Is it possible to cut laminate with a grinder. What is the best way to cut laminate? What is laminitis made of?

10.03.2020

Laminate is a popular flooring because of its chic design and long lifespan. Products of this type consist of a wood base and a special decorative layer. Laminate production technology allows you to give it not only different colour, but also the structure of various types of wood. Laying this material is relatively simple, but almost always requires trimming the boards. Therefore, before starting installation work, you should definitely find out how you need to cut the laminate.

Cutting methods

Installation of a laminate board involves fixing it to the floor with glue or special screws. But many novice craftsmen do not know how to cut a laminate in order to get a high-quality and even joint.

You can cut vinyl or cork laminate at home with a few tools:

Cutter. This design resembles a guillotine. To cut a board, it must be placed under the knife along the cut line. After that, with a certain force, the cutter is pressed in, which leads to the formation of crevices. If you have certain skills with this tool, you can even cut the laminate lengthwise.
Jigsaw. Cutting with this unit is one of the fastest and most affordable. But for processing laminate it is important to use only special saws. To cut the desired piece, you should measure the desired dimensions and draw a straight line. After that, the board is moved slightly off the table so that the saw moves in the air and cutting begins.

Hacksaw. Cutting laminate with it can be performed both on the floor and at a certain elevation. To do this, you also need to mark the line and carefully start sawing. It is important to consider the saw setting here, as it can take a lot of laminate. This, in turn, can lead to inconsistencies.
Knife. The top layer of the laminate is a thin layer of film that can be easily damaged with a regular clerical knife. The technology of working with this tool is quite simple. Along the marked line, you need to draw the tip of the knife in such a way as to cut through the top layer. If you need to get a straight line, then additionally the board should be fixed with high quality.

When you cut through the top layer, you need to break off the extra piece. To do this, the laminate on the edge of the table along the cut and sharply press on one of the sides. This approach is reminiscent of breaking ceramic tiles or glass after processing with a glass cutter.

A circular saw. Cutting with this tool is much faster. To cut a piece of laminate, you should also mark up. After that, the board is fixed on the frame along the plane of movement of the saw. Place the product to the top with a laminated layer. In this case, the saw blades will enter the material, which will reduce the formation of chips and cracks. When everything is set, you need to slowly drive the board along the cut line with the circular turned on.
Bulgarian. This tool works like a circular saw. Similar types of cutting discs are also used here. But cutting can already be done almost anywhere. But to get an even cut, you need to fill the hand that controls the grinder during processing.

Choosing a tool

As you already understood, there is no universal way to cut laminate. To do this, use a variety of tools, which have their pros and cons. It is impossible to say which option is better, as it all depends on the individual situation.

To choose quality tool, there are several factors to consider:

Required end quality. If you need a minimum number of chips, use a hand cutter or jigsaw. In another case, all the considered cutting methods are perfect. They will allow you to properly cut the board with minimal effort.
Resin type. by the most simple option is the one when you need to saw off the laminate across. The length of the resi is relatively small, which minimizes the risk of getting a large curvature. When you need to cut along one of the sides, then in this case it is better to use a milling cutter and a circular saw.

Please note that you can perform similar operations with other tools. It all depends on your capabilities.

Resin form. Almost all mechanisms allow you to cut the board only in a straight line. If you need to get a complex shape of a laminate, then a grinder or a jigsaw will be the solution to this problem.

A circular saw

Circular cutting is one of the most popular options, as it has several advantages:

Possibility to use discs with different tooth sizes. This allows you to control the cutting process and the quality of the resulting surface.
The tool runs on electricity, which eliminates the use of fuel.
Processing the laminate all around is not accompanied by significant noise, which makes it possible to process boards even in apartment buildings.
High speed. Efficiency circular saw is one of the best. Therefore, it is used by many specialists who are engaged in laying such materials.

The only drawback of this mechanism is that in order to obtain high-quality resi, you need to have some practice and experience with it.

Electric jigsaw

Working with a jigsaw is pleasant and fast. The tool is light in weight, which allows you to hold it well while cutting. At the same time, the mechanism is practically dust-free, which makes it a unique option for private use.

