Cutting Plastic Laminate Sheets

Laminate sheets come in every color and pattern imaginable.

Cutting plastic laminate sheets.

Then grip the wasted area of formica and lift it up slightly. Cutting an assembled laminate countertop is a little trickier and this is best done with power tools and great care. Cutting 96x34 or any size sheets of pfl with a straight edge and a trim router. Draw all pieces at least inch larger in all directions than is actually needed.

Place identical pieces next to each other and allow pieces that are close in size to share edges as well cutting them a little larger if needed to make the fewest cuts possible. Step 4 cut the sheet. Cutting plastic laminate sheets plastic laminate can chip or peel over time particularly along the edges of a countertop. You can use several tools to cut laminates including a.

Repeat for any additional cuts. Turn the laminate one quarter turn and align the square along the next cut line. Cutting away this piece of laminate countertop and replacing it with a new. You can really get the look you want solids metallics multicolored even soft pinks and bright reds.

Be very careful not to get your fingers in the way of the blade. You can do it with a circular saw a jigsaw a router or even some hand tools. To cut formica with a circular saw start by measuring the area you want to laminate with a tape measure and mark the cutting line on the formica with a pencil. Sketch out your laminate sheet on paper and draw in the pieces you intend to cut from a single sheet.

Sheets are typically 1 16 inch thick and are usually installed on a substrate of plywood or medium density fiberboard with contact cement. Then put masking tape on the cutting line lay the formica on a flat surface and cut along the lines. Plastic laminate is surprisingly easy to cut. Cutting a sheet laminate by itself is best done with tin snips or aviation snips provided you re cutting it oversize and will trim it later.

Use your straightedge and utility knife to cut along the line as accurately as possible. Laminate sheet finish options go glossy for a shiny finish. Draw the knife across the surface applying firm pressure two or three times. The formica should break off and leave a good cut.

Choose surface designs like stone look patterns abstract and wood laminate sheets. Shift the score line to the table edge and break the laminate again.