Cuttig formica countertop, anyone done it?

[kovacs32]

SO i have my counter tops ripped out, i was planning on cutting my counter tops, and cutting the hole for my sink, and then mounting the counter tops myself, however i had someone tell me it can be a nightmare for a first timer, and that its very easy to fuck up while cutting through the material, and also was told that cutting the hole for the sink is very tricky to do. So i called a buddy of mines dad who has his own home repair business, he told me he would hook me up and come do the job for a $100.

I said cool, i will call you back when i get the counter top picked up. That was three days ago, i have called once a day since then and left a message to please get back to me ASAP, and i have yet to hear a thing back. So now im sitting here with no counter tops, and no kitchen sink for going on 4 days, while i stare at a brand new 10 foot section in my family room. I am contemplating maybe doing the job myself, avoiding waiting days and saving myself $100, any opinions/advice for me motown?

thanks!
ryan

 

[Boomer!]

I have only done a few in 15 years+ plumbing. I always lay out the sink dimensions on duct tape where I want to cut (plus a little inside and outside the cutting area). Some sinks come with a cut out, others have general dimensions. I use a 3/4" drill to drill all four corners keeping them close to the perimeter (1/8" at the most). After drilling all four corners i use the finest jig/saber saw blade (Mr. obvious says on a jig saber saw)to cut the short cuts first and proceed to the longer cuts. My experience have been to cut from the side face up holding the saw tight to the duct tape resulting in little or no chipping to the surface...

 

[Boomer!]

BTW, if it works well you can mail me $1.00 for my time....

 

[mustangjoe87]

Tape your cuts and use a circular saw with a fine tooth blade

 

[kovacs32]

thanks for the info guys, im trying to decide whether i want to tackle this task and possibly ruin a $100 counter top, and end up costing myself more money, or; wait until sunday, when a different guy i know will deifntly do it for $100.... ahhh decisions decisions

 

[mustangjoe87]

Either way your out 100 bucks, mind as well try to get it done asap.

 

[kovacs32]

Either way your out 100 bucks, mind as well try to get it done asap.

only problem is, i dont have a jigsaw all i got is a makita circular. I figure by the time i spend money on buying a saw and proper blades i might as well let someone else do it... man this pisses me off! i never knew how much i could miss my kitchen sink untl it as gone

 

[kovacs32]

BTW, any of you guys have experience with the laminate back splashing sheets on the walls abve the counter? i need to replace that as well, how hard is that shit to get off?

 

[glh_turbo22]

A Jig saw is preferred when doing this. There are special blades you can can get that cut on the down stroke. This keeps the formica from chipping as the blade comes up. You can use a circular saw but is has to have a laminate blade (similar to a plywood blade) and it needs to be brand spanking new. The hardest part is the corners wen you use that type of saw because you can intersect the corners. For that it's best to use a large flat bit in the corner. You can get away with not having a perfect corner because there is usually no mounting point there. Be sure to seal the sink down with Polyseamseal instead of plumbers putty. Plumbers putty will always dry up and allow water to seep behind the sink and slowly start swelling the new counter top.

If you have the saw and can get the blade, i'll be happy to drop it in for you this Sunday for $100.

As far as the laminate back splashes, it's just formica that is fixed to the wall with construction adheasive. You would need to remove it, scrape off the old glue and either paint the walls or put more laminate up. Personally I like the painted look, too much of the same pattern is too much for me.

 

[kovacs32]

A Jig saw is preferred when doing this. There are special blades you can can get that cut on the down stroke. This keeps the formica from chipping as the blade comes up. You can use a circular saw but is has to have a laminate blade (similar to a plywood blade) and it needs to be brand spanking new. The hardest part is the corners wen you use that type of saw because you can intersect the corners. For that it's best to use a large flat bit in the corner. You can get away with not having a perfect corner because there is usually no mounting point there. Be sure to seal the sink down with Polyseamseal instead of plumbers putty. Plumbers putty will always dry up and allow water to seep behind the sink and slowly start swelling the new counter top.

If you have the saw and can get the blade, i'll be happy to drop it in for you this Sunday for $100.

