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How can you cut laminate at home. What is the best way to cut laminate? Hand saw: nuances of work, safety precautions

In appearance, the laminate resembles natural wood, although for its manufacture high-strength fiberboard and decorative finishes are used.

Important! In the production of laminate, a four-layer technology is used, on the upper part there is protective film which protects it from mechanical damage and wear.

Laying laminate is quite simple, like any other flooring, it required sawing and preparation for laying. If you are new to this business, then you may have problems choosing the right tool. To learn about the technology of sawing laminate using a special tool without chips and scratches, you should read the information below.

Laminate classification

Electric jigsaw for cutting

Often used for sawing laminate electric jigsaw, is a popular and versatile tool that requires certain skills to work. The laminate board will not deform if you work at high rotation speeds. Therefore, for high-quality sawing of the laminate, you should choose the jigsaw where you can adjust the speed, most often this is done with the help of a button. To perform the correct sawing of the laminate using an electric jigsaw, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures:

On the outside of the laminate board, with a pencil or marker, a mark is made along which the cut will be made;
It is necessary to draw along the same line with a knife or other sharp object and apply some force;
It is necessary to lay the laminate board on a flat surface and fix it in a stationary state.

A mark with a knife or other sharp object is made so that the jigsaw does not damage the coating, and the cut is even and correct in accordance with the markings. Before sawing, the laminate board is placed in such a state that the edge to be cut is suspended. Next, sawing is carried out along the intended line. It is required to correctly select a saw blade for sawing with an electric jigsaw; in a special store you can find saw blades for working with wood and special nozzles designed for sawing a laminate board.

If sawing is required straight, then you can use a wide nozzle. For more complex sawing, it is better to use a nozzle with fine teeth. The blade of such a nozzle should be narrow, this will avoid cracks and chips in the process of sawing a laminate board.

The beauty of curly cuts is achieved when using a narrow nozzle with fine teeth, while when using a wide nozzle it will be difficult to perform turning movements and the figures can be sawn not according to the markup, but with some deviation. Pay attention to the availability of saw blades with reverse teeth in a specialized store, they are just right for accurate and fast sawing of a laminate board.

Circular saw for sawing laminate boards

A circular saw can be used to cut a laminate board, although it is not the optimal tool for this operation. If you have not previously worked with a circular saw, then it is better to refuse the idea of cutting a laminate board using this tool. Most often, a circular saw is used to cut a laminate board lengthwise.

If there is a need to pass the saw along the entire length of the laminate board, then this tool is just the way. However, when working with a circular saw when sawing a laminate, you may encounter a problem. bad smell, this occurs due to the high speed of rotation of the disk, which, when heated, begins to burn the tree. For competent sawing of a laminate board using a circular saw, you should use a disc with fine teeth.

Bulgarian to perform the operation of sawing laminate

If you have a grinder at hand, then it is also quite suitable for performing the operation of sawing a laminate board. It is only necessary to choose a disc designed for working with ceramics or concrete. With the help of a grinder, the laminate is cut along the outside, this method avoids the appearance of chips and cracks. You should pay attention to the fact that when working with a grinder, a lot of burning and dust are released, you can protect objects in the house with a film.

Hacksaw for sawing laminate

A hacksaw is not a leader in the ranking of tools for sawing a laminate board. But if only this tool is at hand, certain rules will help you cope with the task of sawing. Do not use a hacksaw with large teeth, it will damage the surface and will not allow you to make an accurate cut. It is recommended to use a hacksaw with fine teeth, first make a mark with a pencil and a sharp object along the cut line. But when working with a conventional hacksaw, you do not have to rely on high speed. A hacksaw is more suitable for making small cuts and cross cuts. Such a tool is not suitable for cutting along the entire length of the laminate board.

Cutting torch

The cutter is used quite often in sawing laminate, since guillotines act on the principle of a burner, as a result, it is possible to create a cut faster. The cut when using this tool is even. It is convenient to work with such a tool, because it does not generate dust, and it does not make noise. The design of the cutter is designed in such a way that it is suitable only for cross cuts, so the scope of this tool is limited.

It is known that in production cutting of lamellas is carried out using special machines, which are equipped with two files:

The first is called trimming, it is small and rotates in the direction of movement of the part, while removing the bottom layer;
The second one makes the main cut of the board, rotating in the opposite direction.

