I can understand that finding the Best Jigsaw Blade for Laminate Countertop may be difficult because of the nature of the laminate material. Cutting laminate can be a simple or challenging experience depending on what kind of laminate you are trying to cut. Cutting plastic laminate? Possible, even with hand tools. Cutting a sheet of laminate? Still simpler. Cutting an assembled laminate countertop? Now, that is tricky.
Laminate can be easy to save, the problem lies in the creation of laminate chippings during the cutting process. You can not repair Chipped laminate. So, before you cut a laminate countertop, it is very important to know the right technique and tools. Cutting the laminate countertop with a Jigsaw is one of the best ways to handle the tricky side of cutting this material. You will still have to be careful about not damaging the decorative layer while making cuts that are fine and precise. Make sure that you have supported the countertop from underneath properly.
Choosing the right Jigsaw Blade
When dealing with challenging projects, you need to have proper tools for the job. In the case of cutting laminate countertops, you ought to take the right measurements and use the best jigsaw blade for laminate countertop. Keep in mind that laminate is delicate on the surface, but surely a tough material to cut. It is possible to end up damaging the laminate and your jigsaw blade at the same time.
Your goal will be to learn how to cut the laminate without chipping the material or undermining the decorative layer on top. Usually, a jigsaw blade has teeth pointing in the upward direction. If you use one of these, it will chip the material and damage it, so avoid using an ordinary jigsaw blade. For such a job, work a blade with its teeth ending in a downward direction. These downward stroked blades will make clean cuts in the laminate. The cuts will be even more precise with a blade having higher tooth count. It would be even better if you work with a blade having carbide tip.
What other laminate countertop cutting tools do I need?
Tape Measure
As I mentioned, cutting the laminate countertop will require taking precise measurements. For accurate measurements, you will need a tape measure.
Carpenter Pencil
To mark your measurements and ease cutting along the right lines, you will need to mark the countertop with a Carpenter pencil. They have high-density lead, which makes it easier to mark and then follow along with the blade.
Fence guide
You can use pieces of straight lumber or a straight edge that you can clamp on to guide the saw. It needs to act as a fence to act as a guide while you work with your saw. It will play an important role in accuracy and safety.
Saw-horse
You will need 2-3 saw-horses to act as a support for the countertop, especially if you are working on a piece that you have not installed.
Masking tape
You will use the tape to create a barrier between the material and the blade. You will need to use masking tape or duct tape. This will protect the laminate from getting chipped by the blade’s cuts.
A Square
For cutting cross-sections on the laminate, you will need a Square. Which type you use will not affect the work, so you can use a carpenter’s square as well if you prefer to work with those.
How do I cut straight lines in a Laminate Countertop with a Jigsaw?
If you want to know how to cut laminate countertop for sink, then follow the steps below:
- The first thing to do is mark the countertop. Use the pencil to mark out the cutting lines. If you are replacing the countertop, then you can use the old one as a reference for your cuts.
- After you have marked the layout for your cuts, place strips of the mask along the marked lines. This will help keep the cuts clean and provide protection between the decorative layer of the laminate and the blade.
- Now mark the cutting line one more time, on the tape strips, and secure the countertop over the saw-horse. Set the fence guide along the side you are cutting.
- Attach the jigsaw blade to the jigsaw and make sure it is square to the shoe using the square.
- Place the jigsaw snug against the fence. The blade should be at the waste side of the cutting line. Start the saw and let the blade catch speed.
- Gently ease the blade to the cutting line. Let the blade move along the line, while you focus on keeping it gliding along the guidance fence.
- Slow down as you approach the end of the cut. It is important that the cut piece not fall off. Make sure you have supported the both sides from underneath or someone can hold the cut side while you finish cutting. You need to support both the cut and the waste side to keep the process efficient and clean.
How do I cut angles on a Laminate Countertop using a Jigsaw?
Cutting angles on a laminate countertop is a similar process to cutting for straight lines. The major difference will be that you need to adjust the lines to the desired angle. For this example, we will consider a 45-degree angle cut on the extreme right side of the countertop.
Use an appropriate tool to measure the 45-degree angle along with the countertop. Which tool you use will depend on the angle and the size of the countertop. You can use a speed square or a framing square, whichever tool you prefer. The key thing will be getting a straight and clear angle marked along the desired side of the countertop.
You will then follow the same steps as you did for cutting the straight line. Mark the angle using a pencil. Apply the tape and then mark it again. Check the saw blade and place the fence guide on the counter along the lines to support the blade. Ease the blade into the countertop and let it glide along with the cut. Make sure that you keep the blade steady along with the cut and that there is an appropriate support under the counter. You need to do this to keep the cut and wasted part from falling down and getting damaged.
