sawing in melamine shelves requires special technique?

[JanneSjo]

I am going to buy shelves in melamine - I have heard that they can be difficult to cut if you want nice edges. I will cut them into smaller pieces

do you need a special saw blade or technique to get clean cuts?

or is the saw at the hardware store good enough without getting splintered edges?

 

[petepete]

I am going to buy shelves in melamine - I have heard that they can be difficult to saw if you want nice edges. I am going to cut them into smaller pieces

do you need a special saw blade or technique to get nice cuts?

or is the saw at the hardware store good enough without getting splintered edges?

Tape where you make the cut beforehand, and it usually works well. Press the tape firmly.

 

[JanneSjo]

okay painter's tape then?

 

[Mikael_L]

I think it's a good idea (besides the tape) to first saw a cut where the circular saw blades only go down about a mm into the board, and the next cut through the entire board.

Of course, this assumes that you guide with a rail or along a plank, straightedge, or similar.

If you have the opportunity, I think you should test saw in a part that can be sacrificed.

 

[Granis]

Hey, if you haven't already bought them, many hardware stores offer to cut them for a reasonable price.

 

[raveper]

It's only the side facing up that gets slightly damaged if you cut it yourself with a circular saw. I usually don't tape anything.

 

[JanneSjo]

no I have not bought them

wondering if it's possible to cut them at the hardware store - or if it splinters and requires finer tools

if I cut myself it will be a jigsaw

 

[bygga_bo]

If the builder has the right tools (panel saw with a scorer) and knows what he's doing, you can expect an excellent result. If he doesn't know what he's doing, it will probably still be quite okay, but not perfect (at least not on one side). Forget the jigsaw...

It's possible to cut melamine on your own with excellent results. As Mikael_L writes, the right equipment is needed as usual. We talked a bit about it in this thread: http://www.byggahus.se/forum/moebelsnickeri/100443-saga-i-hoegblank-spanskiva.html

 

[Mikael_L]

It is quite possible to cut melamine on your own with excellent results. As Mikael_L writes, the right equipment is usually needed. We talked a little about it in this thread: [link]

Yes, indeed, when I read the thread I see that I forgot that you should pull the saw backward for the mm-deep cut.

I believe it is a good idea (besides the tape) to first make a cut backwards where the circular saw blade only goes down about a mm into the board, and the next cut through the entire board.

This, of course, assumes that you are guiding with a rail or along a plank, straight edge, or similar.

So it should have said.

I have tried the method with 2 cuts of narrow, 30cm, shelf boards. Then I guided the saw against a plank or board of some kind that I secured with clamps.

 

[akhagen]

Anything except a jigsaw. Preferably a good handsaw.

 

[JanneSjo]

ok thanks for the warning about the jigsaw (I have a good blue Bosch so I use it for what it can)

I have a bad circular saw but with a new blade it might work.

if I cut myself I will try your advice - probably buy a short board to test on first

 

[raveper]

Anything except for a jigsaw. Preferably a good handsaw.

A jigsaw works just as well, except there's a greater risk of cutting unevenly.

 

[bygga_bo]

A jigsaw works just as well except there's a greater risk of cutting crooked.

Sure, but who wants crooked shelves? But indeed, if there aren't high demands, I agree with you...

It's possible to get a good cut on one side with a jigsaw (which side depends on the type of blade). If you want splinter-free cuts on both sides, you have to start fiddling with "sacrifice boards" and then it suddenly becomes a hassle...

 

[JanneSjo]

ok if it's about cutting straight, I've done some practice with freehand rip cutting of 2.5m parquet pieces - so it's possible to saw quite straight with my jigsaw - I can also run along a board.

I'm considering using väggskena for hanging the shelf - turned the wrong way and horizontal so that the melamine board slides in the "u-track" - this would cover any uneven cutting and also small damages at the saw cut.

 

[Mikael_L]

I'm considering using a wall rail for hanging the shelf - turned the wrong way and horizontally so that the melamine board slides into the "u-groove" - this way the wall rail covers any tilted cutting and also small damages at the saw cut

OK, then you don't have super high demands on the appearance or design at least. Then it should be fine to tape both sides and saw with a jigsaw guided by a board, carefully and without pendulum motion.

Otherwise, I would never consider sawing melamine boards with a jigsaw, edge banding, for example, can never sit well afterward.