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How to cut laminated wood

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  • 06-08-2011 5:59pm
    #1
    cubix
    Registered Users Posts: 2,156 ✭✭✭


    The likes of what you would see in wardrobes, is it a certain type of blade for a chop saw or do you simply put your masking tape on. As I seem to be getting a lot of chipped edges which makes it look like a dogs dinner.
    Is some laminated wood better than others for not chipping??

    Thanks


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    #2
    1chippy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,716 ✭✭✭1chippy


    cutting panels like that need to be cut on a panel saw with a scoring blade which runs in the opposite direction of the main blade but perfectly aligned so that when the main blade cuts through it doesnt chip. i have seen a lad pulling his circ saw backwards on a guide first set at say 2mm then dropping it and cutting it the normal way. it works but takes a lot of time.

    the name of the sheets are melamine faced. laminated wood is made up of layers or strips of timber glued together


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    #3
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    cubix wrote: »
    The likes of what you would see in wardrobes, is it a certain type of blade for a chop saw or do you simply put your masking tape on. As I seem to be getting a lot of chipped edges which makes it look like a dogs dinner.
    Is some laminated wood better than others for not chipping??

    Thanks
    The wardrobe material is veneered chipboard or MDF, presumably.
    There are a few things you can do to prevent or at least reduce break out.
    Most important is to be sure that your saw blade is sharp. An 80 tooth blade on a 250mm chopsaw would be the best.
    Make the cut with the face to be seen uppermost - most break out occurs on the underside of the cut.
    You could try a false bed on the chopsaw - a piece of MDF would be good for this, and keep a firm downward pressure on the stuff to be cut.
    Commercial saws built for cutting sheet materials have a scoring blade; this is designed to minimise break out before the main cutting blade follows to do the principal cut. You can do something similar by scoring the cut line with a sharp knife.
    I've never use tape myself, but I can imagine it would help.


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    #4
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    1 chippy beat me to it :D


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    #5
    cubix
    Registered Users Posts: 2,156 ✭✭✭cubix


    Thanks lads


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