Precise work is always characteristic of such a machine, as a result of which lamellas are obtained without chips with right angles. But what if you do not have such a tool when you lay a laminate flooring at home? How to cut laminate? Achieving maximum results is possible even in everyday life if you use the “right” devices.

How to cut laminate at home?

You can choose one of the most popular and available options. Before you pay for the device, learn more about its capabilities and the nature of the work:

Hacksaw. Can't say it's modern version, but in some cases it turns out to be very useful. The hacksaw never fails. For the best work result, it is better to use a hacksaw for metal or wood with a fine tooth. Start sawing from the back of the panel to prevent possible chipping on the surface of the board;
Bulgarian. This is an angle grinder with a disc for metal. How to cut laminate correctly? Fix the lamella and slowly lower the angle grinder so that it does not break out of your hands and does not stall. Prepare for the fact that during operation an unpleasant odor will appear due to the heating of the disc;
cutter. Here is another popular device for cutting laminated material. It allows you to cut boards quickly and efficiently. The cutter effortlessly handles both thin and thick panels. Such an ideal result cannot be achieved either using a grinder or using a jigsaw. It is a device with a sharp blade, which is easily set in motion with a handle. Such a mechanism works very quietly, without noise and dust and does not need power supply;
a circular saw. What blade to cut laminate? This is an option for accurate cutting, equipped with a special disc. Lay the board face up on a hard, flat surface, fix it securely, and mark the cutting line. Then gently lower the disc of the grinder and gradually move it along the intended line without getting stuck in the board. It is this option that requires skills in working with a circular saw, as well as a lot of patience. But, the advantage in quality and quick result. Are there any downsides? Yes, if the smell of burnt wood, which appears during sawing, can be considered a minus;
electric jigsaw. This is quite effective, but simple option. Make sure the jigsaw is equipped with a special wood attachment. Before starting work, you need to fix the lamella on the floor. Turn on the device and set it to high speed to protect the material from possible chips. Your movements should be smooth.

! A minimum of two people must work with the jigsaw.

I would like to pay special attention to laminate files, which are used in conjunction with a jigsaw:

The goal is a quick cut: if you need to cut many boards at once in a short period, then it is better to choose the option with a large tooth. The fact is that the larger the tooth, the faster the work will proceed. The only negative is that the cut will be less accurate, the cut is not smooth. For this purpose, as a rule, they buy a tool marked T101D, since it is suitable even for a thickness of 75 mm. For 100mm choose 244D, 200mm choose 344D;
the goal is a clean cut: here you need to use the T101B option. It is characterized by a smaller tooth, so the cut is smoother. There are no chips in this case. Of course, even 75 mm can be cut with such a file, but it will take several times more time.

The laminate file is equipped with a reverse tooth, which, compared to other options, is directed in the opposite direction. Why is this needed? This is done so that chips do not form on the front side of the lamella and do not deteriorate. appearance.

! Such boards can be easily sawn with a blade withsmall divorce and moderate tooth size. At the same time, the speed of the jigsaw should also be moderate. So the tool does not get stuck and does not tear the edges.

How to cut laminate correctly: straight and curly cuts

How to make straight cuts?

Method 1. You can use a hacksaw or circular saw with the maximum number teeth to avoid chipping. First, make a markup and mark the part of the board that you are going to cut. You can do this with both chalk and pencil. It is very easy to erase the chalk afterwards. Well, after that, just cut the lamella along the marked line.

Method 2. You can also use an electric jigsaw. This option is several times simpler than the previous one. Fix the guide on the device, and then lead it over the edge of the workpiece. In this case, the movement of the file will be even relative to the edge.

! Are you working with a thin lamella? Be prepared for the appearance of chips on its front. The matter is that in the first variant the tool will move up. To prevent such an outcome, you can place the workpiece face down. Another way is to use anti-slip pads.

How to make curly cuts?

How to cut a laminate in a curve? For such work, only a jigsaw with a special blade with very fine teeth for laminate floors or even with a standard blade is suitable. The special option is better, as it helps to cut the pattern up and without chipping.

First, prepare the desired template from paper or cardboard. It is needed in order to calculate the cut and maintain the integrity of the board;
attach a template and circle the desired pattern;
cut out the drawing and attach the template again to make sure it is accurate;
now just trace the sample along the contour on the surface of the lamella;
make a cut. If you are using a standard canvas, lay the board pattern side down and attach the template upside down. Hold the jigsaw vertically only. If you need to cut with the right side, stick a strip of masking tape on the cut line so that you do not have chips when cutting. Then measure over the adhesive tape the lines along which you are going to cut the lamella. For this, a special canvas is used, intended for such flooring.

! Sometimes the template needs to be applied several times in order to get a sample of the desired shape. AT this case it is important not to rush: take the time to make the template, and then you will spend less time and effort on cutting the boards. 2

Nowadays, construction is constantly underway. New houses are being erected, in which cosmetic repairs are needed. Nowadays, in most apartments and their houses, there is a floor covered with laminate. Laminate -

Quantity Calculator

Fairly economical and quick to install. To do this, you must be able to use power tools and the simplest measuring instruments. The laying principle is so simple that you can do it yourself without the help of specialists (user reviews confirm this).

Laying this coating is not difficult, the main thing is to understand all the features of the work and little tricks. You can improve the quality and speed up the masonry with a jigsaw or electric jigsaw. In practice, it is noticeable that the quality of work directly depends on the quality of the cut elements. First of all, for proper cutting, you will need a jigsaw file for laminate. Otherwise, if the cutting part is not selected correctly, the materials will deteriorate with chips and cracks. That is, you will be at a loss, and waste your time.

What blade to cut laminate?

Features of choosing a saw blade for a laminate on a jigsaw and electric jigsaw are divided into:

form;
tooth setting method;
material;

If you need to cut laminate with a jigsaw, it is better to choose files with small teeth. In some cases, a tool with a reverse tooth arrangement is used, which significantly reduces the likelihood of cracks and chips on the front side of the materials. Highly important point is the shank of the nail file that is used in your jigsaw. However, in addition to individual models, there are "omnivorous" devices that fix cutting parts of any kind.

See video for details.

File model depending on the purpose and features of the workpiece

Bosh Corporation is engaged in the production of files for cutting on laminates. The line of such models is called - "Specially for laminate", and has excellent indicators of strength and flexibility. Wide tools suitable for straight cutting, but for curly and curvilinear - narrow.

Bosch jigsaw blades for laminate have many popular models, including T101BR. It is standard and has a reverse tooth arrangement. When using this file, the front side of the laminate does not suffer or tear, so that the cuts are neat and smooth.

T101B. The model has straight-cut fine teeth that provide a smooth cut. It is used for accurate and even cut, no chips. In addition to laminate, it is used for sawing plywood, chipboard and fiberboard.
T101BR. This model is practically no different from the previous one, but there is one highlight in it. The letter R in the name indicates that the teeth are directed in the opposite direction. This introduction eliminates the appearance of cracks and chips on the front side of the panels. Thus, the appearance of the coating does not deteriorate, and the cuts are clean and neat.
T119BO. Suitable for shaped cutting (cutting circles, radii, bends) of laminate and wood. Their shape is fundamentally cast from rectilinear models, because in bends and turns it should not be clamped. However, the T119BO model is not the only one of its kind, in addition to it, there are other models that are designed for curly cutting. Each of them has the letter "O" in the name.

These three are the most popular models, famous for their quality work and long service life.

The narrower the file, the more elegant and accurate the cut will be;
If you want to cut boards as soon as possible, then a tool with large teeth is ideal for this, however, the speed does not compensate for slightly "scarred" material (unsmooth and not very neat cut);
Using the T101B model guarantees the quality of the cut, however, the thickness of the sawn material should not exceed 75 mm;
Choose only quality products, namely Bosch.

What are the nuances you need to consider when laying the laminate yourself?

