What Kind Of Saw To Cut Countertop

If you cut straight through a laminate countertop without taking specific precautions the saw blade will tear away chunks of the laminate layer as it cuts.

What kind of saw to cut countertop.

For example when you re cutting a granite or corian countertop it s important to use a diamond blade. A circular saw with a diamond blade can be used on most types of granite. Cutting a countertop is relatively simple but there are certain steps you ll need to take to avoid damaging it. Measure the thickest part of the countertop and set your saw to just a bit deeper than that thickness.

Simply put certain types of blades are best for cutting certain materials. Cutting a post form laminate countertop to length requires a clean straight cut. First draw a cutting line on the sheet of solid surface material. Because laminate countertop is a relatively soft material a normal circular saw blade for cutting wood is capable of cutting through it with ease.

A wet cut circular saw offers the best option for cutting granite tile by producing less dust during cutting. To minimize the risk of chipping it is a good idea to first lay a strip of masking tape over the material then mark a cutting line onto the tape. This will allow the saw to cut cleanly through the whole countertop. The countertop will probably be the same thickness everywhere.

If your countertop is laminate or wood secure a piece of wood to the end with c clamps for a saw guide. For this reason it is best to use a commercial straight cut guide fence when cutting solid surface material with a circular saw. Hold the saw firmly otherwise you won t have a good control and might not get a straight cut. Make sure the blade of the saw will go exactly over the cut line otherwise the countertop won t go over the cut line.

Set the depth on your circular saw to 1 8 in 0 32 cm deeper than the countertop. Lay a strip of masking tape where you want to cut the countertop and draw your cut line on it with a pencil and ruler. Given that granite tile is thin and easily cracked control is an important factor. Laminate countertops have two distinct components.

You may need an angle grinder for polishing the edges of the cut tile. These materials contain large amounts of glue that quickly dull the edges of saw steel that is not carbide tipped. Cutting formica countertops to size involves sawing both the formica sheet and the particle board layer that gives the counter its strength. To cut through laminate countertops you can use a hand saw but a circular saw makes the job much quicker.

The best diy tool for the job is a circular saw with a fine tooth carbide blade made for laminate the same blades are typically sold for non ferrous metals and other types of plastics.