Cutting Laminate

[grumanpi]

I purchased a sheet of laminate recently to use on my own jigs (doing a drill press one at the moment) and I got home and unrolled it and realised what a big piece id bought 3mx1.5m approx the question is what's the best way to cut it oversize slightly (finish with a flush cutting router bit after) for my projects.
My first thought was the table saw but will there be too much breakout
2nd bandsaw - sheets too big to hold and cut without help
3rd hand saw - take too long and not accurate enough

see where i'm coming from anybody used this in sheet form got a good way of doing this cud let me know would be great.

A long time ago when i briefly worked for a large cabinet firm they used to cut this stuff on huge long saws that had wide/long beds and a long press that came down to hold it in place if i remember right they had 2 blades in them i think one was for scoring anyhow back to my little shop can someone help?

 

[Paul Chapman]

How most people used to cut Formica and other laminates back in the 1970s when it was all the rage (and still the way I do it) is to use the special blade Stanley make to fit their Stanley knife. Score the laminate (face up) using the blade against a straight edge. Take light cuts to start with so that the knife doesn't slip. Once the cut is established, you can remove the straight edge and the blade will stay in the cut. Either cut right through or about two-thirds then snap it upwards (bringing the two faces together).

I always found the best way to trim it to final size was to use a low angle block plane with the blade sharpened at a very steep angle.

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS Just had a look - the Stanley knife blade is No. 5194 and they come in packs of two.

 

[ProShop]

Just buy a hand laminate cutter & use a straight edge, they're not expensive.

 

[davin]

Jigsaw with a down cut blade, slow speed. Lay it on a sheet of mdf ?

 

[grumanpi]

thanks for the tips guys im looking for the blades on the net not too many people selling them toolstation is the only 1 so far.
proshop the hand laminate cutter do you mean the stanley knife with the 5194 blade? these cut perspex also

its amazing what things you find out when you looking for stuf found a great site with tips on laminating on to mdf like mixing a 50/50 mixture adhesive and solvent to prime it first heres the link its a good read

http://www.brentplastics.co.uk/technicalinfo.html

 

[toolsntat]

Eclipse Goscut.....
When you get the cutter set up right you can whizz through the stuff.
Not in production any more as far as i know but do come up for sale second hand now and again...
Bernz-o-matic made the same thing but with a spring loaded handle..

 

[ProShop]

proshop the hand laminate cutter do you mean the stanley knife with the 5194 blade? these cut perspex also

http://www.brentplastics.co.uk/technicalinfo.html

It's not the stanley knife version, its basically a handle very similar to a small junior hacksaw handle with a tungsten tip on the end. they work very well and last quite a while.

If your stuck I'll take a photo of one later.

Edit, Here's one I found






.

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've always found the Stanley knife blades #5194 readily available from B&Q and the other sheds and from hardware shops.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[grumanpi]

spent all day today looking for these dawn stanley blades 5194 no luck nobody in my area stocks them.
I dont know about anyone else but my local b & q is has got to be the worst store in the country ive been in there several times this year and stuf is always either out of stock or they dont sell it.
Nowonder mail order has taken off on the net

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Grumanpi,

It might be worth telephoning Stanley Tools to ask whether they still make these blades. I had a look on their website and they are not listed there :shock: :shock: http://www.stanleyworks.co.uk/Knives+an ... lades.ctlg

I bought some only a few weeks ago so they were certainly available recently. If Stanley don't do them any more, there are other manufacturers who make similar blades, so a hardware shop might be your best bet.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Paul Chapman]

Update. I've just telephoned Stanley Tools and they've stopped making blade #5194 :shock: :shock:

I really can't believe it - Stanley have made so many excellent tools over the years but seem to have decided to stop making all the good stuff and concentrate on rubbish (usually with handles that feel like chewing gum).

What sort of business model is that :? :? :? The mind boggles........

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[woodbloke]

How most people used to cut Formica and other laminates back in the 1970s when it was all the rage (and still the way I do it) is to use the special blade Stanley make to fit their Stanley knife. Score the laminate (face up) using the blade against a straight edge. Take light cuts to start with so that the knife doesn't slip. Once the cut is established, you can remove the straight edge and the blade will stay in the cut. Either cut right through or about two-thirds then snap it upwards (bringing the two faces together).

I always found the best way to trim it to final size was to use a low angle block plane with the blade sharpened at a very steep angle.

Hope this helps.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS Just had a look - the Stanley knife blade is No. 5194 and they come in packs of two.

Paul's got it...this is the way I cut laminate. Any sort of hardened steel point will do as long as you can make a decent score mark each side of the material and then snap it...clean up as Paul says with a block plane honed to a steep angle - Rob

 

[seaco]

Rotozip and straight edge does a stirling job if you have one...

 

[toolsntat]

Just found a pic of the goscut...
The black pistol shaped gubbins in the middle....

 

[Paul Chapman]

Found a few Stanley #5194 blades in my local hardware shop today so bought them for when I need them. So there are a few about - I guess Stanley have only just stopped making them.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[doorboy]

We cut plastic laminate everyday, all day, and for all of the oversized cuts we use a table saw. If you cut with the decorative side UP, then the blade is cutting down on the decorative side--minimizing chip out. Use a plywood blade or an aluminum cutting blade and you will be just fine. Be careful, though, that the material does not slip underneath your saw fence.

 

[Benchwayze]

That cutter made cutting laminate a 'snap'...
I wonder what happened to mine?
John

 

[ivan]

Toolstation branches and .co.uk stock "Stanley" laminate cutting blades. Presumably Stanley themselves have given up in the face of Asian competion.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Thanks for that, Ivan. They stock it under the code number 80564. The price is certainly good - they do 10 for about the same price that Stanley used to charge for 2 :shock:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[grumanpi]

Thanks for the help guys i still cant find those blades been all over and the net, nice pic toolsntat looks like a car boot i missed its amazing what turns up at them places anyway getting off the subject looks like scoring it with something sharp and then i guess snapping it sounds a bit hit and miss is this the same method as for cutting plaster board i've done that a few times its just that this stuff is very brittle i fear it will shatter. Its still rolled up in the workshop and ill need to cut it shortly cos my new drill press table is nearly done. i'm trying to think what tools i have that will help me i i know toolstation have opened a branch over dudley way so i may pop in to see if they have any failing that its the snap method? :?