Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Cutting post formed countertops
Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA
We need to replace the countertop in our back entry/mudroom, a fairly simple 6 foot counter. This rooms needs remodeling, but it's not getting it right now; so we're probably going with a post formed laminate top. I've never cut one of these, and am particularly puzzled by how to cut the backsplash without making a mess of the job. Any tips will be appreciated.
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
Jack Guzman from Maine
Sharp circular saw,cut from the underside. Start in the corner at the bottom of the backsplash and support the cutoff piece. If you can't cut all the way through finish your cut carefully with a handsaw.
I'm assuming you are asking about formica covered preformed counters.
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
Don Orr
I have only done it once so my experience it very limited but successful. I blue taped the cut line on the show surface and cut from the back particle board side. That way the teeth cut into the show surface 1st and the tape reduced or eliminated any chipping. Peel the tape off carefully. Extra care is needed while cutting around the corner from the counter to the backsplash. Messy process but it worked for me. If you can add some kind of guide it may help as well, like clamping boards or blocks in place so the saw doesn't wander. Good luck !
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
George Koch
Check the back wall corners with a framing square as they are almost always out of square due to the sheetrock taping and measure your countertop both back and front to allow for these irregularities. And, as said, cut from the back side.
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
pecker
I made a T-Square type of guide that I clamped to the underside and backside of the backsplash are. This allowed me to make the 24" crosscut and continue right up the backsplash area in one smooth pass.
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
Barry Irby
I have done hundreds of them.
Cut so the teeth cut into the plastic laminate. Cross cut with a circular saw and sharp blade. I usually tip the saw up and over the corner to cut the back splash, but if you decide to use some other tool be sure the teeth cut into the plastic. A jig saw or a pull saw, but not a traditional hand saw.
If one end goes against the wall, cut that end. Then you can hide a sloppy cut with a end splash.
Also, if you need to scribe it to fit the end wall, a belt sander is your friend. Same thing along the back wall. Caulk (Cabinet maker in a tube) is also your friend. Be sure to sand into the plastic. Rasps will work too, but those electrons really help.
Don't pick out a warped one like I did
Re: Cutting post formed countertops
William Duffield
Does it need to fit against the back wall and both side walls? If so, you need to first figure out how to fit it precisely.
If not, then the techniques shown in linked video are probably beyond your immediate needs: