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cutting a sinkhole in new countertop

| Posted in General Discussion on October 3, 1999 07:06am

*
I’ve cut in a number of sink holes into new countertops and am pretty sure I’m not doing it the best way. Does anyone know the easiest way to cut along the BACK edge of the countertop? There is never enough clearance to get a jig or circular saw tight up against the backsplash. Any suggestions? Jeff

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  1. Guest_ | Oct 01, 1999 07:59am | #1

    *
    Jeff - I usually cut the hole in the substrate before putting on the plam. You don't have to be surgically careful, you can even use a sawzall with real long blade held up high to make that back cut. Then I use an offset router to trim the plam later. - jb

    1. Guest_ | Oct 01, 1999 09:10am | #2

      *JeffIf there isn't enough room for half the shoe of a jig saw, how is there gonna be enough room for the faucets?? I can see there might be trouble trying to wield a circular saw in there, but a jig saw??? With most faucet housing's about 2" wide, and maybe 1" in front and at least 1" behind, for knuckle room if not cleaning, there's about 4" there. . . half the shoe of my Bosch is about 1-1/4".JimlegsSink cutouts with a swazall. . .you butcher!!!-pm

      1. Guest_ | Oct 01, 1999 03:18pm | #3

        *Jeff,A jamb saw works well. If you dont have one a sawzall also works. Pat must be working with small sinks if he can cut over an inch away from the back. Rick Tuk

        1. Guest_ | Oct 01, 1999 06:52pm | #4

          *So far I've never come across a cutout for a 22"x33" sink that I couldnt do with my Bosch jig saw. You cant turn the corner back there, have to drill start holes, but I drill a hole at each corner anyway so the cutout has radiused corners and wont be as likely to stress crack. Chuck

  2. G.LaLonde | Oct 02, 1999 04:49am | #5

    *
    Jeff, I imagine you're talking about sink cutouts in laminate tops with the formed cove backsplash. There are several ways to do this. One method is to make the cut from the bottom before installing the countertop. The drawback to this method is that you could crack the top at the cutout. On the tops available to us, you can't make the back cut from above with any other jigsaw except the old Craftsman with the rotating head. If you are super careful, you can use a sawzall (ouch) . I make the front and side cuts with my Bosch jigsaw and then make the back cut with an offset router with a 1/4" carbide spiral blade. It rides against the backsplash and makes a perfect cut in about 15 seconds on a double sink. I also use blade with the teeth pointing down so as not to chip the laminate.

  3. Guest_ | Oct 02, 1999 05:05am | #6

    *
    Wow!

    Somebody besides me has an old industrial Craftsman with the scroll lock. I bought mine nearly 20 yrs ago when I was cutting alot of 2x hardwoods. It's a brute and has alot of shortcomings, but raw power and ability to cut a tight radius arent among them. Do they ever die?

    JonC

    1. Guest_ | Oct 02, 1999 05:09am | #7

      *Hey! At least I don't use my hatchet...anymore.

  4. BOYD_KUNKLE | Oct 02, 1999 08:50am | #8

    *
    I usually cut everything but the back two or three inches then go from underneith to trim close.

    1. Mad_Dog | Oct 02, 1999 06:16pm | #9

      *No Jon,they don't die, but things fall off of them, like the scroll lock knob. Only when you're in progress on a pesky cut!M

      1. Ben_Carnes | Oct 02, 1999 10:33pm | #10

        *YES!! I still have my old Crapsman with the scroll lock, and it won't die! I have since bought a Bosch and absolutely love it, but I keep that old swivel-head simply because it will get into places the Bosch won't. Had to replace the table because it's weak at the front... kept bending.... trigger sticks sometimes.... pain in the neck to change blades.... but it does swivel...

  5. Guest_ | Oct 03, 1999 12:00am | #11

    *
    Yeah.......mine died........couldn't get new parts either. Sad day.

    Ed. Williams

    1. Guest_ | Oct 03, 1999 06:41am | #12

      *still usin my craftsman........but use a keyhole saw lotsa times to cut that back cut.....sawzalls tend to chip formica along with jigsaws

      1. Guest_ | Oct 03, 1999 07:06am | #14

        *The local lumberyard uses a router and template from the bottom. Watched the guy do it, pretty slick. Matter of fact I don't recall even seeing a hatchet or sawzall, let alone a jigsaw in the shop.

  6. Jeff_King | Oct 03, 1999 07:06am | #13

    *
    I've cut in a number of sink holes into new countertops and am pretty sure I'm not doing it the best way. Does anyone know the easiest way to cut along the BACK edge of the countertop? There is never enough clearance to get a jig or circular saw tight up against the backsplash. Any suggestions? Jeff

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