What is better to saw the laminate?

Over the past few years, laminate flooring has become one of the most popular floor coverings. If you decide to lay it at home on your own, then you have to master the technique of cutting laminate flooring, because the quality of your work will depend on the density of the connection of its components and the service life of the coating itself. In this article we will tell you the better to saw a laminate at home.

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Choosing the best tool

So, you decided on an independent cut of the laminate. Here's what you need to be guided in choosing your tool:

• Convenience in operation.
• The weight of the appliance should be light.
• Compactness.
• Quality work. The device must cut the material evenly.

The market offers us the following tools for further work:

• Electric jigsaw.
• Bulgarian (angle grinder).
• Special circular saw.
• Construction knife.
• Hacksaw.
• Renovator (is a multi-tool).
• Hand tools.

Each of them will be an indispensable assistant in our business. To understand what is better to saw the laminate and why each of the above devices is needed, we will analyze them in detail below, separately.

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Jigsaw - effective, but with nuances

If the laminate is laid once every several years, we recommend using an electric jigsaw. Just to use it, you need a special machine, which not everyone can find.

Important! If the instrument is used improperly, very noticeable chips can be left on the front of the laminate.

We recommend using the following recommendations on how to best saw the laminate with a jigsaw:

• Before proceeding with the procedure, you need to fix all the panels on the workbench.
• It is advisable to cut the future coating at the highest rotation speed of the electric motor of the device.
• It is necessary to try to pass such a device along the cut line at a time, in no case making any stops and decelerations.
• Do not forget to turn off the pendulum mechanism of the jigsaw.
• Use files that are designed for cutting laminate. If they are not, then at least attach other files with small teeth to the device.
• Use only thinner files, because the thinner they are, the easier it is to make any sawing.
• Laminated boards need to be sawn, laying them face down so that chips do not form. This position is necessary due to the fact that the jigsaws are almost always directed upwards. If the teeth on your jigsaw are pointing down, then the file should pass when the laminate is face up.
• In order to protect the material from chips and other defects, we recommend using the most ordinary adhesive tape. It must be glued along the cutting line of the laminate.

Important! Do not forget that the quality of your work will directly depend on how you put the markup on which you will saw the laminate at home.

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Bulgarian - universal option

Having resorted to the use of such a technique, you can not be afraid that chips or cracks will appear on the laminate flooring, because with its help you can cut the laminate of absolutely any thickness.But still, those readers who have never used this tool should take into account some points:

• Cutting with angle grinder should be done only if the processed material is turned face up.
• It is necessary to securely fix the lamella. This is necessary in order to get a smooth and beautiful edge.
• Use a disc designed for metal or concrete for the nozzle.
• During the procedure, make sure that the disc used is perpendicular to the lamella.

Important! Such a device as a grinder leaves behind a lot of building dust and the unpleasant smell of burnt wood, which is difficult to get rid of in the future. That is why we recommend using such a device on the balcony or on the street.

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Circular Saw - Should I Use It?

Using a circular saw with a blade designed for cutting metal, you can get a very neat cut. It's just that working with such a tool is much more difficult than with the others, because before you saw a laminate at home with a circular saw, you need to have at least some experience in using it.

Here are some tips for using this tool:

• In order to complete this procedure, it is necessary to lay the laminate board on a smooth hard surface face up.
• Do not press the tool hard, the movements should be light.
• The disk is moved strictly along the previously drawn line.
• You need to cut the coating gently, without delay and pauses.

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A construction knife if there is nothing else at hand

At first glance, this device is not much different from a conventional clerical knife. However, such a simple tool is indispensable in any construction procedure. Even this time, it can be safely applied in order to saw through the laminate at home.

Important! If by the end of the work it remains to finish a couple of small boards, but you just don’t want to use a grinder or other complex type of tools due to the small amount of work, then our little assistant will help.

In order for your work when using the knife to be productive, you need:

1. Put the usual ruler on the front side of the laminate.
2. Carry out a deep cut on it with the tool.
3. Press on one side of the cut while holding the board on the other side.
4. Ultimately, the laminate board should break.

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Hacksaw - how high is the probability of damage to the laminate?

As we know, a laminate consists of a material based on wood processing products. This is what defines its high technological effectiveness in processing. But not every hand tool is suitable for cutting.

Important! It is strictly forbidden to use a special hacksaw for carving wood in this case due to the fact that it has too large teeth, which in the future will damage the top layer of the expensive coating.

If you use a hacksaw, then only one that is designed to cut metal. However, keep in mind that this hacksaw will not give such a good result as the above tools. Most likely, her teeth will damage the facing film of the front side. In addition, to cut the specified material with such a tool is a very long and tedious business.

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Stock footage

So, the choice of tools for sawing a laminate at home is quite large, but only the one who makes the repair can choose the best. That is why you should be guided by your preferences in order to choose from the huge selection the very tool for cutting laminate and not damage the material, but to make a neat finish to the floor.