The disadvantage of a jigsaw can only be an incorrectly selected file. Poor-quality products will simply tear the laminate, forming ugly ends that will have to be further cleaned. To get a quality cut, the jigsaw must operate at maximum speed.

Knives

Manual sawing of laminate is relatively rare. For such purposes, both stationery knives and hacksaws are used.

When using the latter type of tool, it is important that it has very fine teeth.

There are several downsides to this approach:

Cutting process with hand tools takes a long time. This, in turn, affects the effectiveness of the installation of the laminate.
To get a quality cut, you need to act very carefully and slowly. To do this, you need to have a relatively large experience with similar materials and tools.
Getting a cut without chips with a hacksaw is almost impossible. Therefore, often the place of cutting is additionally cleaned.

Bulgarian

A grinder is a universal mechanism with which you can cut not only wood, but also concrete. To process the laminate, special discs are used, on which teeth are applied, like a circular saw.

Using a grinder has several advantages:

With its help, you can form both a straight and curly cut.
The ends obtained after cutting are of high quality.
The operation of the grinder is possible even without prior preparation of the material.

But this tool has several disadvantages:

The weight of the structure is significant, which does not always allow high-quality control of the cutting process.
During operation, the grinder forms a lot of fine dust. This is not always effective in residential areas.
When cutting, the ends of the laminate begin to heat up, which leads to the formation of burning, which, together with dust, is very harmful to the human body.

Guillotine

The cutter is great for hand cutting. Among the advantages of this tool are noiselessness, ease of operation and a high-quality cut. Working with such mechanisms is relatively simple, the main thing is to take precautions, since the knife is very sharp. Guillotine cutting does not generate dust, making it a professional tool.

A feature of this material is that it is recommended to cut the laminate with it only in the transverse direction.

But if you train a little, then you can process the boards along. The cost of such a tool is quite high, so it is not economically profitable to buy it for a one-time installation of a laminate.

Other options

An alternative option for processing laminate are special machines with which to get a high-quality cut. They are intended only for work with such a substance. Cutting a laminate with their help is very simple, as they are equipped with special clamps and several types of knives for different layers. In everyday life, it is almost impossible to meet them, since the designs are very expensive.

One of the popular types floor covering living quarters is laminate. This material consists of several layers, each of which performs a specific functional purpose. When laying such a coating, it is necessary to adjust and trim the panels in order to perform the installation with high quality and technologically.

What can be used to cut laminate at home

With a full floor covering, regardless of size, it is necessary to adjust the panels to the required area. To cut the workpiece of the desired length at home, use a different cutting tool:

hacksaw for metal or wood;
jigsaw;
angle grinder (grinder);
construction knife;
guillotine;
circular saw or cutting machine.

Any of these devices are used in the work, but you need to know the features of the application of each of them.

Hacksaw or wood saw

The most affordable tool that can be found in any, even the smallest household, is a wood saw. It will easily cut through the component layers of the panel. The quality of the cut will depend, to a large extent, on how well the saw is sharpened. In order for the sawn edge to be straight, the hacksaw must be held at an acute angle to the lamella, in contact with the marking line.

ATTENTION! If, after cutting off the workpiece, undesirable defects remain on the sawn end - disheveledness and increased roughness, then the surface is treated with a file or file with a fine grain size.

A hacksaw can also be used to cut laminate, but you need to be aware that a blade intended for iron will quickly become clogged with wood chips. Further use of the tool for working with metal will require replacement of the blade. The use of a saw for wood or iron is possible with a small amount cut blanks, for example, when laying a coating in one of the living rooms. The complexity of using this inventory will make itself felt after the 3rd cut. And those, even in a small room, will have to do at least a dozen.

IMPORTANT! When making a cut with a hacksaw, it is difficult to get into the marking line, because the tool constantly moves to the side. For accuracy, a small bar is used, which is applied along the marking line, then the saw blade is leaned on this bar to evenly enter the drawn line!

Cut with an electric jigsaw

The use of such a power tool will facilitate the laboriousness of the work. Its advantage is considered high speed and the ability to perform non-straight cuts. When working with a jigsaw, the markings are performed on the back of the panels and the laminate is laid front side on the worktable when cutting, as the jigsaw foot leaves a scratch mark. Such damage will not be noticeable if left on the wrong side.

