How To Cut Laminate • Using Laminate In Your Woodworking Shop - 1 of 4

http://AskWoodman.com/ This is the first video in a short series about using laminate to make shop work surfaces. In this four video series, Allan explains how laminate is made, demonstrates various ways of cutting laminate, how to apply the contact cement, and finally trim the laminate around the pre-drilled out holes to make it custom laminated Festool style multifunction table top.

Video 1 Details: AskWoodMan shows how to cut laminate to rough sizes. He recommends the table saw, but also shows how to use electric sheet metal shears, hand shears, snips and the laminate trimmer can work well if necessary.
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Be sure to check out videos 2 through 4 in the Using Laminate In Your Woodworking Shop videos to learn more.
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Want to know which tools and products that AskWoodman uses? Interested in learning more woodworking techniques? Read the articles that go with AskWoodman videos at http://AskWoodman.com/.

Allan Little is AskWoodman™
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[floorguy314]

many people dont realise you can use a table saw to cut laminates. Personally I use a 25 year old cordless Makita hand saw to cut laminates and FRP panels when doing commercial or residential work in the field. As for glueing laminate OVER laminate--dont do it! Laminate is not a porous substrate and months down the road you may have bubbles everywhere because the glue will never dry out. I get paid to do the job correctly the first time--if i ever have to replace a job it comes out of my pocket.

[askwoodman]

@floorguy314 Thanks for the info about laminate over laminate. What is your preferred method for removing old laminate with minimal substrate damage? I am just a woodworker who uses some laminate in my shop fixtures but I will always defer to a professional in the field. Thanks for writing and keep in touch. Your expertise on the subject is most welcome. Allan

[hockyhed]

Thanks for the info, is a flush trim bit ok to use for rough cuts? I plan to use an 8 degree bevel bit to finish the top edge instead of filing, good idea or not?

[askwoodman]

@hockyhed A laminate flush trim bit has no bearing, just a cylindrical steel node so it does not get fouled with contact cement. I always trim with that style for both rough trimming and flush trimming of laminate. So when I do use an edge forming bit with a bearing it is not such a mess. I have never found a router cut that can produce that beautiful black edge in laminate the way a file does. It is just a few light strokes so it is not hard.

[smokeyab920]

Yep. We plan on sanding the old one and installing on top of it. The only thing that we are scared of is the edging. The laminate that we have does not come with edging so we would have to cut and create the edging. Also, we have to acquire the router for the detail and cutting work. any thoughts on how to create the edge?

[askwoodman]

@smokeyab920 Unless you are going into laminate business I would just buy a cheapo laminate trimmer from Harbor Freight for this one job. I looked online and saw they have one for $25. I am sure it is a piece of junk but you can make it work to save money. Just use a straight edge as a guide to trim your edge strips. A good flat file is the ticket for shaping and smoothing those edges after trimming. I hope you are not talking about formed edges, those are formed with factory heat presses.

[smokeyab920]

Thanks. You are groovy cool man. I will let you know how it turns out.

[askwoodman]

@smokeyab920 Thanks for the nice comment. I am glad you found info you can use. Do you know that you can apply new laminate directly over old laminate?

[smokeyab920]

I felt like you were talking to me personally. The very best video. I was going to give up and do a faux finish but feel that I can replace my laminate now.

[askwoodman]

@techgood You are most welcome. Thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment. Allan