The pieces also are sold separately. This is the most delicate and time consuming part of the process. Model# DR50126 $ 45 60. Allow the endcap to dry one to two hours before continuing. The availability of laminate countertops is plentiful in today's society. Both questions have the same answer. Leave at least two inches of overhang on all sides of the projects. Gray. ... DIABLO 1/2 in. A trim router is a handheld device that uses a small bit to cut even edges. The laminate is cut with a circular saw and the installation is relatively straightforward. Let set for one minute, then tap the cap carefully with a rubber mallet. When constructing a laminate countertop, cutting the laminate to be a little bit large is the standard process before you mount it on the substrate. Use small hand held router with laminate flush trim bit to trim off excess cap material (Fig.11). Always cut laminate good side facing up. Wipe the excess glue from the edges of the endcap and the countertop surface, using a cloth. Then tape the end cap with painters tape and trim near the marked line using a dremel or similar tool. File toward the countertop to avoid cracking or chipping the laminate. Using a blade with upward-orriented teeth is a rookie mistake, as in most of the cases it will chip the laminate countertop. The edge trim should be completed first, before any glue is applied to the face of the board. Using a trim router fitted with a laminate-cutting bit, cut the sheet along the mark. x 25-1/4 in. Iron cap onto the end of the countertop with a back-and-forth motion. Buy a stock piece of laminate countertop. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Adjust the cutting depth on your router. Hampton Bay 5-5/16 in. I've seen where after you stick the laminate to the counter you trim it with a router. So, we are going to start laminating the edges of the wood piece with a laminate router bit and trim router. Position the countertop so the end requiring the endcap has easy access. I have the countertop installed, and need to attach the cap to the unfinished edge. The multiple colors and finishes of the laminate allow homeowners the opportunity to install a countertop that compliments their decor. The end cap kits that go with the post-form countertop I purchased have a lot of extra material left along the edges, too much just to file down. Center the endcap over the end of the counter and press it into place. Top Sellers Most Popular Price Low to High Price High to Low Top Rated Products. When working with plastic laminate, like Arborite and Formica, the material is rather thick, so trimming off the excess requires the use of power tools.Whether using a small specialized laminate trimming tool or an ordinary router, the key is in the bits. After heating & installing it, I use my palm sander - carefully - to get the right edge. Therefore the bit is trimming the top piece of laminate without touching the side piece on which the bearing is riding. Here is my dilema. Hold the tool so that the spinning, cutting disk is at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the countertop. DIABLO 1 in. By scoring the back with the scoring tool on the piece of hpl, it will give you enough that you will still have to file but it won't be as hard to mess up. 14 Results Router/planer type: Laminate. Choose the best router bit and a router for your project. Give yourself an extra inch on both dimensions -- you can trim the excess later. How to Smooth Countertop Edges with a Router – Re-use Existing Bolts The second goal for the day was to route a few areas where the 45 degree cuts would join together. Glue Counter Sides. Installing laminate counters is a great project for a handy homeowner and can save you a lot of money over hiring a contractor. Gently touch the cutting wheel to the counter top to cut into the surface. Also, place a single layer of masking tape on the surface of the laminate along the router’s path to prevent its base from scratching the laminate as you trim the edge. John, there is a bearing on the end of the router bit that prevents it from cutting any deeper than the surface the bearing is riding on. It is trimming it to the exact depth as the side. We used our circular saw to cut through the laminate. 7 Results Kitchen Product Type: End Cap. Laminate Trimmer vs Router: How to Select the Right Tool. The jelly is useful as a lubricant to prevent friction or damage to the countertop ’s laminate. However, I don't have an offset router to trim the edge near the wall, and obviously my full-sized router is too big to get close and trim it up. I haven't seen anything that shows how to trim tight spots such as the side edge of the laminate up to the wall. Another quick question, do you think the laminate trim router bit will fit into a 1/4" router - this will obviously be a lot lighter than my 1/2" router. Wipe the endcap and surrounding area with adhesive solvent to remove excess wood glue, contact adhesive and petroleum jelly. Brush a layer of contact adhesive over the buildup strip and the back of the laminate endcap. Position the end cap on the cut end of the countertop and align the angle and corner with the contour of the countertop ’s surface. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Custom-ordered laminate countertop will come with a buildup strip and laminate endcap. In addition, the blade should have a medium to high tooth count. 3. New members: Please consider adding your location to your profile. Wood Edge Detail for a Laminate Countertop Laminate trimming, edge attachment, and rounding-over technique for a wood edge on a laminate counter or table top. Simply roll the laminate trimmer over the edge of the countertop and the trimmer will create the perfect, smoothed cut for you. You can add a bevel to the countertop edge by cutting both the laminate and the self-edge with a bevel-cutting router bit. The bottom line is that the laminate trimmer is essentially a compact router designed for portability and ease of use. In Stock at Store Today. Cut strips of laminate to cover the edges of the countertop, then cut a big piece to go on top. Unplug the router. I have the countertop installed, and need to attach the cap to the unfinished edge. If you haven't, take a pencil and while holding it against the counter, trace the outside edge onto the end cap. Apply a layer of petroleum jelly or other lubricant along the cutting line of the endcap to prevent friction burns. Press and roll the endcap in place, using a seam roller or a wooden rolling pin. The jelly is useful as a lubricant to prevent friction or damage to the countertop’s laminate. Trim the excess laminate from the endcap. When I've installed these counter-top end-caps, I trim the wall end with a utility knife so that the cap is within about 1/16th of an inch of being "perfect." 7. Come join the discussion about tools, projects, builds, styles, scales, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! The router’s base must move smoothly across the top of the laminate — unimpeded by sawdust, misplaced glue globs, or other obstructions — to ensure a straight cut. Use the lumber as a guide for the router bit. Design to trim the laminate countertops, Formica, etc. Flush Trimming Bit (1) Model# DR42090 $ 22 25. Place the countertop on a flat and stable work surface. Use a router with a laminate bit or a flush cut bit to trim the laminate to the self-edge. Cut these strips with the keep piece off the lumber. This allows the razor/business card to slide along the surface without scratching the speaker, and also leaves a very slight bit of overhang in the veneer you are trimming. Ora Laminate Countertop End Cap Kit in Tuscan Romano (8) Model# 016149119994835 $ 17 98. No, it's not attached, I was just holding it there for the picture. Center and press the buildup strip into place. White. Fit a flush-trim bit into the router and place it on the edge of the laminate sheet. Place a single layer of masking tape on the surface of the laminate along the router's path to prevent the router's base from scratching the laminate as you trim the edge. This will take between 10 to 20 minutes depending on the humidity and temperature of the room. Center and press the buildup strip into place. Use a finer-grit paper and be patient. Cover the cut area with a laminate endcap that matches the surface of the laminate countertop. Laminate Endcap Kit in Sea Salt with Tempo Edge Trim a little at a time off of the countertop … From contributor D: I actually glue the laminate first to the substrate. Step 5: Rub some petroleum jelly along the surface of the end caps. There are better ways using power tools to trim. Keep router moving, do not stop in one spot or burning of laminate is possible. Freud 1/16 inch radius laminate trim bit with ¼ shank replaces Amana’s bit. Place the countertop on a flat and stable work surface. Secure the buildup strip to the end of the countertop using four, 1-inch wood screws. Plug up the Dremel rotary tool, turn it on and adjust the speed to its highest setting. Cover the exposed end of the countertop with a layer of wood glue. How to Use a Router to Trim Countertop Laminate Edges Clean the countertop with a whiskbroom. Top Bearing Flush Trim Bit. The material on the inside of the countertop is exposed during the cutting process. You will notice in the picture above how the laminate edge strip sticks past every edge of my countertop. These bits have a bearing that cut the edges along the side of the material. How To Trim Laminate With A Router. Trust me on this one… you want to start big and trim it off afterwards. Nevertheless, the crucial aspect of cutting laminate countertop is to choose a blade with downward oriented teeth. A forum community dedicated to Do it yourself-ers and home improvement enthusiasts. Many home improvement centers have sections of laminate countertops for sale and will cut the sections to the desired dimensions. DIABLO 1/4 in. Brush a layer of contact adhesive over the buildup strip and the back of the laminate … Score very deep as you will be breaking the hpl and the deeper the score the cleaner it will break. ", How to Install a Four-in-One Strip Between the Carpet & the Laminate Floor, How to Trim Wood Floors Close to Cabinets, How to Apply Wood Veneer Without a Vacuum Press, How to Replace the Cartridge in a Two-Line Weed Eater, Extreme How To: DIY Plastic Laminate Countertop, You Tube: How to Install Formica