The advantage of using a power tool is the ability to cut several workpieces at once without increasing the effort applied. When making such cuts, the panels are rigidly fastened with clamps and the size of each of them is controlled.

ATTENTION! When working with a jigsaw, it is recommended to use a blade with a fine tooth. This will improve the quality of the cut end surface.

The disadvantage of using such a power tool is considered to be small irregularities in the cut line, since. manual work always distinguishes from the machine lack of straightness.

Using a grinder

The presence of an angle grinder will facilitate cutting off blanks when laying laminate. But if such work did not have to be done, then it is better to first make trial cuts on rough material. The power of the grinder and the specifics of using cutting discs for wood require certain skills.

The versatility of the grinder allows you to quickly and accurately cut the required number of panels. If it is necessary to perform non-rectilinear cuts, the grinder will be relevant. When cutting, the panels are placed face up, you can process several blanks at once, but you need to remember about the rigidity of fixing the laminate, because the power of the grinder creates vibration.

ATTENTION! The use of cutting discs for metal is a violation of fire safety. In this case, it is possible that bad smell and smoke.

How to cut laminate with a guillotine

A professional tool includes a guillotine-type panel cutter. It has large dimensions and is designed for cutting blanks of the required length. When performing work, the laminate is installed under the guillotine knife with the face up, then the lever is pressed and the workpiece of the desired size is obtained.

The advantages of such a device are accuracy and good quality end surface. The disadvantages include: large dimensions of the tool and the limited size of the cut. For example, it is not possible to cut a wide panel at an acute angle due to the small length of the working space. To make long cuts, use a special blade cutter that has larger size blades.

REFERENCE! The cost of a guillotine cutter is very high. It makes no sense to purchase it for laying laminate in one or more rooms!

The use of a construction knife

In the absence of a metalwork tool, you can cut off the workpiece using a clerical knife. It would be better to use a construction knife, because it has greater rigidity and ease of holding.

To cut the panel, lay a metal corner or rail along the marking line and, leaning on the fixture, cut with a knife. At the same time, the workpiece is placed with the face up and a great effort is applied when the tool is passed along the cut line. Cardboard or plywood is placed under the panel and the passage of the knife along the cut line is repeated until the upper layers of the laminate are destroyed. After passing through most of the thickness of the material, the workpiece is broken off.

Cutting with a circular saw

The use of a portable machine for cutting panels will allow you to quickly and accurately make the required amount of laminate of the desired length. Having the skills to work with a portable circular will help with the longitudinal processing of workpieces. If you have encountered such a professional tool for the first time, then you need to make several rough cuts, even with the usual cross-cutting of panels.

To cut off the workpiece, it is marked on the front side. Then a disk with fine teeth is installed, the equipment is started and, pressing the panel against the horizontal frame, the laminate is pushed along the intended line.

ATTENTION! Making a rip cut requires setting the width on the circular saw!

A circular saw is a handy tool for cutting, but the dimensions and weight will require special transportation of the device to the place of work. The installer independently determines the appropriateness of using such equipment.

Features of cutting vinyl laminate

The high abrasion resistance of the top layer, similar to commercial panels, makes vinyl flooring in demand. In addition, such material creates an original decorative effect. The structure of vinyl panels differs from ordinary ones in softness and viscosity.

To cut such material, it is best to use a construction or clerical knife. This tool will allow you to cut through all layers of vinyl laminate that are subject to mechanical destruction.

After studying all the cutting methods and the possible use of a particular tool, everyone independently chooses the required device, depending on the task and availability.

Laminate flooring is laid in the same way as brickwork - in a run. Thus, the integrity of the coating is achieved. But, in order to do everything right, it is necessary to resort to cutting the material more than once.

Laminate strips must be cut with special responsibility and understanding, and therefore at least a minimum knowledge of the tools and methods for cutting is required.

The most common ways to cut laminate

The laminate is cut in such a way that no torn and protruding parts form on the cut plane, naturally there should be no damage to the material either.

In order to achieve this result, it is necessary to use special various tools, which will be discussed further.

