Cutting Formica With Skill Saw

Used with a 40 toothed carbide blade the circular saw works efficiently at cutting formica.

Cutting formica with skill saw.

As i mentioned above a router is used to trim formica for finer corners. Cutting formica countertops to size involves sawing both the formica sheet and the particle board layer that gives the counter its strength. These materials contain large amounts of glue that quickly dull the edges of saw steel that is not carbide tipped. Most of the cutting is done with power saws while the finishing is carried out with a power jigsaw.

Then put masking tape on the cutting line lay the formica on a flat surface and cut along the lines. The trick to this is using the circular saw in a reverse motion when making the cut on the finished side. The jigsaw is by far one of the most convenient and cost effective tools for cutting formica. The best circular saw blade for cutting through laminate for a kitchen counter is one with many fine teeth at least 40.

Before you get started cutting formica countertops familiarize yourself with the necessary safety protocols. Following safety measures can protect your health. A circular power saw with 40 teeth is ideal for cutting these countertops. May 30th 2009 leave a comment go to comments.

When you are installing cabinets that have plastic laminate on them the process of cutting the formica when scribing to fit can be done with a skill saw. Once you install the formica use a jigsaw to do any trimming or make any round cuts. Any time you use a power saw you run the risk of inhaling fine particles getting debris in your eyes or coming into contact with the blade. Blades with carbide tips tend to last longer than regular steel.

After you finish cutting a big chunk of formica remove any remaining masking tape. Hence you should consider cutting big pieces of formica with a circular saw first before using the router. In addition you should choose a narrow blade or one with thin kerf as it s called in saw talk. The procedure of cutting formica countertops is as explained below.

There is a myriad of other options you can employ to cut and customize formica as well. A sawhorse is used as a platform or base for cutting countertops out of formica. A circular saw is good for making longer.