Woodworking & Power Tools Forum - Festool Owners Group > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > Building Materials > Cutting high pressure laminate for cabinet doors
Pages: [1]   Go Down
« previous next »
  Print  
Author Topic: Cutting high pressure laminate for cabinet doors  (Read 4368 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Mark Enomoto

Offline Offline

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 218
« on: May 08, 2009, 03:31 AM »
I'm planning a kitchen remodel and am going to use various colored HPL for the doors. Designed this for our last house but have to do it myself now due to budget. That said, can my TS55 with the right blade cut through the laminate and plywood core w/o any chipping? I'm trying to avoid the double work of cutting close and then to size with a trim router. I want to expose the plys on the edge of the doors (yes... it won't be the most bullet proof design but it looks sweet :-) and finish it with something like OSMO. Advice/Experience? Thanks
Logged
Festool USA does not pre-approve the contents of this website nor endorse the application or use of any Festool product in any way other than in the manner described in the Festool Instruction Manual. To reduce the risk of serious injury and/or damage to your Festool product, always read, understand and follow all warnings and instructions in your Festool product's Instruction Manual. Although Festool strives for accuracy in the website material, the website may contain inaccuracies. Festool makes no representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness or timeliness of the material on this website or about the results to be obtained from using the website. Festool and its affiliates cannot be responsible for improper postings or your reliance on the website's material. Your use of any material contained on this website is entirely at your own risk. The content contained on this site is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

jonny round boy

Offline Offline

Location: West Yorkshire, UK
Member Since: Jul 2007
Posts: 2135
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2009, 06:17 AM »
If it's good quality laminate, well stuck to the ply, and you're using a sharp blade & good edge strip on the guide rail, then no problems.

If you want to be doubly sure, clamp the rail to the panel, and set the blade depth to cut <1mm (just through the laminate) and pull the saw backwards at this depth, before re-setting the depth stop and cutting forwards through the ply. I've done this before to cut down high-gloss laminate doors. It works like a scoring blade on a table saw.

Do you have access to a press for bonding the laminate to the ply?

Don't forget, you'll need to laminate the reverse side too with a balancer.
Logged
Festoolian since February 2006

TS55R EBQ saw - CTL26 - CTL Mini - OF1400EBQ router - KS120 Kapex SCMS - ETS150/3 sander - RO90 sander - DF500 Domino - T12 drill - PS420 jigsaw - OFK500 trimmer

Wish list (in no particular order!): Anything not listed above....
woodshopdemos
Inactive Member
*
Offline Offline

Location: Hope, RI
Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 759


WWW
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2009, 08:00 AM »
I think JRB gave you as about the best answer there is. I would NOT take the chance. Any chipping will screw up the panel. I would cut panels to exact final dimensions. Cut the laminate to 1/2" greater on all four sides. Apply laminate using laminate adhesive. Trim with router. Hang.
Logged
In memory of John Lucas (1937 - 2010)
Mark Enomoto

Offline Offline

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 218
« Reply #3 on: May 10, 2009, 12:17 AM »
Thanks for the advice. Given my skill level, John's method would be safer and I've done it that way before with smaller jobs. I've just used a J-roller most of the time but not sure its the best way to do a counter top. Should this just be jobbed out and I can site cut it to fit?
Logged
woodshopdemos
Inactive Member
*
Offline Offline

Location: Hope, RI
Member Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 759


WWW
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2009, 10:25 AM »
J-roller is the tool of choice. Laminating with that tool and good cement is easy and a good skill to learn. Be sure to use a laminate cement  and a good short nap roller. Too thick a coating is as bad as too thin.
Logged
In memory of John Lucas (1937 - 2010)
Tom Bainbridge

Offline Offline

Member Since: Nov 2007
Posts: 1009


Limey Carpenter
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2009, 04:47 PM »
what is high presure laminate

the prefix "high preasure" suggests there are various grades of laminate

i know laminate only under the general term of formica, altough there are a number of manufacturers
Logged
Bromley, Kent. UK

aka dirtydeeds
mastercabman

Offline Offline

Location: norfolk va
Member Since: Apr 2007
Posts: 1385


NORFOLK,VA
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2009, 07:31 PM »
Quote from: Tom Bainbridge on May 12, 2009, 04:47 PM
what is high presure laminate

the prefix "high preasure" suggests there are various grades of laminate

i know laminate only under the general term of formica, altough there are a number of manufacturers
Hight pressure laminate (AKA  "HPL") is plastic laminate such as Formica that you would use for counter top.
Logged
I don't understand!?! I keep cutting it,and it's still too short!
Pages: [1]   Go Up
  Print  
« previous next »
 
Jump to: