I’ve done a few square edge laminate tops , and I’ve done a few tops with a beveled wooden edge that’s been appplied. My current customer is thinking of a beveled laminate edge and I’m having a hard time figuring out how to trim either the bevel or the opposising faces using my laminate flush trim bit without scoring the opposing piece or having the bearing bit ride on it’s corner (doesn’t seem to be the surest way to use it). Am I missing a step? The way I figured it the top and side are applied just short of the front edge, then run a chamfer bit down the edge to clean it and give it uniformity , next apply the bevel piece, and then trim it using a longer flush bit. This is the trimming part where I see the most chance to damage the opposing face. Am I on the wrong path???
Edited 4/3/2003 8:15:21 AM ET by jack straw
Replies
Jack
Talk to your laminate supplier, they do sell pre-beveled edging that can be used for this . it also can be used on top of the back splash. You just order the colors you need. Hope this helps
Jack
I have done this out of necessity before but its not any fun, had a customer that had to have it but of course needed it yesterday and it was 3 weeks delivery time to get it.
Amana makes a router bit that under cuts laminate with a 45 deg. cut, the way that I did it was glue my laminate top down, don't flush cut, use a flush cut with a smaller bearing than the cutter, once done with that then use this(Amana bit) cutter that will cut a bevel on the bottom edge, then I applied my 1 1/2" piece of beveled wood on the front of the top, then you need to make a corresponding beveled piece for the front edge, that I did by clamping down laminate on a piece of MDF and run the Amana bit that would give me my corresponding 45 deg. piece. You have to apply this to the front very carefully so as to keep parallel with the top edge, once done with that cut a thin strip, whatever your width of the beveled piece is and fill in, presto done!
Believe me it was not very easy or fun, I needed it and it wasn't that big of a top so I was able to force myself to do it.
I've heard there was a jig that you run your router at some sort of angle to the edge and that would clean out a space for the bevel but I haven't ever seen it.
The best way is to have your counter top place do it!
Doug
There is a very good how-to article about how to do this, using bevel edging from either Kuehn or Wilsonart, in a recent issue of FH. Looks to me like the purchased edging makes it easy, versus the alternative of doing it yourself.
I'd suggest you buy this top pre-made. The glue on mouldings are great but if and when water gets behind them and the top fails are you preparded to replace it at no cost? There is sophisticated equipment for making these edges including radius corners. And trying to make the core plywood to avoid the water issue leaves you with expansion and flatness issues between dis-similar materials.
It just aint worth it. Believe me I been there and ain't going back.
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That is where I was leaning to begin with but figured I'd bounce the question out there first. Sometimes there's just a simpler way but it doesn't seem so in this case. I'm more worried about the end result and the future complications than the $$ right now. If they don't want the beveled cherry edge then I'll recommend they order it elsewhere. Thanks for all the info.
Edited 4/3/2003 6:28:25 PM ET by jack straw
Jack, I have been building bevel edge tops with Wilson Art's PermaEdge system for years now. I have not had any product failures since I started 7-8 years ago. Go to thier web site and find a supplier in your area. They sometimes have siminars on the product that are well worth attending. The one I attended was free, so it is just the time you loose. As you can imagine, it is not as easy as a square edge top, and there is also a lead time 10 to 14 days to get the material. If you already build tops, you won't have much of a problem with this system. Charge more. This stuff is between solid surface and standard laminated tops. Check at HD, Lowes etc. They carry WilsonArt and Formic's version of the PermaEdge system, and will order custom tops for you. Of course you don't get to add those new skills and a new product line to your resume', but you don't have to go through the learning curve either.
Dave
DO NOT TRY TO MAKE IT.
Instead, go to:
http://www.kuehnbevel.com
"KUEHN Bevel can process your order of any brand laminate in any color on every molding. Mixing brand laminates is not a problem."
I've even ordered their bevel edge backsplashes.
Good Luck,
Steve