Boards should take their shape. After the material is delivered to the apartment where it will be laid, it must be left there for acclimatization. This is especially important when the temperature is low outside. When laying the floor between the coating itself and the wall, a technological gap of one and a half centimeters is always left, which, when the temperature changes, compensates for the possible expansion of the laminate. Cold coating when heated can significantly reduce this gap.
When preparing the surface, it is necessary to take care of the necessary stock of boards. When laying at an angle, the laminate will go more than when laying parallel to the walls.
Elimination of visible defects of the floor surface. If the surface defects are not corrected, the floor will sag and creak. Allowable screed can have differences of no more than 3 mm. Otherwise, if the base is made of wood, use grinder. With a concrete base, a self-leveling screed is made. As an insulating coating on a concrete screed, a polyethylene film is placed perpendicular to the laying of the laminate. Then put a heat-insulating and sound-proof substrate. The final layer will be laminate.
Installation direction. If you choose a direction perpendicular to the window, then this will allow you to hide the longitudinal joints of the rows of the coating.
Laying the first row of laminate boards. The first row is always better to fit the unevenness of the wall. Often in apartments and houses the walls are deformed. Given this, it is better to leave a centimeter of clearance. To securely fix the gap, it is better to use purchased or manufactured wedges against which the laminate boards rest. It is easier to snap the locks when the laminate is laid in the direction towards itself.
The second row of laminate begins with the last piece of the board of the previous row. For better fixation of the locks, the boards are placed at an angle.
After laying three rows of the floor, you need to check how smooth it turned out.
The final stage of installation. To make the last board as even as possible, it is better to use a clamp.

Completes the installation of the plinth. Mounting, self-tapping screws or special plinth glue will help to attach the skirting board to the wall.

It is quite possible to trim the laminate yourself, the main thing is to correctly familiarize yourself with all the nuances of this process Laminate on the floor looks very beautiful, and it is one of the most popular finishing materials, however, it cannot be used for wall decoration. The peculiarity of the canvas is durability, affordability, original form, large assortment.

Conduct Finishing work on the floor, you can do the cutting with your own hands and even without the help of a specialist. In order for the floor to lie evenly and there was no deformation, and swelling of the coating, it is worth cutting the board correctly and laying it close to the wall. At home, it is much easier to saw soft vinyl laminate, which consists of only 2 layers and is a thin sheet.

This type of coating is better than conventional, as it has excellent performance properties.

Wear resistance 43 class;
environmental friendliness;
Water resistance;
Fast styling.

An excellent tool for cutting laminate is a special guillotine

To cut such a laminate, no special tools are required and a ruler, pencil and a construction knife are enough. A line of the future cut is drawn, then you need to draw a knife along it and bend the canvas. If necessary, make a curly cut, you can use large scissors.

To cut a laminate board, you need to take accurate measurements, prepare a tool, follow safety precautions. It is especially important that you need to cut the canvas so that there is no torn protruding part on the trim line. In other words, there should be no visual damage. For quality cutting, you can use different kind tools. Most often, to cut the laminate web, a file is used that can be used at home.

Unlike such canvases as chipboard, laminate is very easy to handle, and a hand-held hacksaw is suitable for this.

There should be no rough tears and other types of deformation on the edge, and in order to exclude their formation, it is best to use a file with small teeth. If it happened that the coating nevertheless deformed, then do not despair, since you just need to put the material on this side under the plinth, and therefore it will not be conspicuous. Before making a cut, you need to check several times to avoid inaccuracies, which will later become noticeable in the form of a hole on the floor sticking out from under the baseboard.

How and how to cut laminate at home

What is the easiest way to cut laminate? It should be neat, correct, thoughtful. The cut can be done with a jigsaw, especially if it is an electric tool.

For cutting laminate, many experts recommend using a jigsaw.

It is through the electric jigsaw that you can make a cut:

Fast;
Competently;
Purely.

The most common hand saw or hacksaw can be an alternative, but this process will take much longer. Due to the fact that the cost of such a product as a jigsaw is not too small, and the laying of a laminate is quite rare due to long term operation, it is not advisable to purchase for personal use.

The method of cutting tiles with an electric jigsaw is peculiar, and requires mandatory compliance with safety and operating rules. The laminate is cut into small teeth. Such a canvas is included in the set of each electric jigsaw and, if necessary, you can buy an additional one.

It is impossible to work with a damaged canvas, as it will not cut, but simply deform the board.

The cut is carried out according to a previously made markup. The markings should be on the back of the laminate. Next, cutting is carried out, but with a carefully fixed board, for which you can use heavy object or at all own hand. It is advisable to cut with additional help.