Read all about our jigsaw cutting guide here.
The best Jigsaw Blade for Cutting Laminate Countertop
If you are confused about what blade to cut laminate countertop with then do not worry, I have enlisted some of the best laminate jigsaw blades that will help you. I have used all 4 of these blades myself and I totally recommend them. In this list, I tried to avoid other blades that do claim to cut laminate countertops but I have no personal experience with them.
Bosch T128BHM3 Jig Saw Blades for Laminates
The Bosch T128BHM3 Jig Saw Blades are the best choice for cutting laminate worktops. These are 3.62-inch blades with Carbide brazing, which improves the durability of the blades drastically. When cutting hard materials like laminate, the blades tend to lose their sharpness. The carbide brazing on the blades improves their life by 10 times compared to bi-metal coated teeth.
The kerf on the blade is thin, which means you waste less material as you run it through the cuts, at the same time the blades have a deep gullet which allows them to extract more material as they run. It has 14 Teeth Per Inch (TPI) that make cutting through laminate a smooth process despite the thickness of the material. These specifications are part of the design with the need of cutting thick and tough surfaces like laminates and laminate flooring.
Bosch T101AOF Jigsaw Blade for Laminate worktop
Whether you are cutting laminate or wood, the Bosch T101AOF Jigsaw blades are an excellent addition to anyone’s tool kit. These are blades designed with hard laminates and laminate floorings in mind. They design the teeth on the blade for fine and precise cuts. The narrow blade 3.14-inch blade is also ideal for making cutting in curves, especially on wood.
Bosch has coated their T101AOF blade in Bi-Metal of high-speed steel, which makes them durable even for an abrasive material like laminates and the pointed teeth reduce waste while you cut. The Bi-metal also makes them 10 times as durable compared to other steel blades. The ground and tapered ground teeth on the blade offer precise cuts in hard materials, which makes them an ideal choice for this list. But what really makes these blades stand out is their 20 Teeth Per Inch (TPI), which means cutting with them is one of the smoothest experiences you can have.
DEWALT DW3712H Jigsaw Blades, Laminate Down Cutting
When you are trying to cut heavy materials like laminate with a Jigsaw, you need blades that will cut into the material like butter and do so without chipping it. This is where DEWALT DW3712H Jigsaw Blades come in. These blades are 4 inches long and extremely sharp, made for materials like hardwoods and laminate. They deliver long, smooth, precise, and clean cuts without damaging the material or chipping it.
There are 10 Teeth Per Inch (TPI) on these blades, and they are precision ground. This means that they can handle something as hard and rough as a laminate with great ease. Cutting such material using these blades is going to be a smooth and clean experience. The blade also has a deep gullet which means it will extract more material and make cutting a faster process, combined with the length the overall speed of making cuts will improve drastically.
DEWALT DW3762H Laminate Down Cutting Jig Saw Blade
DEWALT is a popular brand for power tools and accessories, for good reason. They consider the needs of the tool and produce tools that not only get the job done but also provide precision. Therefore when you are using a Jigsaw, you want the right blades for the job. Especially where cutting something like laminate is involved. They have designed the DEWALT DW3762H blades with laminates and hard surfaces in mind. These are 4 inch long blades to help you get deep into the material with little trouble.
These blades have 10 Teeth Per Inch (TPI) for tough material and are coated. Moreover, they are made from high carbon steel to provide you with smooth cuts and durability to get through the laminate. These blades also have precision ground teeth and a side chip path, this allows them to give you spotless precise cuts and also reduce chances of chipping the material or damage the blades. Thus, giving you the durability and precision you need to get the job done. Hence, it is the best type of jigsaw blade to cut laminate countertops.
If you are looking for the best jigsaw blade for laminate countertop, then buy the ones provided in the list above. I have selected each one of them after careful consideration and thorough research. If you have some other blade in mind that worked for you, then mention it in the comment section down below. I will look forward to your feedback.
Yes, it is possible to cut a laminate countertop with a jigsaw. You can also use a circular saw or a router for this purpose. Make sure that the blade of the jigsaw is downward stroking instead of upward.
To avoid chippings lay the laminate counter top with its face side down and start cutting. The direction of the cut would be from back to the front.
Yes, in this way you will avoid chipping it. Use a sharp blade with more TPI. Use a downcut jigsaw blade for this purpose.
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