How to saw laminate with a jigsaw without chipping

What to cut the laminate: what can be used to cut the laminate at home.

One of the popular types of residential flooring is laminate. This material consists of several layers, each of which performs a specific functional purpose. When installing such a coating must make fit and trim panels to qualitatively and technologically perform the installation.

Mounting the laminate board involves fixing it to the floor with glue or special self-tapping screws. But many novice craftsmen do not know what to cut the laminate in order to get a high-quality and even joint.

To cut vinyl or cork laminate at home, you can use several tools:

• The cutter. This design resembles a guillotine. To cut a board, you need to put it under the knife along the edge of the sawing line. After that, with a certain force the cutter is pressed in, which produces a rubber. With some skill this tool can even be used to cut a laminate floor lengthwise.
• Jigsaw. Cutting with this machine is one of the fastest and most affordable. But for laminate flooring it is important to use only special saws. To cut the desired piece, you should measure the required dimensions and draw a straight line for the trimmer. After that the board is moved a little away from the table so that the saw moves in the air and the cutting begins.

• Hacksaw. Cutting laminate with it can be performed both on the floor, and at a certain elevation. To do this, you also need to mark the line for the trimmer and carefully start sawing. It’s important to consider the saw’s pitch here, as it can take up a lot of laminate. This in turn can lead to misalignment.
• The knife. The upper layer of the laminate is a thin film that can easily be damaged with an ordinary office knife. The technique of working with this tool is quite simple. Along the marked line the edge of the knife must be drawn in such a way as to cut through the top layer. If you need to get an even line for the trimmer, then additionally the board should be fixed qualitatively.

Once you have cut through the top layer you need to break off the excess piece. To do this, place the laminate on the edge of the table along the rubber and press sharply on one side. It reminds you of breaking ceramic tiles or glass after using the glass cutter.

• Circular saw. Cutting with this tool is much faster. To cut a piece of laminate, you should also make a marking. The board is then secured to the bed along the plane of the saw’s movement. Place the product to the top with a laminated layer. In doing so, the saw blades will go into the material, which will reduce the formation of chips and cracks. When everything is set up, you need to slowly guide the board along the line of cut with the circular saw on.
• angle grinder. This tool resembles a circular saw in principle. Similar types of cutting discs are also used here. But cutting can already be done almost anywhere. But to get an even cut, you need to have a hand that controls the angle grinder during processing.

RULER

It is impossible to lay laminate flooring without measurements, and you must be sure that they are correct. Mistakes made at this stage can slow down the entire work and threaten with unnecessary transfer of material.

A tape measure will be needed literally every step of the way. To measure the area of the room, the length of the segments of lamellas, at the completion of each row of laminate and other measurements.

A tape measure must be at least 5 meters long. Pay attention to the tip. it should easily cling to the edges of the blades and not come off. It is better to have a tape measure that is ergonomically shaped, lies comfortably in the hand, and has a rubberized casing.

Features of cutting laminate

In order to understand how to cut lamellas correctly, it is necessary to pay attention to the multi-layered structure of the material. At least three layers are cut at the same time:

• The front surface is covered with a strong and hard melamine or polyurethane film, which peels and crumbles if you try to cut the material with a blunt blade;
• Paper layer with wood grain. It cuts quite easily, but it can leave a fringe of fluffy paper;
• The bottom layer made of pressed wood fibers. Can be cut without any problems with any sharp tool. Generates a huge amount of fine dust.

Important! Chips and dust need to be collected while cutting the lamella, otherwise the smallest crumbs from the wood get stuffed into the grooves of the joints, and it becomes quite difficult to assemble the flooring.

If you use a simple tool like a knife or a guillotine you can cut the laminate flooring with a thin plywood board, max. 8 mm thick. Usually a carpenter’s square is used for marking.

In order to cut a laminate flooring evenly, the panel must lie exactly horizontally. The small thickness of the plywood pad does not affect the quality of the cut, but if you try to put a 1.5-meter lamella on a stool or a stand, the plane of the end of the cutting line will be inclined to one side. The resulting joint between the panels is almost twice as wide as a click joint.

