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Trimming plastic laminate with a router

I'VE GOT A QUESTION ...

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Alberta Mike

11-29-2001 06:55:13




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I'm about to trim off plastic laminate from a countertop and have done a bit of practice on some scraps that I made up. I am using a standard router (not one of the little laminate trimmers which are too expensive for the times I would use it) and also am using a standard laminate trimmer bit with a bearing. I seem to prefer working the router on the right side of the workpiece but either side is workable. Is there a recommended direction that the router should be moved when doing this? Or is it better to push the router than to pull it along the edge?

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robyn

11-12-2002 17:20:02




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 Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Alberta Mike, 11-29-2001 06:55:13  
I am fixing to trim a laminated countertop. I went and bought a flush bit for countertop. My question is I know this stuff is easy to chip. When we trim this will the bit chip it?



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DennisMN

11-29-2001 17:24:17




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 Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Alberta Mike, 11-29-2001 06:55:13  
One thing to watch out for is the adhesive clogging the bearing. The bearing will stick and will leave a non-removable mark.



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VaTom

11-30-2001 06:07:17




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 Re: Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to DennisMN, 11-29-2001 17:24:17  
Using a strip of masking tape for the bearing to ride on will eliminate that burn potential. Also will prevent over-cutting into the face strip if the cutters are not quite matched to the bearing. If you are sloppy with the contact cement and have trouble with it getting on the bearing, cutting at a deeper depth setting will help. Again, use the tape to protect the face strip. You won't notice the extra filing time.

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Franz

11-29-2001 14:45:36




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 Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Alberta Mike, 11-29-2001 06:55:13  
I've always pulled the router towards me, mainly because it provided better visability and seemed like it controlled easier. The most important thing I ever found was having someone to keep moving the vacuum cleaner along with the router, to suck up the chips and keep the work area clear.



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hay

11-29-2001 07:42:29




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 Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Alberta Mike, 11-29-2001 06:55:13  
i don't think it matters on laminate because there is not a grain like in wood so it can't catch on the grain and pull away. just have a firm grip on the router and go slow and always wear eye protection.



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Russ

11-29-2001 15:48:02




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 Re: Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to hay, 11-29-2001 07:42:29  
Direction does matter because of the direction the bit rotates. Picture the results you would have if you pulled your circular saw vs pushing it. Proper direction is counter clockwise on the out side of a piece and clockwise on inside cuts like a sink cutout. A fullsize router is always better for this task if you have the room, larger, more stable base. Russ



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Tyler(WA) Russ is right, but...

11-30-2001 07:47:09




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 Re: Re: Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Russ, 11-29-2001 15:48:02  
I'm not a book learning type and need a picture.

Here's how I picture what Russ is corectly saying.

If you think of the router bit as a traction wheel, you want the bit to be "backing away" from your work. If your bit went the other way, it might grab and climb into your work on it's own. Better to push/pull it against it's inclination.

When you work with wood that has grain... think of the same thing only never let the bit cut up from under the grain. Most grain is not perfecly verticle so it resembles a slanted deck of cards. Always work the bit so it cuts down on the stack of grain. It it cuts "up," it can lift the grain and split the material.

Just my word pictures. Hope they help.

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Pappy-Russ has it exactly right!!! NT

11-29-2001 22:47:08




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 Re: Re: Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Russ, 11-29-2001 15:48:02  
NT



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Alberta Mike

11-29-2001 17:54:21




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 Re: Re: Re: Trimming plastic laminate with a router - I'VE GOT A QUESTION ... in reply to Russ, 11-29-2001 15:48:02  
That's exactly what I found out today ... I went to a huge tool supply company and checked out some of their reference books on tools and the direction is just what you said it was.



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