Trimming laminate

[fim]

Can I use my router with a flush trim bit to trim laminate?
Is it any different from trimming wood?

What are laminate routers?

thanks

[LarryG]

Can I use my router with a flush trim bit to trim laminate?

Yes.

Is it any different from trimming wood?

Not really. It's thinner, more brittle. But that doesn't matter to a good sharp bit. The one thing you need to be a little careful of is contact cement build-up on the guide bearing.

What are laminate routers?

A small router used mainly for trimming laminate. Sounds smarta$$y but, really, that's basically all it is.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Laminate router = Bosch Colt type router.
Agree with LarryG on above items.

[drumpriest]

Yeah, a laminate trimmer is just a small light duty router. It's a bit easier to hold than most routers because of the weight. You can do a lot of edge profiling with it as well.

There are laminate trim bits available for routers, or you can use a flush trim. You might consider a spiral flush trim, or a sheer angle, as it'll slice through rather than chip through the laminate edge. Less chip out potential that way.

[jabe]

trimming laminate

Yes you can use your router. I use a solid carbide laminate trimming bit with no bearing, I grease the laminate where the pilot touches with vaseline to prevent it from burning the edge. Do not use excessive force when trimming the laminate, just let the bit do the work and you won't burn the laminate. 3 reasons for this are: 1. a solid cabide laminate trimming bit w/pilot cost less than bits with bearings. 2. The bit is easier to clean the contact cement off of it. 3. A jar or tube of vaseline is cheaper than replacement bearings. As a retired High school woodshop teacher you learn to do things the cheapest and fool proof way when dealing with teenagers.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

If you get a laminate trimmer it is a great idea to replace the sub-base with a larger profile for stability. Usually an offset router subbase with a handle is in order for greater control of the smaller router.