Cutting with saws

Consider how and with what saws a laminate cut is made at home:

Unlike materials similar to chipboard, laminate is well cut with an ordinary hand saw.
There should be no rough burrs or other noticeable deformations on the edges of the laminate. In this regard, the teeth of the saw must be small, and the saw itself can be any.
If somehow it turned out to damage the end edge - it's okay, it can be easily hidden under the plinth, and it will not be conspicuous.
The “measure seven times, cut once” rule also applies when cutting laminate. Before cutting off a part, it is necessary to accurately measure everything and apply the markup along which the cut will be made.
In order to get a good edge on the right side, the laminate must be cut with the right side facing up. In this case, the laminate must be kept horizontally.
You don't have to use a lot of pressure to push down on the saw. This can lead to breaking the edge of the laminate.

Jigsaw cutting

Cutting laminate flooring with a jigsaw is the most convenient, fastest and “cleanest” way. In the absence of a jigsaw, you can use a hand saw, but this process is more laborious. Therefore, due to the low price, it is recommended to purchase a jigsaw, because it can provide effective assistance not only when cutting laminate, but also in many other works.

Consider the method by which you can cut the laminate with a jigsaw:

Before cutting the laminate, it is necessary to install a blade with a reverse fine tooth on the jigsaw. This is a standard blade, which, basically, always comes with the tool. In the absence of such, you need to purchase it, otherwise you can ruin the coating.
After the jigsaw is equipped with a suitable blade, it is necessary to mark the strip to be shortened. The markup is applied to the back of the laminate (not the front).
Then you can proceed directly to cutting. The laminate must be fixed and turned face down so that the marking line is visible. The cut is made strictly along the planned lines.

Cutting with a circular saw

Using a circular plate for cutting laminate will greatly simplify the process. Therefore, if there is such a saw among the tools, you can safely get down to business.

Consider the instructions for cutting laminate with a circular saw:

As in other cases, the teeth of the saw should be fine.
A marking is applied to the front side of the coating, along which the cutting process will be carried out.
The bar must be placed horizontally on the machine table face up. Then, holding the edge of the bar, gently and without sudden movements push the laminate away from you onto the rotating saw blade.

When working with a circular saw, you must follow the safety rules: the rotating blade must be under a special protective cover, sleeves outerwear the person working behind the machine are buttoned up.

It is also necessary to remove all things that may accidentally fall into the range of the circular plate, such as bracelets, chains, etc.

What else to use at work

What else do experienced professionals cut the laminate with? They use a machine designed for this purpose. The machine is a rigid structure with a movable sharp blade, which is driven by a handle.

This tool works like this:

Laminate bar is placed horizontally on the machine support;
The marking line is combined with the horizontal projection line of the knife;
The handle of the machine, connected with the knife, is lowered to the stop, cutting the laminate. The result is a clean, even cut.

Helpful information! This type of machine can help with cutting a large amount of material in a short period of time. And due to the fact that it does not work on electric energy, it can be used in places where there is no source of electricity.

If you decide to do cutting and laying laminate professionally, and the matter is not limited to one time, you can safely buy yourself such a machine.

Whatever tool you use when cutting the laminate plinth, you need to remember that a lot depends not only on the tool, but also on the person who uses it. Do not use too much force when cutting, be careful when calculating and marking, and, of course, follow the safety rules.

Proper calculation and applied markings are the key to quality work.

In this article, we looked at several ways and tools that can be used to cut laminate. Among the tools described, it is impossible to definitely name the best - they are all good in their own way and in the end their choice comes down to individual preferences.

Someone prefers mechanics, someone vice versa - an electrician, etc. For more visual information on cutting laminate flooring, it is recommended to watch the training video.

In order to properly lay the laminate on the floor, you need to be able not only to connect the laminate panels, but also to cut them correctly. Otherwise, it will be impossible to "fit" into the area of the room, as well as to observe the traditional chess pattern of the coating. Since laminated boards cannot be handled with bare hands, cutting them can be entrusted to one of the manual or electric tools.

Choice of cutting tools for laminate

The main characteristics that a tool for cutting laminate at home should have are:

the convenience of use
compact and light weight
the possibility of obtaining an even cut, without cracks and chips

The last point, the meaning of which is not to spoil the appearance of the laminate board after cutting, is decisive for most home craftsmen. However, its significance is still exaggerated. In any case, chips up to 5 mm in size will not be noticeable on the finished coating - defects along the edge of the panels will be hidden behind the skirting boards.

