Clean cutting.

[whiskywill]

I am in the process of shuffling around my 25 year old kitchen cabinets and need to cut a corner base unit to fit the available space. It is made of chipboard with a kind of laminate on its face. What is the best to use to minimise chipping of the edges? I have a table saw, a bandsaw, hand saws, planes, files and abrasive paper.

 

[bugbear]

Straight cuts, or curved?

BugBear

 

[rafezetter]

I don't know for certain but I would imagine a deep score line in the laminate face would negate most chipping, plus using a bandsaw which has a downward cutting action (if it'll fit). If it's absolutely critical then make the cut on an angle leaving more "meat" on the face side (still with bandsaw / handsaw), and file / sandpaper it the last mm's to the line.

I had heard that using a tablesaw with the blade fully raised - instead of just peeking through the surface - reduces chipping because the teeth are now approaching the face from above instead of below; but scoring and cutting away from the line at an angle and filing should make it a certainty.

 

[whiskywill]

Straight cuts, or curved?

BugBear

All straight cuts.

 

[whiskywill]

I don't know for certain but I would imagine a deep score line in the laminate face would negate most chipping, plus using a bandsaw which has a downward cutting action (if it'll fit). If it's absolutely critical then make the cut on an angle leaving more "meat" on the face side (still with bandsaw / handsaw), and file / sandpaper it the last mm's to the line.

That was my thinking, score, saw and file to the line. Just wondered if there was a super simple (lazy) and guaranteed way.

 

[Zeddedhed]

Put decent quality masking tape over the line of the cut, mark your cut line and then cut it with a circular saw. Worked well for me until I got a Rail Saw, and that works just the same only less fiddling.

 

[Paul Chapman]

If you are able to use a router, that would enable you to avoid any chipping.

Cheers :wink:

Paul