Cutting Laminate Length Way Perfectly Straight

pennypincher3562

Hi

I need to cut a piece of floor laminate perfectly straight length ways. It needs to be as straight as possible as it will lie at a point that cannot be covered by trim (at front door.)

I am struggling to do this with a jig saw.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

tony6403

Measure the distance between the blade and the edge of the sole plate of the jigsaw , run your saw tight against a straight edge clamped to the laminate allowing for the distance as above .

pennypincher3562

tony6403 wrote: »

Measure the distance between the blade and the edge of the sole plate of the jigsaw , run your saw tight against a straight edge clamped to the laminate allowing for the distance as above .

Hi Tony

I don't really have a worksurface to do the above o
n, and I don't think it would be a good idea to use my coffee table

I might just get an expert in to do the hall, as it is the first thing you see, and I don't want to botch it up.

Thanks

zaax

you will. you need one of these
http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/stanley-jetcut-380mm-saw

McKneff

Take it to a builders merchants worshop slip the guy a fiver, bobs your uncle....

TheCyclingProgrammer

If you're not putting down trim how will you cover the expansion gap? Can't you put flat trim/threshold strip up to the door step?

Out of interested if your hallway an unusual shape? A long narrow hallway would normally have the planks running lengthwise down if so the short end would meet the door.

GreenSheep

Use a handsaw.

And/Or fit a bit of trim anyway?
You'll get a nice looking length (a 5m length!) of 17.5mm white trim for a fiver. Bung it in place with a bit of white builders silicon (£2).
Done.

phoenix_w

GreenSheep wrote: »

Use a handsaw.

My first thought as well. Cover where you want to saw with a piece of masking tape, draw a line on it using a ruler and carefully follow it as you saw.

dominoman

I agree with the above. Use a handsaw.

You won't get a straight edge using a jigsaw. You just won't. I have tried and whatever you do the blade will wander.

Personally I would use a circular saw, but as I expect you dont have one of those either use a handsaw or take it to any timber yard or even to B&Q and ask nicely for them to do it.

pennypincher3562

Thanks for all the ideas, but I've decided to pay someone to do this after messing up two strips of laminate last night.

I managed to do the living room fine (square box,) but the hall is different. Lot's of little nooks and crannies.

It's a small hallway, so won't cost much to get a pro to do it.

Thanks.