Handy laminate cutter

You can correctly cut a standard laminate board using a machine on which a guillotine is installed. It is important to remember that the board consists of 5 layers, namely unrefined paper, which prevents the penetration of moisture into the coating, high density fiberboard, moisture resistant film, decorative paper, acrylic resin. They cut the laminate without chips, so as not to spoil the integrity of the board, and it is advisable not to use a regular knife.

You can quickly and accurately cut laminate with a handy cutter

When working with the machine you need:

Comply with safety rules;
Work carefully;
Follow manufacturer's instructions.

It is strictly forbidden to carry out a cut without a previously marked line, along which a disk is installed, put on the cutter. With the help of the machine, the cut will be carried out efficiently, quickly and simply, and if the technology is violated, it is possible to deform not only the material, but also harm the hands.

Laminate tool kit

What tool can be used to cut laminate flooring when laying? It is worth noting that special requirements are imposed on the tool with which the laminate will be cut.

Namely:

Ease of work;
Maximum efficiency;
Quality work;
Compactness.

To make a small cut, you should not use a grinder, which can be used to saw off a large and thick canvas, as an ordinary hacksaw for metal is suitable here. It is easy to work with and does not require special professional skills. When cutting laminate, do not press on it, as this can cause the panel to break through and form an uneven edge. A damaged panel cannot be repaired, and if there are too many boards with defective edges, the floor covering will not look aesthetically pleasing.

Before you start working with laminate, you should prepare in advance necessary tools to help you get the job done quickly and efficiently.

Experienced craftsmen prefer to use an electric type jigsaw, as it does not leave dirt and allows you to work as quickly as possible.

It is important that safety precautions are observed and the laminate board is cut on the substrate. For example, on a nightstand or table.

It is necessary to cut the laminate from the back side, so that in case of defects, they were not too visible. A machine with a circular saw is no less optimal, but a more dangerous option. With it, the cut will pass in just a few seconds, but preliminary marking is also required so that the cut is in the right place. A circular saw can also be of a manual type, and the work also consists in marking and cutting.

If you use a special angle grinder, then the cutting will be of high quality and correct. It is the grinder that is considered an indispensable tool in the arsenal of any master or ordinary man. To cut laminate, you can use a blade for metal, concrete or ceramic tiles. Most importantly, the lamella should be patterned up, unlike other cutting methods. Due to the cut with a grinder, you can not only divide the canvas into 2 parts, but also polish the edge at the same time.

As for the type of tool, it is best to use a professional one, not an amateur one, as it is of higher quality and more efficient. Home machines may not give the desired result, and they are also not safe, but they are much cheaper. It is worth noting that the machine of any kind must have special supports, through which the lamella is attached, which ensures a safe cut.

How to cut laminate (video)

There are an incredible number of varieties of tools for manual or automatic cutting, however, when choosing, you need to be guided by the quality of the cut and the amount of work to be done. In this case, it is much easier to pick up inventory that will fully meet expectations, and be useful not only for working with laminate, but also with other canvases.

So, I collected a sufficient amount of material and decided to dash off another analytical note. This time the theme is sawing chipboard without chips.

There is a fairly fair opinion that it is possible to cleanly cut chipboard only on professional equipment (that is, a panel saw).

The whole highlight of this machine is that it has two saw blades located strictly on the same axis. The first cuts the chipboard, the second cuts it through.

The cost of this unit is about 700,000 - 1,000,000 rubles (of course, there are more expensive))). NOT VERY ACCEPTABLE FOR THE AMATEUR.

Not a bad way to trim incorrectly marked parts, but you can’t cut the whole cabinet in this way. Chips, of course, are present, but in an amount that is quite comparable with the formatter (it also, in secret, leaves a small number of small chips). A lot of hassle with markup. Only straight cuts can be made.

Method 5 - Fraser

Provides the cleanest edge of the workpiece; the quality is no different from the formatter, often even better.

With it, we first saw the workpiece with a jigsaw, departing from the marking line 2-3 mm, and then we align the line according to the template (I usually use the second piece of chipboard, sawn on a formatter, of a suitable size). should be copy, that is, with a bearing.
Very clean cut. The possibility of carrying out curvilinear cuts, that is, the manufacture of many, including several completely identical ones. Cons - a lot of trouble: the need for accurate marking, preliminary sawing of blanks, setting a template or tire under the router, that is, not very suitable for mass use.