I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch by
8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at best
and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
mike wrote:

I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at
best and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.


I think I'd use a fine-toothed jigsaw.

You'll have to support it fully - both sides of the cut - whatever you do,
preferably holding it onto the supporting boards with clamps.
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

"Roger Mills" wrote in message
...
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
mike wrote:

I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at
best and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.


I think I'd use a fine-toothed jigsaw.

You'll have to support it fully - both sides of the cut - whatever you do,
preferably holding it onto the supporting boards with clamps.
--
Cheers,
Roger
Since they mainly cut on the upstroke, it might be better to turn the
laminate upside-down before clamping.
Don

mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch by
8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at best
and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.
Gosh, I remember actual laminate and Evostik..

Fine toothed saw is the way to go, if a jigsaw cut upside down.

A tile saw might even work..

On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:56:32 +0000, mike wrote:

I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch by 8
foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of scoring
and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at best
and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.

==================================
This will do the job but you lose 1/8" (width of blade)for each cut:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...4-hand-nibbler

You will still need to finish either by sanding or by trimming bit.

Cic.
--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================

mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

This is exactly what I had to do about 25 - 30 years ago in our first house.
No pre formed worktops in them days thee knows. Formica was the in thing.

I'm pretty sure I scored & snapped the edge strips - can't think of any
other technology availaible back then.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

That being the case they could be as rough as a badgers ar*e & it wouldn't
matter, so a jigsaw would work - supporting the edge will be your biggest
problem.


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

The Medway Handyman wrote:
mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

This is exactly what I had to do about 25 - 30 years ago in our first house.
No pre formed worktops in them days thee knows. Formica was the in thing.

I'm pretty sure I scored & snapped the edge strips - can't think of any
other technology availaible back then.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

That being the case they could be as rough as a badgers ar*e & it wouldn't
matter, so a jigsaw would work - supporting the edge will be your biggest
problem.


I used to use a surform followed by a sanding block at 45 degrees, to
cut back 1/4" oversize edges.

In article ,
"Donwill" popple @diddle .dot wrote:


I think I'd use a fine-toothed jigsaw.

You'll have to support it fully - both sides of the cut - whatever you do,
preferably holding it onto the supporting boards with clamps.
--
Since they mainly cut on the upstroke, it might be better to turn the
laminate upside-down before clamping.
Don


Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't even considered the dreaded
jigsaw, but it seems obvious now.

Cic's gadget looks nice too though ;-)

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
mike wrote:

In article ,
"Donwill" popple @diddle .dot wrote:


I think I'd use a fine-toothed jigsaw.

You'll have to support it fully - both sides of the cut - whatever
you do, preferably holding it onto the supporting boards with
clamps. --
Since they mainly cut on the upstroke, it might be better to turn the
laminate upside-down before clamping.
Don


Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't even considered the dreaded
jigsaw, but it seems obvious now.

Cic's gadget looks nice too though ;-)

It would do the job but would take a long time to nibble all along an 8' cut
(and your hands would get sore!).
--
Cheers,
Roger
______
Email address maintained for newsgroup use only, and not regularly
monitored.. Messages sent to it may not be read for several weeks.
PLEASE REPLY TO NEWSGROUP!

On Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:43:43 +0000, Roger Mills wrote:

In an earlier contribution to this discussion, mike
wrote:

In article , "Donwill" popple
@diddle .dot wrote:


I think I'd use a fine-toothed jigsaw.

You'll have to support it fully - both sides of the cut - whatever you
do, preferably holding it onto the supporting boards with clamps. --
Since they mainly cut on the upstroke, it might be better to turn the
laminate upside-down before clamping. Don


Thanks for all the replies. I hadn't even considered the dreaded
jigsaw, but it seems obvious now.

Cic's gadget looks nice too though ;-)

It would do the job but would take a long time to nibble all along an 8'
cut (and your hands would get sore!).

==================================
It's designed for the job and it's almost as easy (and as fast) as using a
pair of large shears / scissors. Of course it's slower on metals but it
crunches through Formica like a starving piranha in a swimming pool.

We're rather too cossetted today by having so many power tools to do the
most basic jobs.

Cic.
--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================

mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

Can you put it through a table saw? It seems like it would chip at
best and probably vibrate and shatter at worst.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

Any advice appreciated.

Mike,

Use the edge of a sharp 1" wood chisel to score from the face to about half
way through and then snap the piece off - that's how I did it as an
apprentice a very long time ago.

Brian G

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
.uk...
mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2 inch
by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

This is exactly what I had to do about 25 - 30 years ago in our first
house. No pre formed worktops in them days thee knows. Formica was the in
thing.

I'm pretty sure I scored & snapped the edge strips - can't think of any
other technology availaible back then.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

That being the case they could be as rough as a badgers ar*e & it wouldn't
matter, so a jigsaw would work - supporting the edge will be your biggest
problem.


OI Dave,
FYI Badgers arses are not that rough.

DAMHIKIJD..... OK

RW wrote:
"The Medway Handyman" wrote in
message .uk...
mike wrote:
I need to cut up a 10' x 4' sheet of laminate into a couple of 2
inch by 8 foot strips and a couple of 3 foot squares.

What's the best way to chop down laminate?

If the pieces were smaller, I'd score and snap but the chances of
scoring and snapping an 8 foot 2 inch strip successfully seem pretty
low.

This is exactly what I had to do about 25 - 30 years ago in our first
house. No pre formed worktops in them days thee knows. Formica was
the in thing.

I'm pretty sure I scored & snapped the edge strips - can't think of
any other technology availaible back then.

I'm planning to use a laminate trimming bit to get the final finish.

That being the case they could be as rough as a badgers ar*e & it
wouldn't matter, so a jigsaw would work - supporting the edge will
be your biggest problem.


OI Dave,
FYI Badgers arses are not that rough.

I admit to no personal knowledge...

DAMHIKIJD

??????



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257