How to trim laminate countertop with a router

New laminate countertops are a fairly inexpensive way to freshen up a tired kitchen but it is important to get the installation right. The edges of newly installed laminate countertop must be trimmed and can easily and quickly be done with a router. A laminate trimmer, which is essentially a small router also called a palm router, is what is used by professionals to. I am assuming you have laminate on plywood or MDF that you want to salvage discarding only the laminate. If the old laminate is loose due to bad contact cement application.

Otherwise a lot of scraping is in your. If you insist on learning I recommend some practice first especially if you are including a back splash and a bull nose. Cut through the laminate with a flush trim router bit.

Custom-ordered laminate countertop will come with a buildup strip and laminate endcap. The pieces also are sold separately. The correct way to run a router is counter clockwise on the outside cuts and clockwise on inside cuts.

Important instructions: Always use a lubricant on the laminate edge where the trim bit will. Brief overview of how I work with laminate to finish my woodworking projects. How To Install Sheet Laminate On A Countertop - Duration: 8. Hold the router level and firmly against the workpiece as you make the cut. Move it counterclockwise when cutting outside edges.

To trim inside edges, like those for a sink cut-out, feed the router clockwise. Step back and admire your work! Run your fingers over the laminate ’s smooth new edges.

Cut the laminate sheeting down to size to fit the countertop with a circular saw or a fine-toothed handsaw. Position the router on top of the countertop with the beveled bit hanging off the side and touching the face of the end cap. Put on safety glasses and a dust mask. Turn the router on and gently push it along the laminate countertop surface.

Formica is a versatile, plastic laminate that comes in a wide range of colors, textures, and finishes. Using Formica allows a homeowner to customize an area with a laminate that is durable and easy to clean. Tom Silva takes you through how to laminate a countertop correctly. Using a trim router fitted with a laminate -cutting bit, cut the sheet. Use a router with a flush-cut bit to trim the excess laminate from your countertop.

Set the bit so that the blade will cut the entire thickness of the laminate and the bearing will ride on the laminated face of the countertop edge. Allow the ball bearing wheel guide to move along the face of the end cap. Have a firm grip on the router when you turn it on because the torque will cause the router to lurch and spin off the countertop. From contributor T: To do laminate work quickly requires a little finesse with the router and file.

The first thing I would change is use a solid bevel bit instead of a flush trim with bearing. Flush trim bits are part of a family of router bits known as piloted bits. Re: How do you trim veneer without a router ? I trim mine by using a business card against the speaker, with a razor blade pressed flush against the business card.

It is possible to use a laminate trim bit on the four largest classes and I think there is a special trim bit for the smallest class. Buy according to your needs. A router is nothing but a motor with a knife attached to the armature. I have a Roto Zip but would probably be better off with a Compact Trim Router.

If you have access to a laminate trimmer, you can simply and easily trim your laminate to the desired size. Simply roll the laminate trimmer over the edge of the countertop and the trimmer will create the perfect, smoothed cut for you. Without a Laminate Trimmer. Plastic laminate is a durable, waterproof covering often used for kitchen and bathroom countertops. If you do not have a laminate trimmer, do not worry.

I have the router attachment and a few router bits as. When buying laminate countertops, consider that you will lose some depth because you might have to trim it to fit the wall. Here’s how to do it: When scribing the countertop , position the back edge touching the wall. Measure the gap between the wall and the countertop.

Get the width and cut a small block of wood the same size. Be careful, if using a tapered trimmer, not to set the bit so deeply that it scuffs the laminate below the thickness of the surface material. When you trim the main kitchen countertop and the top of the backsplash, the guide of your router bit will be running along finished laminate , so keep the router moving.

If you stop for any length of time, the bit will grind into the surface of the laminate. Rub a little petroleum jelly along the edge where the bit rides to prevent marring. Set the bearing so it rolls along the substrate edges, and feed the router counterclockwise around the blank to remove the excess material (see Photo 3). By the time you reach the end of the counter , the entire new laminate surface should be securely bonded.

You can then go back with a router , fitted with a flush trim bit, and trim away the excess laminate overhang flush with the edge of the counter. DIY-ing a Laminate Countertop. Submitted by Ana White on Tue,.

We cut the top laminate piece a little big, and then used the router to trim down excess. Can I use a Dremel To Cut Laminate (for kitchen countertops )?