Cutting worktops

Asher

Hi I am a keen DIYer but would I be able to cut and bolt worktops (never done it before) or should I get a chippie for £75 per cut?

If I mess it all up I would have wasted the worktops, the router and the template but if I can do it I will have saved £225.

navig8r

Asher wrote: »

Hi I am a keen DIYer but would I be able to cut and bolt worktops (never done it before) or should I get a chippie for £75 per cut?

If I mess it all up I would have wasted the worktops, the router and the template but if I can do it I will have saved £225.

There is quite a difference between "keen" and skilled and if you are not the latter and you want a A1 job I would pay the money and not take the risk .A good template and router with a 60-70mm parallel bit costs a lot of dosh and not worth it for one job although they can probably be hired

Dave

Asher

Thanks Dave, I will be getting a chippie. Although I will be cutting the holes for the hob and the sink myself - done that for myself and others many times.

safesound

Asher, if your in the south wales area I can give you the number of a guy who can do it for you for £25 per cut. Excellent he is too, he did mine and they're great.

Asher

Thanks but I am in Hertfordshire, about 30 miles north of London.

Coveredinbees!!!!

Just had a new work top and joining them up is a pro job. I cut out the sink hole myself thats easy to do but the joints are very specialized.

skim

Asher wrote: »

Hi I am a keen DIYer but would I be able to cut and bolt worktops (never done it before) or should I get a chippie for £75 per cut?

If I mess it all up I would have wasted the worktops, the router and the template but if I can do it I will have saved £225.

I'm looking at doing it myself too next month - found the whole kit you need on ebay for about £55.

I've never done it before either but willing to give it a go - will practice on the old worktops we're taking out first though.

BobProperty

skim wrote: »

I'm looking at doing it myself too next month - found the whole kit you need on ebay for about £55.

I've never done it before either but willing to give it a go - will practice on the old worktops we're taking out first though.

What's in the kit, I'm curious. I can't see you getting a 2000w 1/2" router in that price

skim

BobProperty wrote: »

What's in the kit, I'm curious. I can't see you getting a 2000w 1/2" router in that price

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/900mm-WORKTOP-JIG-ROUTER-CUTTER-SET-THE-WORKS_W0QQitemZ330110496983QQihZ014QQcategoryZ20781QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

only 1600watt but I'm sure it'd do for a few cuts.

vsumouse

guys,
im a joiner (chippie) and, unless your a real good DIYer i would stay away from the worktops, but there must be a cheaper option than £75 per cut.

if your still wanting to try a hand at doing it yourself then follow my advice.
before you cut any lengths cut the female joint at the end of one of the lengths, this is the hardest to master.

what ever cut you have made then, so long as its somewhere near you can then cut your male joints, if they dont fit first time leave the router alone and get a sanding block, and slowly work it in a little at a time, and remember most of these worktops now have a jointing compound that is same colour as worktop so if theres a little gap the compound will make good of that.

also when cutting your sink hole, remember to seal around the exposed chipboard, (use PVA glue and cover all cut chipboard.).

hope this helps :beer:

BobProperty

Interesting, it's all "Silverline" who are one of the cheapest tool manufacturers, if not the cheapest. You'll also find the quality matches the price. If you are lucky the router won't burn out, the cutters will last long enough to make a clean cut and the whole lot will be accurate enough for the job.

Note post 6 off Sidney: http://www.trustedtradesmen.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7061&PN=1

"i use a new cutter for every scribe"

and it won't be a Silverline I can assure you.