Hi,
I have a job that needs an arc cut out of some existing Pergo type flooring that’s already installed.
I’m guessing a plunge router on a trammel affair, but haven’t worked with Pergo before. Should I invest in a certain type router bit? Would a smaller cutter work better than a larger? What about up or down cut twisted bits? Fast or slow speed? Should I use my 2.5 HP Bosch or tiny PC laminate cutter? Any favorite tips for making a swing or trammel?
Thanks up front,
Notrix
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Replies
Pergo is AO covered PB...
any bit you use will get trashed... up spiral would be yer best bet I think
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
up spiral would be yer best bet I think
And my thought was that a down spiral would throw the "fuzz" down, rather than want to "lift" it. Either way, it's going to be a mess.
I'll give even odds right now the router will only "fit" the "easy" 80% of the cut (Murphy's not a nice person that way . . . )Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Use the big router, 1/2" shank 1/2" bit, router speed high feed rate slow but not till it burns the pergo. no big deal.
Notrix
Use a solid carbide spiral bit, I don't think it matters weather down or up cut. I'd probably go with down cut.
I don't know what happens to pergo when you cut it so I wouldn't want to take the chance on what may happen to the edge. That may not matter, isn't there some sort of edging that has to be put on the floor to cover the expansion/contraction stuff.
If you use a 1/2" solid carbide spiral you will be hogging out a lot of wood as you go, you could drop down to a 3/8" or 1/4".
To make a trammel point you obviously don't want to screw or nail at your swing point. You might hot glue a piece of ply down and screw your swing arm to that. You should be able to get the hot glue to release with I think acetone, better check though.
I don't think it will matter which you use, 2.5 hp or the laminate trimmer, if you use the trimmer you have to go much slower. I'd use the bigger one, especially if your going with a bit larger than 1/4".
Doug
you obviously don't want to screw or nail at your swing point.
Hmm, couple of strips of ply from one side of the room to the other, with a gusset in the middle across the overlap would give a good spot to pivot from. A bit of old blanket or fabric to protect the floor underneath, maybe . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Cap
that idea is probably better than my "hot glue" method, I don't know if the hot glue would lift the pergo, could always try on a piece that you going to cut off.
The reason that I suggest the down spiral is to eliminate the possibility of the laminate lifting off the face. Down spiral will prevent it.
You wont ruin the bit either, your only cutting particle board and laminate, I bet you could cut 100 passes with that bit before it needed sharpening.
Doug
The reason that I suggest the down spiral is to eliminate the possibility of the laminate lifting off the face
Yeah, that was what I was thinking before Marty said to use an up spiral. I still just hate to think about getting to find out what's under the pergo by blind exploratory routing with a carbide cutter at speed . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
down spiral builds a ton of trash under the flooring and then sh!d begins to happen...... and you WILL NOT get it all out..
hook a shop vac to the vac...
I prefer slower speed and steady cut without heavy loading....
clean the top edge with beveled one piece solid carbide laminate trimmer..
proud member of the FOR/FOS club...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Down spiral isnt going to get anything under the laminate if there is presure on the laminate!!!
I've routed enough stuff to know that.
If you need to hook a vac up do it at the same time your routing.
Set the depth of the router bit at the thickness of the pergo, minus 1/64", cut off with a razor knife.
Piece of pie, or whatever people say
Doug
Don't know how big your arc is. Make a template of the arc out of some 1/2" ply or MDF and smooth the edge. Get some double stick tape and tape it down to the floor. Use a 1/2" shank straight carbide bit. The up or down bits tend to splinter. Make two passes, with the first deep enough to get through the laminate. Get the tape off as soon as possible and clean up the sticky stuff with water or mineral spirits.