Formica/Laminate cutting

[Per Swenson]

Formica/Laminate cutting

I realize I speak to the converted here, but bear with me.

Once a week, somewhere on any given woodworking Forum,

someone asks the question, Whats the best way to cut large sheets

of Formica. and "How do I handle this stuff"

What happens next of course is two pages of comments on

table saw technique, ways to deal with the pesky fence issue, as the

kids say, whatever.

Why these seemingly bright people would even attempt to unroll a

4x8 or 5 x 12 sheet of laminate in their shops is beyond me.

So here is how we do it.

Just like breaking down any sheet goods.

Two horses and a sheet of Styrofoam.

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No you don't have to use foam, you could use any scrap 4x8,

Set it up in your driveway. Listening you folks from google search?

From the car in your driveway to the horses in your driveway, 2 dang feet.

Unroll the sheet, throw a guide rail on top and break it down with the

ts 55.
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Factory perfect cuts. About 10 minutes of setup and getting the saw

from the shop.
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But Per, you may wonder, "why preach to the choir"

Well, I am doing my part for the Google searchers.

Per

 

[HowardH]

don't confuse them with facts, Per, their minds are made up!

 

[Mirko]

But Per, It takes some skill to rip a 5x12 by yourself on a table saw!!
Glad I don't have to do that again!

Mirko

 

[w00dbutcheruk]

i do it day in day out!!

 

[Per Swenson]

Mirko,

It takes more then skill....

Reminds me of a story,

Every Christmas Mrs. McGillicutty was in charge of the Ham for dinner.

Every Christmas Mrs. McGillicutty whipped a meat cleaver out and whacked off

4 inch's of ham and set it aside.

On the 7th Christmas of observing this ritual, Mr McGillicutty asked her why she did that.

Mrs McGillicutty replied, "Thats what my Mom did"

Mr McGillicutty, not satisfied with the answer instructed the Mrs to Call Mom and ask.

Being in the Christmas spirit and just a little tipsy, she called the old battle axe.

The conversation went like this...

Hi Mom yes love you too, Yes Mom, I have a question, actually Hubby has a question,

Why do we always hack off 4 inch's of the Christmas Ham?

The old Lady responded, "say what?"

"You know Mom, you always cut 4 inch's off the ham."

Which gets us to the truth of the matter, because Mom replied.

"You stoopid Bint we never could afford a larger pan"

Per

 

[w00dbutcheruk]

a very wise man once told me...

sinch by the inch, hard by the yard, but having the right tool makes life easy and efficient

thanks dad!

 

[dlu]

Per, thanks for your offering to the Google. OK, now to the real question…

In a small shop how do you store the sheet of insulating foam between uses? Or, are there other effective ways to support the laminate for cutting that don't require so much storage space?

For cutting sheet goods, I use Veritas Platform Saddles on my MFT clone to support the sheet goods and limit the number of cuts I put in the top, but I've been assuming for laminate that I need continuous support. Is that true?

 

[waho6o9]

« on: May 25, 2008, 09:37 AM »

HTH

 

[Sanderxpander]

Flat against a wall it doesn't take up that much space?

 

[RussellS]

I cut my plastic laminate I use for countertops with a router bit.  No chance of any potential chipping from a saw blade.

 

[Steve1]

I suppose I am not as well equipped as Per Swenson.    But for cutting a 4x8 laminate sheet, I lay it flat on the floor and mark the line where i want to cut.  I take a couple of scrap 1x2's and put them on either side of the cut line, just to raise the sheet.  Then freehand cut the line with my circular saw. 
When the pieces are smaller, I indeed use my table saw.  clamping a board tight to table top, along the fence.