[NA] Working with Formica countertops

Let'sgoflying!

Let'sgoflying!

Touchdown! Greaser!
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west Texas
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Dave Taylor
I have a small bathroom countertop ~18 x 28" that I pulled an old sink out of.
The installer had glued the sink to the Formica* and predictably it cracked out during removal
I have removed all the Formica and prepped the surface; sized the hole for the new sink.
I have some of the same product, from 25 years of storage. It is really brittle.
I am looking for suggestions on cutting and trimming the Formica.
I was going to cut it close to size then lay the countertop onto it (contact cement?) and when it has dried, trim as needed.
Sharp box cutter? Would heat help?
Once that is done I will have to cut the sink hole in the Formica.
And bevel the formica edge, where it meets the three sides of Formica. (No bevel needed on the fourth edge, the backsplash edge.)
Lots of online info but hearing from someone who has done this would help me.
Thanks.
*it may not be Formica but a similar product
 
Installers often cut it with a rotary cutter (pretty much a router). I've had success with that as long as it's not binding up in what's underneath. (Which shouldn't be an issue for your first "rough" cut.)
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
How about that first rough cut?
Box cutter?
Click to expand...
I've only used the router with the trim bit. Doesn't seem to matter if the cutoff is wider than the bit.
Let'sgoflying! said:
??
Sand the old Formica?
That’s been removed and is in a thousand pieces (see above)
Or, sand the replacement, maybe?
Click to expand...
Oh, misunderstood. I thought you still had a layer of the old stuff. Never mind the sanding comment.
 
I never did the stick/dowel thing. Get assistance of someone to help you hold it up and then gently work from one side to the other setting it into place.
 
While it's clunky, I just used the same router I used for everything else to trim the laminate and a knife and file for the inside corner I couldn't get to.
 
flyingron said:
I never did the stick/dowel thing. Get assistance of someone to help you hold it up and then gently work from one side to the other setting it into place.
Click to expand...

I dont get the stick/dowel thing.
Im going to lay on a thin layer of contact cement both pieces, allow it to get tacky, then place laminate on the wood.
 
When I last did a remodel job, I could have kicked myself for not buying a router sooner. I would have saved a lot of time and wasted fewer sheets of formica. The router makes it so easy and professional looking A Dremel tool may do a good job, but I suspect it will take longer.
 
Should have used that epoxy finish you can brush on over old Formica........buddy of mine did it in his Hangar and it looks pretty good
 
JOhnH said:
When I last did a remodel job, I could have kicked myself for not buying a router sooner. I would have saved a lot of time and wasted fewer sheets of formica. The router makes it so easy and professional looking A Dremel tool may do a good job, but I suspect it will take longer.
Click to expand...

have router.
 
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