I will be borrowing a router to cut my kitchen worktop for a belfast sink. Any tips would be a great help as never used one before. Is it true I will need to use a new blade for each cut?

Is it just the sink you have to cut in? if so a new blade will do that with no problem and Screwfix did a set pretty cheap. Don't try and do thewhole thickness in one go, do it bit by bit lowering the router bit each time. Have yuo got a template too?

if you're doing any mitre joints you will need to hire a jig!!! they rent them at your local tool hire shop or £100 to buy, you should not need more than one blade, dont try & cut through in 1 go do a couple or 3 passes this will save your blade from burning out too!

Thanks for the help, Yes only cutting out for the belfast sink so 3 cuts, one each side and one across the back.Will it be O.K. to clamp a lenth of wood to the worktop as a guide ?

If you're cutting worktops ...bit wear will depend on material. Tungsten disposable blade cutters are the hardest wearing, you will need a router with 1/2" shaft not 1/4"(though can be done slowly but liable to snap) Take no more than 10mm per cut. Yes you can cramp a stragiht edge down and use it against the base of router or a guide bush BUT DO NOT use quick cramp type cramps use threaded cramps or they will vibrate loose!!!!

why not use a jig saw

why not outline the sink drill a hole with a small spade bit and cut out with a jigsaw! a lot easier than a router.

 

dan.:D

we use jigsaw for sinks, mask out the top of the work top about 5-6" across and draw your out line to be cut this makes it easy to see the line and will protect the worktop from scratching by the jigsaw. also use a blade with the teeth facing down

IIRC Belfast sinks sit under the worktop so a jigsaw wont be good enough as the edge is exposed. I dont care how good you are with one you'll never make a good enough cut that way. Also I think they cut upwards through the material so the laminate is prone to chipping and also the blades tend to flex giving an imperfect cut too.

 

Gotta be a router. My only tip is take your time......measure three times at least before you cut anything !!

 

HTH

 

Mark

Practice on a piece of scrap first, routers don't always go exactly where you expect !

and buy/make a template

a jigsaw is shite for this type of work (ok for one off and roughing one advantage they are less messy) a router is gonna be quicker and neater .....

 

 

ps on you cut out don't forget to take into account the direction of rotation of the cutter as it will smash the outside edge out of your worktop cutout for your sink. either leave the last bit in and nip it off with a block plane or flip the top over and reset your pattern or stragiht edge

Edited May 21, 200916 yr by 8ace

what will you be putting on the exposed edge???

Thanks for all the tips , the worktop is solid wood, the sink sits under the cutout with a 15mm overhang, and the exposed edges will be treated with oil. Using a jigsaw is a no no I have been told. I will be doing a few practice runs on the old worktop to get a feel for the router which I picked up tonight, it looks a beast so will be keeping a firm grip. The £80 quote from a joiner will look cheap if I cock up a £300 worktop, but used to using tools just never used a router before. Wish me luck, cheers.

Many thanks for all the tips boyz, the router was easier to use than looked did a few passes at differant depths and all went well. won't will givng up the day job though .