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Plastic laminte joints

| Posted in General Discussion on October 27, 2004 04:25am

I am trying to glue some plastic laminate on a countertop and my question related to the edge.  The corners of the island are 45 degrees.  I want to know how I get the joints in the corners perfect so the seam is not seen.  With a 90 degree corner it is easy because the router cuts at 90 degrees.  When I have a strip that is 5 feet long, how do I get the exact measurement?  For the 45 degree angle, I need two 22.5 angles.  Do I simply do this by hand with a sanding block? Any guidance would be appreciated.


Edited 10/26/2004 9:26 pm ET by Scott

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  1. highfigh | Nov 21, 2004 08:04am | #1

    How are you attaching the two sections of countertop? If the counter is 4' wide or less and no more than 12' long, you can lay one piece of laminate on it and have no joints at all. If you're making the backsplash too, you can make the countertop first, then laminate it before actually attaching it to the base cabinets. All you need to do is move the countertop into its final position, lay the laminate on top of it and make sure you have enough overhang for the edges. Trim it off with a flush trim bit and add the edge treatment, unless the edgees will be laminated too, in which case you would laminate the edges first and file the top edge flush. If you can describe the layout, it would help.

    If the countertop is larger than the dimensions I listed, you can seam it in an inconspicuous place, if there is one. If not, you can buy seam sealer in a matching color to the material.

    One way to be sure the edges meet with a minimum of visibility is to lay the long piece in place, then lay the intersecting piece over it so you can establish the inside corner, using shims so the piece on topp is laying as level as the base cabinet. With a straightedge, mark from the outside corner(usually against a wall) to the inside corner on both pieces. Cut along this line using a straightedge. See if they meet well and if not, clamp them down in the same position they will be attached. Separate them by just less than the diameter of a flush cut router bit and clamp a straightedge to one piece as a guide. When you rout the pieces and make sure the router base stays in contact with the straightedge, you will have two very straight and well-fitting edges. When you trim the laminate along these edges, there's not going to be any appreciable gap. It sounds complicated, but it's really not too bad.
    "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."



    Edited 11/21/2004 12:05 am ET by highfigh

    1. lcasfm | Nov 22, 2004 04:43am | #4

      Thanks for your reply highfigh.  Let me see if I can do a better job explaining.  I have an island countertop that has 4 inch long 45% corners.  Therefore, the edge coming to the corner is 4 feet ling, the other side edge is 6 feet long and in the corner there is a 4 inch edge.  These three pieces need to come together.  Therefore, the entire 90 degree corner is made up of 4 - 22.5 degree angles.  This means the actual edges (facing to back surface) will not be flush,  The front will be 4 inches long and the back will be slightly less because a 22.5 degree chamfering needs to be on the piece.  Hopefully this helps explain my situation.

       

       

      1. highfigh | Nov 22, 2004 05:00am | #5

        Is there any way you can post a drawing of the arrangement? This one doesn't sound like it will be a lot of fun.
        "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

  2. bolts | Nov 22, 2004 02:49am | #2

    If I understand correclly you are wanting to put a 22.5 degree

    edge on your laminate a laminate trimmer with a tilt base will

    do this Dewalt make one and the base is an accesory all the best.

    1. lcasfm | Nov 22, 2004 04:36am | #3

      Are you assuming that I am looking for a bevel from the top of the laminate countertop to the fromt edge?  That is what it sounded like.  I am trying to join two front edges that form a 45% angle.  Therefore, each piece needs a 22.5 degree angle.

       

      Thanks,

      Scott

      1. bolts | Nov 22, 2004 05:28am | #6

        I understand what you are saying that you need to trim th ends  of your front trim at22.5 degrees to meet neatly a tilt base laminate trimmer wii do this or use a22.5 bearing guided bit in your router  Cheers 

        1. highfigh | Nov 25, 2004 10:36pm | #7

          Scott- have you tried making test pieces and setting the blade on your tablesaw to 67.5 degrees? Start there and see what combination of angles works best. You're trying to come up with a solution for just the edge, right?
          "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."

      2. bolts | Nov 26, 2004 01:44am | #8

        Scott in my last post I left the word degrees out describing the 22.5 router bit laminate is not usualy mitered but trimmed flush

        meaning the laminate being the edge in your case is glued on leaving an over hang to be trimmed off as you go the 22.5 degree angle means you will need either the laminate trimmer I sugested or the router bit glue the long pieces first and trim flush with the substrate then glue the short corner piece and trim flush, you can also do this with a file a lot of care and patience  

                         Cheers 

         

         

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