any, worktops are chipboard, over 70% of my
work is indoors, it is either raining or the tops are too difficult/large to
get outside.

--
regards
Dave Batter
Kitchenman
www.kitchenman.co.uk
www.sxmitres.info
www.marks-family.co.uk
http://oneandone.co.uk/xml/init?k_id=5568652
"dmc" wrote in message ...
In article ,
Grunff wrote:

Yes, there is a reason - you'll most likely be cutting it with a
jigsaw, so you need to cut from below in order to avoid tearing
the lamintate off.

I did ours this way. Used a normal blade (can't get on with the downcut
ones) in a decent pendulum jigsaw and took my time. Only very minor
chipping and easily covered by the sink.

I suspect that going slowly helped and the key was to use a decent blade
in a decent jigsaw. Not sure how my cheap saw would have coped. I guess it
depends on the sink somewhat as well :-)

I use PVA, others use silicone. Both will work fine.

Yep. I used silicone - been fine for 5 yrs so far.

Darren



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