A modern substitute for a paring knife

Cutting laminate with a knife is simple, but physically quite difficult, so it is best to use special devices or an electric tool. If the thickness of the laminate flooring is more than 6 mm it is harder to cut the material with a knife, because of the increased force.

Tips for a splinter-free cut

First, as mentioned above, you should use a jigsaw file with a straight cut.

Secondly, in order to better control the cutting process, it is justified to apply the marking line for the trimmer on both sides of the Laminated chipboard and check the accuracy of machining at the top and bottom.

Well, and thirdly, to make constant breaks in the work to cool the cutting equipment.

Read also: A manual tile cutter how to use video

Sometimes the solution in this matter can be a simple cutting through the laminated layer of material with a jigsaw knife, and the subsequent work of the jigsaw will no longer cause major defects in the form of chips. However, this work requires the performer of a certain experience and accuracy.

If you liked this material I would be grateful if you recommend it to your friends or leave a helpful comment.

In the process of laying flooring, namely laminate, it is important not only to be able to correctly connect the panels. You must also correctly measure the size of the panels in accordance with the area of the room, as well as not to break the traditional staggered masonry. In such a situation there is a reasonable question. with what to cut the measured panels? Let’s try to understand the situation.

Why do splinters appear?

Before you cut laminated chipboard or laminate with the jigsaw it is desirable to understand why chips form when cutting the sheet material. And the answer is simple: it all lies in the design of an electric jigsaw, or rather in the design of the file.

So, in the process of cutting the file receives a return motion (up and down). And if when the saw moves in the direction of the teeth (usually downward) chipping is practically not formed, when you move the tool in the opposite direction, the teeth as if tearing out the top layer of material, thereby forming an unpleasant chipping. That’s why you can observe an almost perfect cut on the underside Laminated chipboard and a chipped cut on its upper edge.

Features of cutting laminate

In order to understand how to cut lamellas correctly, you need to pay attention to the multi-layered structure of the material. At least three layers are cut at the same time:

• The front surface is covered with a tough and hard melamine or polyurethane film that peels and crumbles if you try to cut the material with a blunt blade;
• Paper layer with wood grain. It cuts quite easily, but it can leave a fringe from the fluffed paper;
• The lower layer is made of pressed wood fibers. Can be cut without any problems with any sharp tool. generates a lot of fine dust.

Important! Chips and dust must be collected while cutting lamellas, otherwise the tiniest crumb of wood gets stuffed into the grooves of the locks, and collecting the flooring becomes quite difficult.

If you use an elementary tool like a knife or a guillotine, you can cut the laminate flooring with a thin plywood board, max. 8 mm thick. To draw the marks you usually use a carpenter’s square.

In order to cut a laminate flooring evenly, the panel must lie exactly horizontally. Thin plywood pad doesn’t influence the cutting quality, but if you try to put 1.5 m lamella on the stool or the stand the plane of cut line end will be inclined to one side. The resulting joint between the panels is almost twice as wide as a click joint.

A modern replacement for a paring knife

Cutting laminate with a knife is simple, but physically quite difficult, so it is best to use special devices or an electric tool. Laminates over 6 mm thick are difficult to cut with a knife because of the higher forces that can be exerted on the material.

Ways to minimize chipping

An additional reason for the formation of chips can be a tooth bending file. Therefore, the first thing to take care of is the purchase of a tool with a straight cut (often these are Bosh saws). However, it should be taken into account that with prolonged work, such saws overheat and may even bend in the process of cutting. Because of this, breaks must be taken to allow the cutting tool to cool down.

However, one saw blade replacement is not enough and in order to cut laminated woodchip board (laminate) with an electric jigsaw without splintering it is necessary to make some improvements to the electric tool. Namely to make it so that when the saw moves against the inclination of the tooth, the material does not tear out. For which it is sufficient to make a thrust platform. This is the conclusion that can be drawn from trying to cut through two sheets of laminated chipboard at the same time. So there will be almost no chipping on the bottom piece.

