My Excella has had the cabinetry replaced with very nice laminated ones. The pantry is especially nice and extra large.
I am wanting to know how to shorten the doors on the pantry so I can add a thicker flooring ( it is quite flush now) without messing up the door. Using a laminate blade, masking tape etc...will that do it?
It has a stick down tile now, and I want to do laminate.
Also I have a tv cabinet with a stereo mounted in it. It was made as a single box wiht no doors. I would like to cut a door in it.. so same question. What is a good way to cut into a mounted cabinet face?
Thanks
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
If you have a high speed router with a guard that will work the best! It will trim the length and not chip up the laminate.
If you do not you could use a saw, but I would only use one with very fine teeth at a high speed!
Masking tape and the right saw blade are key. Particular care is necessary with edge banding, if it is present. For cutting the bottom off of laminated doors , I happen to use a very fine cut, new blade on a hand jigsaw and cut from the outside towards the center of the door on any edge banding. As long as you only cut the bottom off, you will not need to replace any edge banding, but be sure to smooth off the face laminate to avoid its catching on something later.
The problem with using a jigsaw on laminate is, the blade moves both up and down. On the up stroke it's pulling on the edge of the laminate and tends to create little micro chips in the cut edge. If you use a jigsaw ,tape the laminate first with masking tape and draw your cut line onthe tape. I find ,using a Skill-saw and cutting from the back produces the cleanest edge because the teeth are rotating into the cut and not out of it. Using a table saw there is a small 4" blade that protrudes above the table about 1/16" of an inch rotating in the opposite direction of the main blade that scores the laminate before the cut, that creates a near perfect cut.
Thanks for that. i am a little limited in the pwer tool department, but do have a jig saw with a laminate blade that works well. Also I wondered about using a rotary tool with a cut off wheel.
I will remove the doors to cut them,. but the "box" cabinet is attached to the side of the refridgerator cabinet surround and may be more of a challenge.
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
Use some 1"x2" as straight edges for a guide for cutting the opening in the cabinet . A couple of drops of hot melt glue to attach them and then knock them off after. Just light pressure against the guide with the rotary tool or jig saw and you should get a clean opening.
The problem with using a jigsaw on laminate is, the blade moves both up and down. On the up stroke it's pulling on the edge of the laminate and tends to create little micro chips in the cut edge.
Alansd, you are right, they do make special jig saws blades for laminates that cut on the down stroke (reverse tooth) instead of the up stroke like regular blades. One that Vermont American makes is SKU #30018. Taping would probably still be advisable.
Use some 1"x2" as straight edges for a guide for cutting the opening in the cabinet . A couple of drops of hot melt glue to attach them and then knock them off after. Just light pressure against the guide with the rotary tool or jig saw and you should get a clean opening.
thats a new one for me, thanks for that idea. Would you suggest drillng a small hole to start the saw in?
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
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