Cutting plastic coated MDF

[pete]

I’m trying to cut some plastic coated MDF (Melamine?) using a powered jig
saw and it’s chipping the plastic like mad.
A friend told me there is a special blade for doing this. Can anyone advise
me?
I’m a rank amateur with only a jig saw and a planer to my my name. I
don’t want to buy any further power tools as I’d not have any real use
for them.
Peter

[whisky-dave]

I would say the finer the teeth the better and use something to cover the Melamine stuff like a strong tape or even a metal ruler to protect and help stop any Melamine rising and hence breaking off.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes its not adhered very well, indeed one wardrobe now history, had
thermoformed ridges in the coating with just air beneath, It seemed to rely
mainly on some kind of tape to stay on the doors, Not good to try to saw it
as its very brittle.
Brian

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[Jimk]

pete <pfjam...@gmail.com> Wrote in message:
> I?m trying to cut some plastic coated MDF (Melamine?) using a powered jig
> saw and it?s chipping the plastic like mad.

> A friend told me there is a special blade for doing this. Can anyone advise
> me?

> I?m a rank amateur with only a jig saw and a planer to my my name. I
> don?t want to buy any further power tools as I?d not have any real use
> for them.
> Peter
>

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Faithfull-JBT101BR-Jigsaw-Blades-Laminate
/dp/B000Y8JG62/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=worktop+blade&qid=157184747
0&sr=8-2


Many others are available....

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[alan_m]

Blade has too few teeth - find a laminate blade with finer teeth.
Turning off the orbital action on the jig saw may help.
Tape up the cutting line with masking tape before cutting.

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[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <0001HW.2360AAA100...@News.Individual.NET>,

Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
circular saw will give a near perfect cut.

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*A woman drove me to drink and I didn't have the decency to thank her

Dave Plowman da...@davenoise.co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

[Jimk]

"Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> Wrote in message:

> In article <0001HW.2360AAA100...@News.Individual.NET>,
> pete <pfjam...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I‘m trying to cut some plastic coated MDF (Melamine?) using a powered
>> jig saw and it‘s chipping the plastic like mad. A friend told me there
>> is a special blade for doing this. Can anyone advise me? I‘m a rank
>> amateur with only a jig saw and a planer to my my name. I don‘t want to
>> buy any further power tools as I‘d not have any real use for them.
>
> Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
> the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
> circular saw will give a near perfect cut.
>

If cut upside down...

He said he doesn't want to buy any more gear...

[Steve Walker]

He could go mad and cut it with a hand-saw.

SteveW

[alan_m]

On 23/10/2019 18:10, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
> the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
> circular saw will give a near perfect cut.

You can get blades that cut on the down-stroke (reversed teeth)

https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-t101br-wood-jigsaw-blades-74mm-5-pack/15283

(possibly not the jigsaw blade fitting the OP requires)

It's these type of blades that will require any orbital/pendulum action
to be disabled on the saw.

However the OP may/will have the plastic coating on both top and bottom
surfaces so such a blade may produce one surface without chips and the
other with more chipping.

What may also help on the lower surface is to clamp a thin sacrificial
piece of wood to the board and to cut through both at the same time. The
sacrificial wood will support the plastic laminate and prevent chipping.
I would still also use tape along the cut line.

[tabb...@gmail.com]

On Wednesday, 23 October 2019 20:28:28 UTC+1, alan_m wrote:
> On 23/10/2019 18:10, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> > Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
> > the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
> > circular saw will give a near perfect cut.
>
>
> You can get blades that cut on the down-stroke (reversed teeth)
>
> https://www.screwfix.com/p/bosch-t101br-wood-jigsaw-blades-74mm-5-pack/15283
>
> (possibly not the jigsaw blade fitting the OP requires)
>
> It's these type of blades that will require any orbital/pendulum action
> to be disabled on the saw.
>
> However the OP may/will have the plastic coating on both top and bottom
> surfaces so such a blade may produce one surface without chips and the
> other with more chipping.
>
> What may also help on the lower surface is to clamp a thin sacrificial
> piece of wood to the board and to cut through both at the same time. The
> sacrificial wood will support the plastic laminate and prevent chipping.

That's the gold standard. Another good plan which you can't do is to set your circular saw blade shallow. All other approaches help but not so much as clamping wood on.

Jigsaws are seldom a good tool for the job. Circulars are way more useful.


NT

[Rod Speed]

"Steve Walker" <st...@walker-family.me.uk> wrote in message
news:qoq9c2$fl5$1...@dont-email.me...

But he hasn’t got one.

[alan_m]

On 23/10/2019 18:10, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
> the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
> circular saw will give a near perfect cut.
>

Blades that often come with even decent circular saws are often more
suited to fast ripping rather than cutting laminate. An additional
purchase of a 60 or 80 tooth blade may be necessary.

[Peeler]

On Thu, 24 Oct 2019 08:50:40 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

> But he hasn’t got one.

What does it take to make you shut your stupid, endlessly driveling gob, you
senile bigmouthed trolling COWARD?