In order to make a landing pad for the electric jigsaw, it is enough to saw a rectangle of any dense material (for example, laminate) with dimensions identical to those of the electric tool’s soleplate.

Then along the larger centerline, make a notch and secure the resulting tooling to the sole of the jigsaw with insulation tape or double-sided adhesive tape. All finishing is ready and it is possible to perform finishing works in compliance with certain recommendations.

Recommendations for a splinter-free cut

Firstly, as it has already been told above, it is necessary to apply a file for an electric jigsaw with a straight cut.

Secondly, in order to better control the cutting process, it is justified to apply the marking line for the trimmer on both sides Laminated chipboard and check the accuracy of processing at the top and bottom.

And thirdly, to take constant breaks to cool the cutting equipment.

Sometimes the solution is to simply cut through the laminate material layer with the installation knife, and the jigsaw work that follows will not cause major defects in the form of chips. However, this work requires a certain experience and accuracy from the performer.

If you liked the material I’d be grateful if you recommend it to your friends, or leave a helpful comment.

When installing flooring, namely laminate flooring, it is not only important to be able to connect the panels together correctly. You must also correctly measure the size of the panels in accordance with the area of the room, as well as not to break the traditional staggered masonry. In this situation, the reasonable question arises. what to cut the measured on the size of the panel? Let’s try to understand the situation.

Can we use the “angle grinder”??

This tool, which is also called an angle grinder, is excellent for sawing different materials, including laminate panels. With the help of this device you can get an even and neat cut. To properly cut the laminate with an angle grinder, you need to lay the panel decorative side up, as well as use special replaceable discs with fine teeth to work on metal, ceramic surfaces or concrete.

As during the work with the angle grinder a lot of dust and dirt is formed, as well as you can feel the unpleasant smell of burning during sawing, it is better to perform all manipulations outdoors. On the first floor, you can pull the extension cord through the window and work on the street, on the upper floors is the best way to suit unglazed balcony.

Another nuance when working with an angle grinder, as well as in handling a circular saw. you need to have at least a little experience with this tool. Insecure hands when sawing can create an uneven edge or the edge can become chipped.

How to cut laminate with a jigsaw. the right saw blade solves everything

It is light and mobile, you will quickly learn how to work with it. That’s how to cut laminate flooring really handy. The main thing here is to have a steady hand (so it doesn’t wiggle) and to choose saws. Let’s see which side to saw next.

How to properly cut laminate with an electric jigsaw:

It is very important what saws to cut laminate boards with. There are special ones for laminate on the market

But if you can’t find them, that’s okay. So that the front side is not chipped, we make a mark and cut on it. And then just use a saw with the teeth pointing downwards. That ensures a nearly perfect cut. All the chips will be on the underside of the lamella. But you only have a saw at home with the teeth up. In this case we make a mark and saw on the back side. That’s the secret. Some people also use a metal file.

• You need to saw the laminate flooring in another room. There will be a lot of sawdust. They by the way fly differently depending on the saw. Toothed up. sawdust up and vice versa. This is to the fact that sometimes you need to wear glasses;
• You need to hold the piece that we cut. Since at the end of the sawing it can tear off a piece of the coating on top;

The jigsaw can not only cut laminate flooring in length and width. You can easily make a curved cut with rounded corners. For example, to make a beautiful cut for a pipe.

How to cut laminate flooring at home

In order to cut lamellas accurately and neatly, two basic conditions must be followed. First of all, you need to properly mark the cutting line for the trimmer. Only carpenter’s squares are used for this purpose. No markings with laser beams or pointers built into the jigsaw or renovator can be used.

The second prerequisite is a slow feed rate of the cutting tool. The more the cutting edge presses against the laminate material, the more the teeth will deflect from the direction of travel. Productivity increases, but the quality of the surface is reduced at times.