So what are the best tools for cutting laminate flooring?

Tool #1. Electric jigsaw

The best result in cutting laminate can be achieved by using a jigsaw for this purpose. This is a lightweight, very easy to use tool that any beginner master will quickly find an approach to. Even a woman or teenager. Sawing with an electric jigsaw is performed at high speeds, which avoids damage to the fiberboard structure. If you act quickly, confidently, then the cut will turn out to be almost perfect.

The main thing in using a jigsaw is the choice of a file. Modern tools are usually initially equipped with special files for cutting laminate. They are distinguished by a special shape, pitch and method of setting the teeth. However, ordinary metal files - narrow, with small teeth - will cope with this matter no worse.

In order not to damage the decorative surface, the cutting line is applied (with a pencil or chalk) to the wrong side of the laminate board. It is placed on the table (chair) inside out so that the part that is planned to be cut is in limbo. With one hand, the laminate lying on the table is fixed, and with the other, the excess part is quickly cut off.

Electric jigsaw allows you to cut laminate quickly and safely

Tool #2. A circular saw

A neat cut along the edge of the laminate can be obtained using a circular saw with a metal blade. Working with a circular saw is more difficult than with a jigsaw, so it requires some skills. If you have them, then you can cut the laminate quickly, evenly, with virtually no chips.

The laminate board is laid on a hard surface with the pattern up, fixed. You need to cut carefully, with a little pressure, moving the disk along the drawn line, trying not to slow down in one place.

A circular saw requires skill, but helps to cut high-quality a large number of laminate

Tool #3. Angle grinder (Bulgarian)

Bulgarian is a handy tool, indispensable in the box of a home master. It can cut almost anything, including laminate. For a beautiful edge, without cracks and chips, when cutting, you need to turn the laminate board with the front surface. In this case, discs are used for metal, for concrete or for ceramic tiles.

The disadvantage of using a grinder (and a circular saw too!) Can be called a large amount of dust that will be released when cutting the laminate. Also, this action may be accompanied by the smell of burnt wood. Therefore, cutting should be done on an open balcony or on the street.

To avoid chipping, you need to cut the laminate with a grinder only from the front side.

Tool #4. Hacksaw

Laminate can be successfully sawn with a conventional hacksaw for wood. But this will have to expend energy, because her teeth are large enough and will bite into the laminate, and not cut it. The smaller teeth of a hacksaw for metal - it must be used for cutting.

A hacksaw is very often used for cutting with small amounts of work. In construction teams, this method is not used, due to the increased time costs and labor intensity.

Tool number 5. Laminate cutter

A laminate cutter, on the other hand, allows you to cut like a pro. Most often, this tool works like a guillotine - a knife, which, with the help of a handle, is lowered onto the surface of the laminate and cut it. The cutter operates easily, without chips and noise. To use it, you do not need to use force and have skills. Perhaps this is the easiest tool to use, allowing you to get excellent results in any conditions.

The design of the cutter allows you to cut the laminate only in the transverse direction

Since this cutter is used exclusively for laminate, it makes sense to buy it only when professional styling. For finishing several rooms of the apartment, this option is considered inappropriate.

Tool #6. construction knife

A regular construction knife can also be used for cutting laminate. For example, if you have almost finished the flooring installation, it remains to cut one board, but the grinder suddenly breaks. There are no other tools at hand, and cutting needs to be done urgently. Then on help will come construction knife. Put a ruler on the front side of the laminate board, and make a deep cut along it with a knife. Holding the board on one side of the cut, press down on the other side. The laminate should break, just like a ceramic tile under the action of a tile cutter.

In the absence of other tools, a construction knife is suitable for cutting a couple of laminate boards

As an epilogue

The choice of tools for cutting laminate is quite large. Indeed, it is possible to cut laminate boards with high quality, with experience, with almost anything. Only the amount of time and labor spent will be different. Therefore, making a choice in favor of one of the tools, be guided only by your own preferences and needs.

In fact, it turns out that for many it is much easier to assemble a structure from laminated panels than to fit these panels to the desired size. And all because most people who are trying to make repairs with their own hands do not know how to saw a laminate.

