How to cut a laminate

One of the popular types of flooring for residential premises is a laminate. This material consists of several layers, each of which performs a certain functional purpose. When laying such a coating, it is necessary to fit and trim the panels in order to carry out the installation efficiently and technologically.

What can be used for cutting laminate at home

With full floor coverage, regardless of size, you have to adjust the panels to the required area. To cut a workpiece of the desired length at home use a different cutting tool:

  • hacksaw for metal or wood;
  • jigsaw;
  • angle grinder (grinder);
  • construction knife;
  • guillotine;
  • circular saw or cutting machine.

Any of these devices are used in the work, but you need to know the features of each of them.

Hacksaw or wood saw

The most affordable tool that can be found in any, even the smallest farm, is a wood hacksaw. She easily cuts the component layers of the panel. The quality of the cut will depend, to a greater extent, on how well the saw is sharpened. In order for the sawn edge to be straight, the hacksaw must be kept at an acute angle to the lamella, in contact with the marking line.

ATTENTION! If, after cutting the workpiece, unwanted defects remained on the sawn end - disheveledness and increased roughness, then the surface is treated with a file or file with fine grain.

A hacksaw for metal can also be used for cutting a laminate, only you need to know that a blade intended for iron will quickly clog with wood-shaving waste. Further use of the tool for working with metal will require replacement of the blade. The use of saws for wood or iron is possible with a small number of cut blanks, for example, when laying the coating in one of the living rooms. The complexity of using this equipment will make itself felt after the 3rd cut. And those, even in a small room will have to do at least a dozen.

IMPORTANT! When cutting with a hacksaw, it is difficult to get into the marking line, because the tool constantly moves to the side. For accuracy, use a small bar, which is applied along the marking line, then rest on this bar with a saw blade for smooth entry into the drawn line!

Cutting with a jigsaw

The use of such a power tool will facilitate the laboriousness of work. Its advantage is considered to be high speed and the ability to perform indirect cuts. When working with a jigsaw, marking is done on the back of the panels and the laminate is laid face down on the work table when cutting, because the jaw support foot leaves a mark in the form of a scratch. Such damage will not be noticeable if it remains on the wrong side.

The advantage of using a power tool is the ability to cut off several blanks at once without increasing the applied effort. When performing such cuts, the panels are firmly fastened with clamps and control the compliance of the sizes of each of them.

ATTENTION! When working with a jigsaw, it is recommended to use a canvas with a small tooth. This will improve the quality of the cut end surface.

The disadvantage of using such a power tool is considered to be small irregularities in the cutting line, because manual work is always distinguished from the machine by the lack of straightness.

Using a grinder

The presence of an angle grinder will facilitate the cutting of workpieces when laying the laminate. But if such work did not have to be done, then it is better to first make test cuts on the draft material. The power of the grinder and the specifics of using cutting discs on wood require certain skills.

The versatility of the grinding machine allows you to quickly and efficiently cut the required number of panels. If you need to perform indirect cuts, the grinder will be relevant. When cutting, the panels are placed face up, you can process several blanks at once, but you need to remember about the rigidity of the laminate fixing, because the power of the grinder creates vibration.

ATTENTION! The use of cutting discs for metal is a violation of fire safety. In this case, the appearance of an unpleasant odor and smoke.

How to cut a laminate with a guillotine

A professional tool includes a cutter for guillotine-type panels. It has large dimensions and is designed for cutting workpieces of the required length. When performing work, the laminate is installed under the guillotine knife face up, then press the lever and get the workpiece of the desired size.

The advantages of this device is the accuracy and good quality of the end surface. The disadvantages include: large dimensions of the tool and the limited size of the cut. For example, a wide panel cannot be cut off at an acute angle due to the short length of the working space. To make long cuts, use a special blade cutter with a larger blade size.

REFERENCE! The cost of a guillotine cutter is very high. It does not make sense to purchase it for laying laminate in one or several rooms!

Construction knife application

In the absence of a bench tool, you can cut off the workpiece using a clerical knife. It will be better to use a construction knife, because it has greater rigidity and ease of retention.

To cut off the panel, lay a metal corner or rail along the marking line and, leaning on the fixture, perform a cut with a knife. In this case, the workpiece is placed face up and exerted great effort when holding the tool along the cut line. Cardboard or plywood is laid under the panel and the passage of the knife along the cutting line is repeated until the upper layers of the laminate are destroyed. After passing through most of the thickness of the material, the workpiece is broken off.

Cut with a circular saw

The use of a portable machine for cutting panels will quickly and efficiently make the required amount of laminate of the desired length. Having the skills to work with portable circular tools will help with the longitudinal processing of workpieces. If you are faced with such a professional tool for the first time, then it is necessary to perform several rough cuts, even with the usual transverse sawing of panels.

To cut off the workpiece, it is marked on the front side. Then a small-tooth disc is installed, equipment is started and, pressing the panel against a horizontal bed, they push the laminate along the intended line.

ATTENTION! Performing a longitudinal cut requires setting the width on the circular machine!

A circular saw is a convenient tool for cutting, but the dimensions and weight will require special transportation of the device to the place of work. The installer independently determines the feasibility of using such equipment.

Features of cutting vinyl laminate

High resistance to abrasion of the upper layer, similar to commercial panels, makes vinyl coating in demand. In addition, this material creates an original decorative effect. The structure of vinyl panels is different from ordinary, softness and toughness.

To cut such material, it is best to use a construction or clerical knife. This tool will allow you to cut all layers of vinyl laminate, subject to mechanical destruction.

After studying all the cutting methods and the possible use of one or another tool, each one independently chooses the required device, depending on the task and availability.

Watch the video: How to cut PFL Laminate sheet the easy way (March 2024).

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