If you cut the material with an angle grinder or a circular saw, you will also need to maintain constant pressure on the tool. This is the only way to cut an even cut across the entire length of the panel.

How to choose a hacksaw?

Often when carrying out work on the laying of laminate flooring resort to the help of such a popular tool as a hacksaw

But in order to saw panels effectively and quickly you need to choose the right model. Of course, if you do not have others, you can use a wood hacksaw. But in this case the process will prove labor-intensive, because a wood hacksaw has large teeth. Due to these features, the hacksaw will not neatly cut the blade, and dig into it.

The most optimal choice will be the choice of a hacksaw for metal. It has fine teeth and is able to cut the panel evenly.

However, it is worth remembering that a metal hacksaw should be used only for small amounts of work. Unlike power tools, this one is more time-consuming to cut and requires more effort, so professional builders do not use a hacksaw for this purpose.

Metal hacksaw

A metal hacksaw is what will cut the laminate flooring advantageously, because the tool is one of those that are in almost every home and you do not have to run to the store.

A metal hacksaw is very handy for making small trims because of the fact that:

• Laminate is easy to cut by hand;
• The fine tooth of the hacksaw ensures no chipping;
• If you do damage the edges, you can easily cover them with a baseboard.

Remember that a hacksaw for laminate is only suitable if the amount of work is small, and there is no other tool on hand, also if you do not have a hacksaw on hand, it is better to buy a jigsaw in the store, which will be mentioned below.

Sawing should be done following these instructions:

• First make a clear marking on the lamella, remembering that it must be bright, because when sawing it will be covered with a thin layer of dust.
• To get a quality edge, saw the sheet, turning it face up.
• Do not force the tool too hard so you do not damage the edge you are sawing with.

Jigsaw

It is a more expensive tool, but choosing it is the best answer to the question of how to saw laminate flooring better. You should only buy a jigsaw if the amount of work is too big to saw everything by hand or if you don’t have any money to buy one.

• Use a jigsaw with a coarse reverse toothed blade. If the blade comes with an expensive and high quality tool you can use it, otherwise buy it separately.
• Cut out the lamella.
• In this case the lamella must be sawn with the face down and mounted on a hard surface.

Another advantage of the jigsaw is that it not only cuts straight ahead.

general information

If you choose coverage for the floor on the basis of wood species, people often give their preference for a natural parquet or cheaper, but more visually pleasing option of laminate. This material has an exaggerated resistance and features that will even surpass the natural solutions in terms of operation.

This coating has become popular in almost everything due to the fact that the laminate is painfully simple to install using the system locks. Also, these coatings are easy enough to dismantle and reinstall.

Laminate is easy enough to install and, if necessary, cut, armed with special tools

READ How to Disassemble a Hitachi Electric Screwdriver Battery

The coating is laid in the premises where there is a high traffic. This is almost all justified by the fact that the laminate has a high resistance to wear and tear, and the load it is not terrible. If you install it in the bedroom or living room, the tones of the wood species of warm colors will create a cozy atmosphere, and thanks to the resistance to water, you can not fear that the kitchen will develop fungus or bacteria.

Tips from the professionals

Of all the models listed, the Renovator looks the most attractive. It can be seen as a viable alternative to a hacksaw or cutter. If we are talking about cutting a laminate floor with an area of 50-80 m2, the power of the tool will obviously not be enough. For laying a floor in an ordinary one-room apartment, you can get by with an ordinary hacksaw. If you do laminate installation professionally, then the best option would be to purchase a tabletop machine with a set of circular saws of different cross-section. To repair the coating will be enough to make a knife-cutter.

Vinyl tiles should be cut only on a bench cutter. Manually or in any other way evenly and accurately cut will not work. Plastic is quite ductile and a high speed tool will simply melt and deform it.

Tip! No need to experiment, no need to remove guards, clips and guards when selecting a tool. This will not simplify the task of cutting the material, but can dramatically increase the risk of injury.