Countertop End Caps - #14, How to Remove a Backsplash From a Corian Countertop, How to Recover a Counter Top Using Sheet Laminate. Now when you apply the end cap there isn't as much to file off. No problem. No problem. Kim Blakesley is a home remodeling business owner, former art/business teacher and school principal. After Installing new laminate countertop edges you have to file them to make them fit. Pay special attention to centering the endcap as once it is in place, it will not move. Allow the contact adhesive to cure until it becomes very tacky. Move router in a counter-clockwise direction. Turn the router on. I do not own a router or the laminate bit needed to cut it off per the instructions. Hey folks, I'm installing a piece of laminate sheet on a custom kitchen countertop. With the file, smoothen the small edges that are visible around the end … Cut the laminate sheeting down to size to fit the countertop with a circular saw or a fine-toothed handsaw. Place a single layer of masking tape on the surface of the laminate along the router's path to prevent the router's base from scratching the laminate as you trim the edge. In most of the videos I've seen the counters are removed or if they're not removed, they simply show how you trim the front edge with a router. Brown. Using your router, trim away the excess caps from the edge of the countertop. 2. Mainly used to trim plastic laminate edges that require hours for completing the work nicely. What I have done in this situation is use a piece of hpl or something thin as a gauge or spacer, lay the piece of hpl on the back of the cap (butt the back of the cap) and use a scoring tool and score from the back side where you can't use your router. Finish trimming with a fine file, applying pressure only on the up strokes. ... Cut through the laminate with a flush trim router bit. To apply end caps, set household iron at medium heat. Wear safety goggles when cutting excess laminate from the endcap. Step 4: Trim and file the laminate edge strip. Here is my dilema. 25-1/4 in. Cut through the laminate with a flush trim router bit. Let’s start this step by step. Cover the exposed end of the countertop with a layer of wood glue. Trim the edges with a trim router and file them down with a metal file. If you have access to a laminate trimmer, you can simply and easily trim your laminate to the desired size. Buy a piece of stock laminate countertop as close to the correct length as you can. Sort by: Top Sellers. Using your router, trim away the excess caps from the edge of the countertop. Get It Fast. Rough Cut Laminate. I trim mine by using a business card against the speaker, with a razor blade pressed flush against the business card. Laminate countertop comes in stock sizes, from 4–12 ft (1.2–3.7 m) long, in 2 ft (0.61 m) intervals. ... Hampton Bay 4-1/2 in. I hope this is clear enough, if not just post and let us know. VerticalScope Inc., 111 Peter, Suite 901, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2H1, Canada. The rolling process moves trapped air bubbles and excess contact adhesive to the outside edges of the end piece. Looks as if you have already applied the end cap to the counter? Helping You to Do It Yourself! Gives a high-quality product. Blakesley's education, fine arts, remodeling, green living, and arts and crafts articles have appeared on numerous websites, including DeWalt Tools, as well as in "Farm Journal" and "Pro Farmer. Move the router down the worktop to cut off the excess sheet so you have a flush and even edge. Can I cut it off using a utility knife with a heavy-duty razor and then file? While it can be used to trim laminate, it is also suitable for light jobs that traditionally call for a regular router. She began her writing and photography career in 2008. Cover the exposed end of the countertop with a layer of wood glue. Cover the cut area with a laminate endcap that matches the surface of the laminate countertop. Mark out the side strips—2½ inches wide and an inch longer than the sides—from the remaining pieces. Looking at the pic on the screwfix website of the trend kitchen fitters pack, the shank looks rather thick. Lightly file and round the cut edge, using a flat file. When posting in forums, letting us know your location will help others give better feedback/advice/solutions to your questions. I know I can just use a file, but the cap is way oversized compared to where it needs to fit and I'm worried about the file doing damage. How to use a laminate router bit or how to use a flush trim router bit? Laminate Countertop Trim . This excess needs to be trimmed back and filed level with the countertop surface for a finished look. To trim it to size and smooth out the edges, I know you're supposed to use a router with a bit to cut laminate (and then a file to finish it off), however I was wondering if I could use a dremel instead (since I already have one)? Hope this isn't too confusing. ... then the laminate, then trim the lam and then rout the edge. New laminate can instantly upgrade your kitchen, bathroom or laundry. Trimming with precision is the next step and it can be done using a flush cutting bit and a router. 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