Cutting laminate sheets

Plastic laminate is a durable, waterproof covering often used for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Using Formica allows a homeowner to customize an area with a laminate that is durable and easy to clean. Cutting 96x( or any size) sheets of PFL with a straight edge and a trim router. They find the laminate surface to be durable, easy to clean, and mold resistant.

Once adhered to the substrate. A laminate sheet can be cut with a trim router, circular sabre saw, fine-tooth backsaw or utility knife. When cutting laminate material, it is important to use a thin blade especially made for that material.

Keep in mind that a circular saw can chip the laminate , which can result in jagged edges. Gluing and cutting plastic laminate or formica. Formica brand plastic laminate is most commonly used to cover countertops, cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Formica is a leading brand whose name has been synonymous with laminate for decades.

Run the laminate through steadily, taking care to ensure the cut is directly on the marked line. To cut laminate , measure the length you need and mark the cut lines on the finished side with a non-permanent pen or wax pencil. Since all plastic laminates are essentially the same, cutting Formica with a utility knife is identical to cutting most laminates. Then, make straight cuts with a circular saw or a handsaw. If you’re cutting laminate to width, lay out the sheet and measure the overlap.

I was using flimsy plastic saw horses to hold the sheet up and half way through the cut the weight of the sheet (because one of the saw horses collapsed) tore the sheet. A laminate countertop installation is basically a grade-school cut -and-paste project writ large. You build the substrate, cut out the laminate , and paste the two together with contact cement. The best solution is to buy an expensive laminate blade (photo, above).

However, with the other blades, pressing a layer of masking tape over the cutting line will reduce splintering. Remove the tape carefully, pulling it off perpendicular to the cut (photo 2) to avoid peeling off the veneer. Quiet, dust free operation, no electricity required.

Precision cutting for no splintering or splitting. Cabinetmaker Warehouse supplies all patterns and colors of Wilsonart laminate sheets , from traditional solid colors to the new Wilsonart HD stone and granite pattern laminates. Ordering laminate is simple with our superior customer service, quick delivery right to your door and the lowest prices on Wilsonart laminate online. You have a couple of options for cutting laminate.

There are special blades that allow you to use a utility knife to cut sheet laminate. If using a utility knife, also use a straightedge to guide the knife for a smooth and even cut. You can also cut plastic laminate with a circular saw, jig saw or table saw with a fine.

Ideally you want the blade cutting on the up stroke, so if the top were flat lay it down on the laminate side, ideally on a piece of foam, thick cardboard or plywood to allow the the blade and to support the laminate. Shop our selection of countertops and sheet laminate , available in a variety of styles, sizes and finishes. I then decided to try something different and used flat spray clear coat on my cards and it works great.

When using laminate for shelving, the first priority will be to cut the material properly. A common problem with cutting laminate is a rough, chipped edge, which is usually caused by a dull saw blade or the use of a saber saw. But quite often the sheet of laminate is too large to begin with and needs to be cut to rough size first. Doing this on the table saw is a hassle because the thin laminate wants to slide under the rip fence and bind. You can use the old countertop as a template for cutting your new laminate countertop.

This tool resembles a box cutter (with a very heavy blade). It's more cost effective and can go on more quickly than tile. But, unless your room is rectangular and exactly the size of your laminate sheet , you'll have some cutting to do. A pair of large, sharp scissors will do the trick.

The sheet thickness ranges from. I did cut it, I cut from the white side. So I marked off 25″, put a 2×underneath the laminate , and clamped my 5′ metal rule on top for a knife guide. Blades with carbide tips tend to last longer than regular steel.

In addition, you should choose a narrow blade, or one with thin kerf, as it's called in saw talk. Laminate sheeting has a few benefits over tile. Step 3: Hand trim around the thermal laminated items. NEVER cut a pouch before laminating or it will jam inside the machine. NEVER laminate Social Security cards, or one-of-a-kind items that cannot be replaced.

The first step in cutting a formica sheet is to mark out or sketch the required pattern. After cutting the sheets , adhesive should be applied at the back.