how to cut laminate counter tops for fitting kitchen sink?

Answer 1

Hand held jig saw.

Answer 2

Here are your tangible costs if you were to go to a Home Depot/Lowes store. Pre-made laminate top with finished edges (sold seperately) will be about $100 including contact cement to mount the finished edges. This can be cut to size. If you do this, cut it upside down or the teeth of the saw will chip the formica/laminate. A metal sink will be around $100. A basic faucet will be around $50. The strainer basket (which mounts to whole in the sink is about $10. You should get new shut off valves. They are about $6 apiece (if you have a dishwasher make sure your hot water shut off valve has 2 outlets for hot water to faucet and hot water to the dishwasher). Also make sure you get the correct type to mount to whatever your existing water pipe is. The waste assembly (called a P-trap) is about $4 and comes in a complete package. They come in 1 1/2" and 1 1/4". You want 1 1/2" for a kitchen sink. You will need to buy plumbers putty ($4) for mounting the strainer basket. If you have metal waste piping, the plastic or pvc p-trap will work on it. Check the waste connection (that the P-trap ties to see if you will need to purchase some type of adapter fitting. If you're not sure, take a picture of the pipe and ask the person in the plumbing section what you'll need. As far as the cabinets you can get unfinished oak or paint grade cabinets for under $100 per cabinet. You will want a SB36 (this means sink base 36" wide) and then you can take whatever the remaining distance to fill and get 1 or 2 more cabinets to fill that space. If you still have any gaps, you'll need to purchase (what is called) a filler. A filler is a 3'' wide piece of wood that can be ripped to whatever size you need to fill. You will also needto purchase stain or paint, depending on what your desired finish is. Cabinets mount with screws not nails. You need to screw them to the wall and each cabinet (and filler if applicable). Use 2 1/2" wood screws and drill pilot holes befroe screwing them together. I would estimate approx $600, provided youb are doing the work yourself. I hope this answered your question and gave you some advise. It is most likely alot to absorb, but if understand basic remodeling you might be able to do this yourself. Good luck.

Answer 3

BN'W is correct.
REALLY double check your markings for sink; especially the lip that the sink will sit onto. Draw your cutting lines, we used fine tip black marker (can see lines through the tape). Definitely put tape on the laminate side. Drill holes in corners for sink (put holes close to the area to discard). Jigsaw cut with top side up (have laminate saw blade). Carefully pull tape off.

Answer 4

Jig saw with a sharp blade-- not too coarse of tooth pattern works just fine---just did one this week. Double and triple check that you're marking the hole pattern for the sink right and then drill four holes--one in each corner of the opening pattern that are large enough to start the jig saw blade in and cut each side of the opening. Just make sure you do check everything first as once you cut, you can't go back.

Answer 5

They make jigsaw blades especially for cutting laminate, they cut on the down-stroke so it doesn't chip the laminate, also duct tape the base of the jig-saw so you don't mark up the counter, remember the laminate color/pattern is paper thin.

Answer 6

Drill a 3/8 hole and use a jig saw.Tape the bottom of the jig saw so the bottom of the saw does not scratch the counter as you cut.I use blue painters tape.

Answer 7

jigsaw from the BOTTOM
so it cuts on the upstroke
use a semi fine tooth
and if you use an orbital stroke, keep it to minimum orbit ( like 1 to 2 setting ), drill a pilot hole about 1/2" away from where you are going to cut to line wise and then jigsaw, fully support the cut out to avoid it blowing out as it drops

Answer 8

We used a drill the a jigsaw. Make sure you have a template or exact measurements before you cut.
Here is a link that may help:http://www.hometips.com/articles/kitch_sink.html

Answer 9

If you use a jigsaw use the smallest teeth possible and use tape. You might consider using a rotozip with one of their or Dremel's specialty bits.

Answer 10

A router with a cutter bit & bearing guide.