As far as the laminate back splashes, it's just formica that is fixed to the wall with construction adheasive. You would need to remove it, scrape off the old glue and either paint the walls or put more laminate up. Personally I like the painted look, too much of the same pattern is too much for me.

thanks for the offer, i truly appreciate it alot, although i just found out today as to why i havent heard back from this guy about doing the job, My verizon phone has decided to stop taking incoming calls, voicemails, and texts all together, after an hour on the phone with verizon i got it fixed and get 3 messages from the guy asking when he can come do it issed:

 

[wayfastwhitey191]

only problem is, i dont have a jigsaw all i got is a makita circular. I figure by the time i spend money on buying a saw and proper blades i might as well let someone else do it... man this pisses me off! i never knew how much i could miss my kitchen sink untl it as gone

we just got new countertops and a new sink a few weeks ago... it sucked not having a working sink for those few days!!

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

thanks for the offer, i truly appreciate it alot, although i just found out today as to why i havent heard back from this guy about doing the job, My verizon phone has decided to stop taking incoming calls, voicemails, and texts all together, after an hour on the phone with verizon i got it fixed and get 3 messages from the guy asking when he can come do it issed:

where is Milan do you live?? I can swing out ON sunday and help. I did mine and it was damn easy. I have a drill and saw.
Do you have a new sink? IT might take US 15 minutes TOPS...to square the hole and cut it out...

 

[Sean]

Use a router and drill. Start you plunge with a good sharp drill bit away from the edge and then use a router with a cutter and tape it off. Requires a steady hand but its not to bad if you are decent with a circular saw. I would not use a jig saw. It makes the formica splinter.

 

[LITTLEMAGS]

BTW, any of you guys have experience with the laminate back splashing sheets on the walls abve the counter? i need to replace that as well, how hard is that shit to get off?

go ceramic...easier and will last a lot longer...

 

[Uthinkso]

Your sink should have a template in the box. Make sure it is centered and laid out correctly and trace the pattern with a sharpie. Then take and drill a 1/2" hole on the inside of the traced pattern near the line. Get your sabersaw (jigsaw, whatever you choose to call it) and start cutting.

 

[char]

lay the pattern out on some painters tape, duct tape leaves a residue and cut through the tape, this should help minimize chipping you may want to use a few layers. i would personally use a roto zip or dremle with a drill saw, to cut down on the vibration and obvious cutting stresses. i dont know if you have a scrap anywhere but you way want to test a few methods out before you do your initial cut.

with a rotary tool your not removing material up and down which could cause issues with the finish, not to mention you want to minimize the force your pushing down on the material with the tool, as it is pretty fragile the rotary tool would require much less force to cut then a jigsaw.

 

[kovacs32]

where is Milan do you live?? I can swing out ON sunday and help. I did mine and it was damn easy. I have a drill and saw.
Do you have a new sink? IT might take US 15 minutes TOPS...to square the hole and cut it out...

I live about 3 minutes off the plank road exit on the west, opposite of the dragway. I might take you up on the help, i have yet to hear back again from this home repair guy, and im tired of not having a kitchen sink and counter. If possible what time is good for you on sunday? i hate to make you spend part of your sunday doing work, but i'll definatly make it worth your while.

go ceramic...easier and will last a lot longer...

someone had told me to go with cramic tile as well, but i have never worked with that stuff, and from what i researched that would require me to remove myh old formica, drywall and install some plywood in place for a good backing surface to the ceramic.

 

[Foolsgold80z]

Use a router and drill. Start you plunge with a good sharp drill bit away from the edge and then use a router with a cutter and tape it off. Requires a steady hand but its not to bad if you are decent with a circular saw. I would not use a jig saw. It makes the formica splinter.

This is the right way. You also cut it for like a like 1/8" overhang over the edge of the board you're going to put it on. Roll on an even thin coat of contact adhesive, install the formica on the board, roll the top of the formica to press it on the board and ca then go away for a night. You trim the edge back with a router and fence set up to get a nice, neat edge joint.
Or you buy ready made Melamine sheet and just have to deal with the face edges.