--
"Anonymous" to trolling senile Rot Speed:
"You can fuck off as you know less than pig shit you sad
little ignorant cunt."
MID: <62dcaae57b421e2b...@haph.org>

[Jimk]

Steve Walker <st...@walker-family.me.uk> Wrote in message:

> On 23/10/2019 19:35, Jimk wrote:
>> "Dave Plowman (News)" <da...@davenoise.co.uk> Wrote in message:
>>> In article <0001HW.2360AAA100...@News.Individual.NET>,
>>> pete <pfjam...@gmail.com> wrote:

>>>> I?m trying to cut some plastic coated MDF (Melamine?) using a powered
>>>> jig saw and it?s chipping the plastic like mad. A friend told me there
>>>> is a special blade for doing this. Can anyone advise me? I?m a rank
>>>> amateur with only a jig saw and a planer to my my name. I don?t want to
>>>> buy any further power tools as I?d not have any real use for them.

>>>
>>> Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
>>> the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
>>> circular saw will give a near perfect cut.
>>>
>>
>> If cut upside down...
>>
>> He said he doesn't want to buy any more gear...
>
> He could go mad and cut it with a hand-saw.
>
> SteveW
>
>
>

OOI where's my post that you replied to gone? I see it on Google
gropes but not in this thread on Plusnet (giganews I
believe)?

[dennis@home]

On 23/10/2019 16:34, pete wrote:

Score it with a knife first.

If only one side matter put that on the bottom as most jigsaw blades cut
on the up stroke. You can get down cut blades if its difficult to cut
from the other side.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

In article <h1c0vc...@mid.individual.net>,

alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:
> On 23/10/2019 18:10, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

> > Do remember a jigsaw cuts on the upstroke, so for best results cut from
> > the underside. But it's simply not the best tool for the job. A decent
> > circular saw will give a near perfect cut.
> >

> Blades that often come with even decent circular saws are often more
> suited to fast ripping rather than cutting laminate. An additional
> purchase of a 60 or 80 tooth blade may be necessary.

I'd have thought 'decent' would cover both saw and blade. ;-) Although
many these days come with tipped blades that are a reasonable compromise.

--
*If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

[alan_m]

On 24/10/2019 15:21, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:

>
> I'd have thought 'decent' would cover both saw and blade. ;-) Although
> many these days come with tipped blades that are a reasonable compromise.
>

Go to a site such as Screwfix and you will find that many circular saws,
irrespective of the brand or price, are sold with 24 tooth blades (some
as low as 10 or 12 teeth and a few up at 30). As I suspect with the OPs
jig saw blades, these have too few teeth for a quality cut in laminate
and a blade with 60+ teeth would be more suited.

[Steve Walker]

Still seems to be there for me - on Eternal September.

SteveW

[Ray Barnes]

If you must use a jigsaw I would advise that, as the jigsaw cuts on the upward stroke you saw from the back surface as well as applying the tape to the back surface. Also use a fine metal cutting blade.

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/cutting-plastic-coated-mdf-1389997-.htm

[Tim+]

Ray Barnes <4181ed3f05e42e7b...@example.com> wrote:
> If you must use a jigsaw I would advise that, as the jigsaw cuts on the
> upward stroke you saw from the back surface as well as applying the tape
> to the back surface. Also use a fine metal cutting blade.

Now this *must* be a record. ;-)

J
Jimk
posted 52 years ago
pete snipped-f...@gmail.com Wrote in message:

I?m trying to cut some plastic coated MDF (Melamine?) using a powered jig
> saw and it?s chipping the plastic like mad.

> A friend told me there is a special blade for doing this. Can anyone advise > me?

> I?m a rank amateur with only a jig saw and a planer to my my name. I
> don?t want to buy any further power tools as I?d not have any real use > for them.
> Peter
>

Tim

--
Please don't feed the trolls

[noth...@aolbin.com]

Errm, 'tis rather unlikely to be 52 years ago given the age of USENET.

[John Rumm]

On 29/03/2022 18:22, Tim+ wrote:

> Ray Barnes <4181ed3f05e42e7b...@example.com> wrote:
>> If you must use a jigsaw I would advise that, as the jigsaw cuts on the
>> upward stroke you saw from the back surface as well as applying the tape
>> to the back surface. Also use a fine metal cutting blade.
>
>
> Now this *must* be a record. ;-)
>
> J
> Jimk
> posted 52 years ago

Indeed, 9 years before the creation of usenet...


--
Cheers,

John.

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[Tim+]

You don’t say?…

[The Natural Philosopher]

OTOH the Linux/Unix timestamp system has zero as Jan 1 1970...52 years
ago....

Usenet arrived about ten years later.

--
"In our post-modern world, climate science is not powerful because it is
true: it is true because it is powerful."

Lucas Bergkamp

[Chris Green]

I think it's simply 52 years since the "start of time" of 1st Jan 1970.

--
Chris Green
·

[alan_m]

On 29/03/2022 18:02, Ray Barnes wrote:
> If you must use a jigsaw I would advise that, as the jigsaw cuts on the
> upward stroke you saw from the back surface as well as applying the
> tape  to the back surface. Also use a fine metal cutting blade.
>

Wow - home owners hub thinks the original post was from 52 years ago!