In order to understand this, it would not hurt to understand what layers the panel consists of.

About laminate

The processing of any material requires any special tools suitable for this particular composition. You will not cut with a hacksaw ceramic tiles, and cut metal with a glass cutter, because even the best cutter for one structure will be completely useless for another.

That is why we will figure out what, and also see photos and videos about laminated panels.

What is laminitis made of?

The lowest layer, which is marked in the figure with the number 1, consists of unrefined or tarred paper.
It is a reliable barrier to moisture that can come from the main floor. Sometimes additional paper is added for sound and heat insulation, but this happens only in individual collections and this significantly changes the price of the material.
The thickest layer of the laminated panel is marked with the number 2, it is made of high density fibreboard (HDF) and the quality of the product largely depends on its thickness.
A lock is embedded into this layer and the thicker the fiberboard, the higher the fixing spike of the lock, therefore, the groove is deeper and the connection is tighter (no gap).
The number 3 in the figure indicates a decorative layer of paper on which a certain pattern is applied..
Since the picture can display many materials, the panels can imitate various types of wood, wood and ceramic parquet, stone, sand, marble and the like.
The topmost, fourth layer, consists of acrylic or melamine resin.. Through it, almost without interference, clearly visible decoration panels. Depends on the thickness of the protective top layer, and, therefore, its belonging to a commercial or domestic category (the classification of a household (non-commercial) laminate begins with the number 2, and commercial - with the number 3).

Fitting laminated panels

If there is an instruction on how best to saw a laminate, then it probably looks more like advice, not instruction.
After all, if you pay attention to its structure, then we can conclude that any file will do. Yes, indeed, this is so, but after all, it can be chopped off with an ax, but not everything that can be done will be useful and correct.
The clarity of the cut will depend on what the laminate is sawn with (the edge of the panel may have a torn cut). Therefore, the finer the cutting structure of the disc or saw, the smoother the cut line will be.
But the evenness of the cut depends not only on the fine teeth, but also on the speed with which the blade cuts the panel, as well as on the quality of the metal from which the cutting element is made. So a jigsaw file for a laminate can have large teeth, but at the same time leave an excellent cut.
I would like to draw attention to the fact that a jigsaw file for a laminate, as such, does not exist at all, but there are simply nail files for wood or metal.
Any of them is suitable for cutting laminated panels, but a small sheet for metal sticks more in the structure of the laminate, and a large one (for wood) moves much easier, although the cut is almost the same.

It is very good to cut laminated panels with an electric circular saw, where saw blades for laminate are the most common saw blades for wood.
Here, again, you can pay attention to the fact that there are no discs specialized for cutting laminate, and almost any blade of a manual electric circular can be called such.
The inconvenience of this cutting method is that it is extremely difficult to cut in different directions with it, because the saw blade on the laminate cannot be turned to direct the cut along a different line.
An electric jigsaw does an excellent job with such an operation, and if you need any figured cutout, then a metal file is very well suited for this, as it is thinner.

Advice.
If you are cutting laminate with a manual electric circular saw, the disk on it rotates from the bottom up, therefore, if it is not very sharp, then the paper on the panel will have a torn edge.
To prevent this from happening, turn the board face down when cutting.

The laminate can also be cut with a grinder, although this method will cause a lot of smoke, but saw blades for laminate in this case will be discs for metal or concrete.
The high rotation speed of the angle grinder allows you to easily cut not only laminate, but also wood. But you can also insert a blade with teeth into the grinder, although this is not the most the best way, because the cut is not very even.

The simplest cutting tool for laminate can be a hacksaw for metal or wood, but with fine teeth.
In this case, the metal blade will leave a sharper cut, but it is difficult to cut wide panels or cut them to length.

Advice.
If you need to cut a piece of laminate to length, but there are no suitable cutting tools, then you can do with an ordinary construction knife.
Under the ruler, draw a deep line in the top layer, and then break it with a blow of your hand, pressing the other part to the panel with your knee against the table or stool.

Conclusion

As you can see, you can cut panels with different tools and blades, so you should focus more on what you have available and how it is more convenient to do it. Which saw to cut the laminate will largely depend on your preferences.