Counter tops

[Ed Snyder]

I have a question about replacing a counter top. we have an "el" shaped top. What is the accepted way to cut the 45 degree angle where the two sides meet?

Ed

[D.McDonnel "Mac"]

Let the Countertop shop do it! That is a very long miter and any little variation will show forever. The Countertop folks are set up to do this accurately all day long!

[Steve Roxberg]

I just had a granite counter top installed and they used a 90 degree butt joint. You have to look for the joint.

What surface are you going to put in?

[Jamie Buxton]

It depends on the material you're using. If it is high pressure laminate (aka Formica), rough cut it with a saw, then trim it accurately with a router guided by a straightedge.

[Todd Burch]

Use a sharp block plane for final fitting (if a laminate countertop).

Todd.

[Phil Phelps]

This is as close to a perfect seam as you'll get. You need to make a jig. It's just a board with parallel rails that let your router travel in a straight line. The rails need to be raised slightly to let the laminate slide under them. Use a dado bit in your router. You'll overlap the two pices of laminate in the jig. Set the depth to just cut into the base of the jig. You'll cut both laminate pieces at once and have a perfect seam. When laying up on your substraight, you'll dry fit and contact cement one side at a time.