Laminate Flooring - buy a blade for the TS55 or the Kapex?

[eightball]

Okay, thanks to this forum I just saved my tools from being destroyed on laminate flooring!

Here's the scoop: installing roughly 700 sq. ft. of laminate flooring.  It's a one time deal so doesn't make sense for me to invest in tools/blades.

After searching other threads it looks like the best option is to rent a laminate trimmer (along the lines of the Bullet Tools cutter). 

But if I can't find one to rent in LA over a holiday weekend . . .

Should I buy the laminate blade for the kapex or the ts 55?

I recognize the TS55 is a cheaper blade and will be able to rip the lengths as necessary.  But the Kapex would be so much quicker for end cuts.

What am I missing?  Is the laminate flooring blade worth it?  Will it last beyond 700 sq ft. of flooring or is it a single job consumable?  Based on other posters advice I've already bought the bosch blades for my jigsaw.

Ugh - thought this was going to be a walk in the park and forgot that laminate is such a blade killer.

Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Anthony

 

[TOOLTOWN]

Just to add more information to the mix...

Don't think of these blades as one trick ponies.  You can use them for way more than just laminate flooring.  Anytime you cut hard, dense, or abrasive materials such as cheap plywood, melamine, MDF, or thick hardwoods these blades will do quite nicely.  The Triple Chip grind on the TS55 blade and the MATB grind on the Kapex blade will help prolong the life between sharpening trips.

To make a long story short, you can always buy both and continue to use them after the flooring job is done.  It sounds like you already have the tools, what's a few more dollars on accessories?

Ken

 

[Kev]

I'm into buying the right stuff for the job. The blades are not cheap, but it's relative and the amount of blade wear (value) used compared to the total cost and time of a 700 square foot job is very marginal.

Plus as mentioned, they're very useful blades all round.

 

[chrisrosenb]

For the past 5+ years, I have been using a Festool jig saw to cut laminate flooring. A lot less dust & a lot less cost for blades.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Cutting laminate flooring is best done with the Kapex, so get the blade for that saw.

The special laminate blade is very durable, I have done 3 full houses of laminate floor and the blade I got for my CS70 still cuts very well. I also used it for many other cuts like melamine board or plastics.

For the lenght cuts on laminate flooring, use a jigsaw with laminate blades. 

 

[Brice Burrell]

Generally the cut ends of flooring don't show, that's why it is most practical to use a jigsaw for laminate.  You can use the TS55 or Kapex just be prepared to have the blade sharpened after cutting that much laminate.

 

[Kevin McConville]

consider an aftermarket blade from CMT or Oshlun etc to use for your tough material cuts that like Brice says usually don't show. fraction of the cost of OEM blade - when it just wont cut anymore (way more than 700 square feet of laminate) throw it out and get another one

 

[AlexThePalex]

Generally the cut ends of flooring don't show, that's why it is most practical to use a jigsaw for laminate.

Indeed, the cuts mostly don't show, so cut quality is not all that important, but a jigsaw is very slow compared to a Kapex or CS70.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Generally the cut ends of flooring don't show, that's why it is most practical to use a jigsaw for laminate.

Indeed, the cuts mostly don't show, so cut quality is not all that important, but a jigsaw is very slow compared to a Kapex or CS70.

I agree that using can be jigsaw is slower, but not that much.  Cutting with a jigsaw goes faster than you'd think, also you have the advantage of cutting right where the cut pieces get installed.  With a miter saw you have to set up the saw someplace where it is out of the way so you spend time going back and forth to the saw.   

 

[chrisrosenb]

Generally the cut ends of flooring don't show, that's why it is most practical to use a jigsaw for laminate.

Indeed, the cuts mostly don't show, so cut quality is not all that important, but a jigsaw is very slow compared to a Kapex or CS70.

Not really. Well I guess it would depend on where the cutoff is setup.  I make all of my cuts with a jigsaw in the room, right at the location where the cut piece goes. I cut the piece lay it, then start a new row. If I were using a Kapex, it would not be setup in the room that I am working in. I would have to mark the piece, get up, walk to where the saw is located, make the cut & then walk back, get down on the floor, then lay the piece. It is a lot quicker for me to make the cuts with a jigsaw right where I am working. I use two 5 gallon buckets as work supports. 

 

[eightball]

The only thing more useful than my festools is this GROUP!!

8 replies in less than 24 hours!!  Thanks!

Okay, I'm totally unfamiliar with non-oem blades. How much of a cost difference and what blade would you recommend?

Thanks again,

Anthony

 

[Nigel]

  I would recommend a guillotine for those hidden straight cuts. Faster than any saw, no dust and no electrical power needed. Can't go wrong IMO.

 

[speed]

i use a jigsaw with a bi=metal/alluminium blade,

i once used the kapex on a floor and it took ages and getting up and down used more energy,

jigsaw on small drop cloth right next to where you are working [wink]

 

[SMJoinery]

I prefer a jigsaw to do laminate floor.
All cuts are concealed under trims / skirting etc so cut quality is not a main consideration.
Jigsaw blades are cheap and kerf is this so useful for pipe cut outs etc.

 

[CrazyLarry]

  I would recommend a guillotine for those hidden straight cuts. Faster than any saw, no dust and no electrical power needed. Can't go wrong IMO.

Although a jigsaw is quick a guillotine is even quicker and the lack of cleaning up afterwards is a big plus too.

 

[Scott in San Diego]

I used these Bosch jigsaw blades on my last laminate floor with great success.  The symmetrical pointed teeth have cutting edges on either side.  So, the blade cuts on both the up and down stroke.  You can cut flooring with the good side up and have little or no edge chip out.

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Accessories/Pages/BoschAccessoryDetail.aspx?pid=T101BIF#benefits

 

[andy5405]

I've seen a lot of threads on here re laminate flooring and tools etc. I do quite a bit of laminate and always wonder what the fuss is. I wouldn't even contemplate a chopsaw and would do smaller jobs with just a jigsaw, adding a TS to the mix for bigger jobs. There is some slightly added cutting time but that has to be balanced against setup/packing away time and space taken up on site. A TS needs a decent bench setup with similar faff for a chopsaw. Just because you own 10 different methods of cutting material doesn't warrant using all of them every time you do a job. Compromise can often be faster and more efficient and cut quality on laminate really isn't important. 

 

[pettyconstruction]

I also do a lot of lam flooring,and the jig saw is a good idea.
I use a chop,jig saw and a track saw.
When I use the jigsaw,I use it to finish a cutout,but now might try it for end cuts also.
The proper blade is always the way to go,cheep insurance for a quality job
Charlie