Replies

1. 
   Jay_Malaspino | Jan 01, 1999 01:16am | #1

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   Martin,

   By a u-shape I take that to mean it is all wall to wall. Fasten or have the fabricator fasten two of the pieces together. Bring it over into place and see how good the two back edges look against the walls. If it needs to be scribed use a belt sander with 36x grit sandpaper. It will take as little or as much as you need off. You simply can't cut the back of the top with a saw. Bring over the third piece and fit it to the other two without fastening it. Scribe that one also. Now you are ready to fasten the loose one to the other two. It sounds simple but even after 600 kitchen it is the worst nighmare I have wall to wall counters. It's so much easier if you can pull the counter out.

2. 
   Guest_ | Jan 01, 1999 05:39am | #2

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   Martin by pre-formed do you mean post formed with the back splash made as part of the counter?

3. 
   Martin_Greenberger | Jan 04, 1999 09:21pm | #3

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   Thank you for the advice. I have been reluctant to try to make two legs of the "u" and then fit the 3rd because the walls forming the kitchen are rarely at right angles (or always plumb for that matter). I will try your way on the next houses (we have about 12 similar houses in the next development). I hope I will get good at it.

1. 
   Bill_Duckworth | Jan 05, 1999 12:19am | #4

   *The jobs you describe might go more smoothly if you used biscuits to align the miter joints and hardware called "Tite-joint fasteners" to draw them tightly together. For walls that are out of square, floating splashes applied after the counters are installed make a neater job of it.

1. 
   Martin_Greenberger | Jan 05, 1999 05:10am | #5

   *That's why you have to keep asking questions. I have a biscuit jointer and never thought of using it for this. It won't solve the chipping problem, but aligning the miter has been a problem anyway. By tite joint fasteners do you mean the threaded rod with a steel plate at each end, or are you talking about another type?Thanks for the advice.

4. 
   Martin_Greenberger | Jan 05, 1999 05:10am | #6

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   I volunteer with the Habitat for Humanity chapter in LA. Many of our kitchens have u-shaped layouts. We use pre-shaped formica counters, with mitered corners. I have found it nearly impossible to join the counter pieces together accurately and fit the counter into place without chipping something. Does anybody have any ideas or techniques for doing this task without damaging the counter?