How do I cut melamine without chipping the laminate all to hell

[Hoagie_one]

Starting a new project and i like the melamine look.  I'm worried that my saw is just gonna make the cut edges look like crap. 

Any advise on cutting it?

[DrewKaree]

Starting a new project and i like the melamine look.  I'm worried that my saw is just gonna make the cut edges look like crap. 

Any advise on cutting it?

They make blades specifically for the material, although I don't know what kind of "saw" you're gonna use.  Also, all along your cut line, do two things.  First, take a metal ruler (or something else you know you positively CAN'T cut through, and score your cut line.  It'll take a bit more time this way, but the result will be better than if you DON'T do it.  Second, take some regular old masking tape, and run it smack dab over your cut line so the cut line is centered in the middle of the tape. 

Finally, your "saw" blade, whichever type of saw you use, will tend to rip up one side of the material more than the other (again, depending on the saw - the saw type will tell you how to cut it) and obviously, you want the melamine on the side that will tend to give the best (more "finished") cut face.

Best way would be to use a router, though.

[Hoagie_one]

i have a circular saw, a jig saw and a router.

so y our suggestion might be to cut with a jigsaw and trim it up with a router to make it pretty?

[muell67]

I second the use of a router for the final cut. Dont forget go counter clockwise, and cut with the melamine up.

If you have to much trouble I have something in the buy sell trade section were Im trying to cut parts for people on a cnc router, I do melamine all of the time check it out.