Then put masking tape on the cutting line lay the formica on a flat surface and cut along the lines.
Cutting formica with circular saw.
Cut the final section with the handsaw.
Use this measurement so that the saw rests against the fence and the blade is lined up with your mark.
That means cutting the material by pulling the saw into that piece and cutting from the back end of your blade.
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.
Turn the saw on and slowly cut the line all the way across the top.
Then connect the marks with a strip of thick masking tape which will protect the laminate from tears.
On the other hand a circular saw is for cutting straight cuts.
Measure the length of your cut at the top and bottom of your counter.
Once you install the formica use a jigsaw to do any trimming or make any round cuts.
Stores charge a lot to cut counter tops.
A sawhorse is used as a platform or base for cutting countertops out of formica.
A circular power saw with 40 teeth is ideal for cutting these countertops.
The tape will tear instead of the laminate.
The circular saw will leave a portion of the backsplash that will be cut in the next step.
Most of the cutting is done with power saws while the finishing is carried out with a power jigsaw.
These materials contain large amounts of glue that quickly dull the edges of saw steel that is not carbide tipped.
Last but not least for a thinner piece of formica you can use a utility knife for cutting.
Cutting formica countertops to size involves sawing both the formica sheet and the particle board layer that gives the counter its strength.
This way if there is any minor chipping to the laminate then you can sand it out with the belt sander and the counter will still be the correct size.
A router with laminate trimming bit is the tool that you would need when you want to cut finer and smoother cuts.
This is not an easy technique and should not be tried by anyone who is a beginner to woodworking or adequately practiced.
Measure the distance from the blade on your circular saw to the edge of its shoe.
Place the circular saw close to the front of the top at the line.
The trick to this is using the circular saw in a reverse motion when making the cut on the finished side.
Add 1 16th of an inch to your measurement so that your cut is actually a little wide of the mark.
You will want to clamp a 1 2 to use as a rip fence.
We used blades in forw.
When working with unmounted formica countertops start by placing the counter laminate side up on your saw horses.
When you are installing cabinets that have plastic laminate on them the process of cutting the formica when scribing to fit can be done with a skill saw.
