Cutting MDF that has been Laminated

[Hiub1]

I came across a little problem recently. Turns out, that I was so focused on getting my cab done that I forgot to add a door on the front of it to access everything. Is there a way to cleanly cut MDF that has already been laminated? I don't want to try anything and then have it go horribly wrong. I do have a straight bit for my router, and I was thinking that might be the cleanest thing to do it with. Any suggestions or prior experience with this?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Fred.

[DrewKaree]

Router is prolly the best way to go about doing it.

In case someone out there doesn't have a router and has this problem, another thing you can do is to lay out your cut line, put masking tape over the cut line (centered on the line, of course) and score it several times with a utility knife.  Then use a saw, cut right through.

The scoring will help with chipping/cracking the laminate (although it still may happen)

The router, though, is the best way to do this.

[Hiub1]

Exactly what I thought. Thanks a lot on your input!

[Pyro]

I have heard that using masking tape on the cut lines of laminate will also help prevent chipout, however I haven't tried this method myself.

Pyro

[pointdablame]

masking tape does help, believe me.  It'll prevent most, and hopefully all, major chipping.

[neuromancer]

You can get jig saw blades for cutting through laminated countertops. They cut on the downstroke, iirc.

You can also cut with a circular saw from the back side.

Doesn't a coin door have a lip anyway?

Bob

[Hiub1]

Yeah, it wasn't really about adding a coin door even though I see how you could think that. Basically what happened was that I was such in a hurry to put together the cab that I did not add a door to the front of the cab other than a tiny one right below the CP which only was about 8 in. wide. This got very tiresome, so I thought aboout cutting another door. What I did instead was just tore that front panel out, reinforced the whole structure, and hinged that panel to make a huge door. Now I have 2 doors in the front of the Cab, one tiny one to access my DC inside, and a bigger one whenever I need to do some other stuff or reach the computer. I also have added a light inside to make plugging stuff in a lot easier. I will have some pics up soon in the Project Announcements area for those of you that are interested. I will have detailed instructions on how to hack a Sega brand DC pad EASILY, and how to mount the DC inside without a case. No school tomorrow,

Thanks again for all the help, Fred.