Routing laminate?

[shponglefan]

Any advice on routing laminate?  I've got a regular double flute flush trim bit.  Would that work or is there any advantage to buying a laminate trim bit (which appears, from what I can see, to be basically the same thing).

Also, I've read that using vaseline along the edge is recommended to avoid burning the laminate.  Any truth to this?

[Chadwick]

A flush trim bit is the same thing as a "laminate bit"... same thing.  This is the bit you want to use.  Forget the vasoline, if you're burning your laminate you need to move the router faster through the cut and not let it "dwell" in the cut.  The most important thing is to make sure your bit is sharp.  A good, sharp, carbide-tipped bit will not burn your laminate.

[shponglefan]

I ended up skipping the vasoline and using blue masking tape to protect the surface of the laminate as I routed it.  You're right, just moving the router fast enough kept it from burning.

[Epyx]

The key is speed...ive got my speed 1 to 6 router set to 6 when cutting laminate and it cuts fast and smooth and literally as you will read here often "like through butter".  And yes, moving at a decent clip

[shmokes]

I was going to suggest the masking tape.   Router bases are smooth, but debris from the cut goes ---smurfing--- everywhere, including under the base and then it gets dragged across the surface.  Good thinking.