[Shop-talk] No shop this weekend, kitchen remodel instead

[Karl Vacek]

If you scribe (deeply - you actually want to score it) right on the cut 
line, then cut with your saw (or router or whatever) just on the inside 
(scrap side) of the score, any chips will stop at the score, and not mess up 
the good portion.

Many years ago when building countertops I found a Hyde (the putty-knife 
company) high-pressure laminate cutter.  It's a rock-simple tool, just a 
flat piece of steel cut with a slight hook.  The end is ground to a long vee 
.  What you do is drag the flat end of the vee along the cut line like a 
plow - picture dragging a tiny beer-can opener along the line.  It scores 
and cuts a vee-groove.  If you scribe the laminate a few times with the 
tool, you'll actually cut all the way through to the substrate.  The tool is 
made for cutting un-installed laminate when fabricating countertops, but 
I've used it to good effect in this application too, for cutouts, cut-offs, 
etc..

Karl


> Eric J Russell wrote:
>>  Be wary of chipping of the laminate (use a
>> sharp blade and don't cut too fast) but the sink lip should cover that
>> OK.