How To Cut A Laminate Countertop With A Jigsaw

How To Cut A Laminate Countertop With A Jigsaw

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Cutting a laminate countertop with a jigsaw is one of the few ways to deal with this challenging material.

Laminate countertops come with a brittle laminated layer that can easily crack or chip if mishandled, and that is backed by a thick particle board or plywood underlayment.

To cut a laminate countertop with a jigsaw, you need to take measures to protect the decorative laminate layer while also making precise, efficient cuts on the supporting material underneath.

What Type Of Jigsaw Blade Do I Need For A Laminate Countertop?

Cutting a countertop to size is all about taking careful measurements, then following through with the proper jigsaw blade using the correct technique. 

With projects like these, you really get what you pay for from your jigsaw and jigsaw blades. Fitting laminate panels seamlessly requires the cleanest of cuts. If you are cutting from the laminate side of the workpiece, you will want to avoid using ordinary jigsaw blades.

The usual jigsaw blade has teeth pointing upwards that cut on the upstroke, and they could rip up and crack the decorative laminated layer.

A reverse teeth jigsaw blade, on the other hand, has teeth that cut on the downstroke.

These blades will do a better job of making clean cuts on laminate, especially if you pick a finishing blade with a medium to high tooth count.

What Else Do I Need?

Measuring & Marking: The next thing you will need is, of course, your tape measure. Accurate use of the tape measure is essential at every step of installing new laminate countertops in the kitchen.

You will also need a very accurate way to scribe lines. A sharp pencil or a pen is usually the way to go here.

Starightedges: For the best results when making straight cuts with a jigsaw, especially on the overhanging edges of the laminate, you will need a fence guide.

This can be a piece of straight lumber or a straightedge that you can clamp on the workpiece to guide the jigsaw.

Supports: You will also need a way to support the laminate countertop if you are working with a new piece that is not already installed.

A set of saw horses should do the trick in most cases and having 2 or three should work for most laminate countertops.

Tape: Tape is used to prevent chipping on the thin, finished laminate surface by creating a barrier between the blade an the surface itself.

A good quality masking tape works well or a quality duct tape also will do the job.

A Square: This will come in handy for cross cutting the laminate countertop, as well as angled cuts. I prefer to use a larger speed square for this myself but a T-square or carpenter's square will also work.

How To Make Straight Cuts in Laminate Countertops With A Jigsaw

The first thing that you need to do is to mark out accurate cutting lines. If you are replacing an old set of countertops, you can start with that as a template to sketch out the layout of your cuts.

Measure Cutting Line On Laminate Countertop

Once you have the layout measured, stick some masking tape or blue tape on the location where the cut lines will go. The tape will help to keep the cut clean and the laminate from chipping out.

Put A Piece Of Tape On Laminate

Mark the cutting lines (a second time) on the tape. It also helps if you mark out the waste side of the cut for your reference.

Secure the countertop over the workbench or the saw horses, and clamp the guide fence along one side of the first line you are cutting through.

Remark Line On Tape

Attach the jigsaw blade to the jigsaw, and check that it’s perfectly square to the shoe using a speed square or combination square.

Checking Square On Jigsaw Blade

Position the jigsaw on one end of the first cut, with the jigsaw blade at the waste side of the cutting line and the shoe snug against the guide fence. Start the tool and let the blade run up to speed.

Starting Your Cut And Lining Up Jigsaw With Line

Gently ease the running blade into the laminate. Take your time and let the blade do the work of cutting, as you focus on keeping the jigsaw snug against the fence guide while following the cutting line.

Follow Up On Cutting Line With Jigsaw 2

Slow down as you approach a corner of the cut, or as you finish the cut at the other end. Do not let the cut piece break out or fall off under its own weight – make sure both sides of the cut are properly supported and secured throughout the process.

If the piece breaks off, it could ruin the entire piece of laminate, making all of your time, effort and money useless.

You can reposition the jigsaws under the cutoff piece, use additional clamps or have someone hold the piece until you complete the cut.

Support Cutoff Piece

TIP!

How About Making Some Practice Cuts...

If it’s your first time working with laminate countertops, or if you are unfamiliar with the jigsaw or blade you are using, it’s always a good idea to do some practice cuts first.

You can do practice cuts on a scrap piece of laminate, or on the old countertops that you are replacing. You can also try out small test cuts on the waste side of the countertop before going for the final cut, as well.

Cutting Angles on Laminate Countertops With A Jigsaw

Cutting angles on a laminate countertop is a very similar process to cutting straight lines, you just need to adjust the line and be able to figure out how to find your desired angle.

The first step is to take some measurements and make a measurement. In this example I am going to use a 45 degree angle that will be cut on the right side of the laminate countertop.

This will provide me with a 90 degree turn for the countertop when I cut the other piece and fit them together.

I measured from the back of the countertop because it is likely where you will get your measurements and starting your cut here will provide a more accurate angle and will be easier to start here for several other reasons.

Make Mark For Angled Cut On Laminate Countertop

To make a 45 degree line, you can use a couple of different tools like a larger speed square, a framing square, measurements and geometry but I am not going into that in this tutorial, I will make a separate tutorial on how to do that at a later date.

So, the next step is to make your cut line using a pencil or pen onto the laminate countertop's surface.

Make Angled Line At Desired Angle

Now you will want to put a piece of tape over your cut line and remark the line after the tape is installed.

It is an extra step and seems unnecessary but the tape really helps to prevent chipping in the finished laminate surface. You could run the tape without making a reference line first, just make sure it will be centered on the line as closely as possible.

Tape Over Your Line And Remark

Position the jigsaw on the edge of the laminate countertop and start cutting into the material. I recommend starting from the back and making your way to the front.

It will be much easier to get a straight cut and a smooth angled when you start from the back of the laminate counter. The lip that is usually on the front edge of most laminate countertops will cause problems for your blade if you start from that point.

Position Jigsaw On Angled Line

Position Jigsaw On Angled Line

Take your time if you are cutting freehand and make the cut as straight as possible so that when the two pieces meet up they will look clean and professionally done.

You can also use a straightedge to make the cut a lot straighter and it will make the entire process a lot smoother too.

Using A Straightedge For Angled Cuts


Cutting Out a Sink Opening In A Laminate Countertop

Starting a cut in the interior of a laminate countertop is best done with starter holes. First, trace the sides of the sink on the countertop to get the layout right, making sure that the sink is centered on the base cabinet.

Draw Your Sink Layout On The Laminate Countertop

Stick some tape around where the cutting lines will end up.

Measure the mounting lip of the sink, and offset the line inwards by the same amount. Make sure to cross out the traced line you made earlier. On the corners of the layout, drill starter holes.

Transfer Sink Line To Tape

Use the starter holes to start the interior cut. Insert the jigsaw blade inside the hole, aligning the blade with the cutting line while keeping the show flat against the laminate countertop.

Turn on the jigsaw and let the blade get up to speed, then steadily move the blade against the material.

Drill Two Pilot Holes In Corners Of Sink Cutout
Start Jigsaw In Pilot Hole

Focus on following the cutting line as you let the blade do most of the work. Throughout the cut, make sure that the piece you are cutting out is well supported – do not let it break off on its own.

TIP!

You can use a small piece of wood with one screw in the center of the cutout that spans the cutout and hangs over a bit on each side. It will keep the cutout from falling through after you complete the cut.

A single screw in the middle will also allow the brace to pivot, so you can move it around your jigsaw, as needed.

Temporary Brace For Laminate Sink Cutout

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Ryan

I have been in construction nearly my entire life and have a fascination with tools and love when they make my life easier. Match that with my "research addiction" and you create something like this website!

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