I was about to tackle the job of fitting new worktops when I came across this excellent forum. I was a bit alarmed and dismayed that most of the advice to another member who was about to undertake the same job, was for him to not even consider it and get a pro in to cut the joints.
Undaunted however, I bought myself a jig and borrowed a router from a friend. (I had bought a router from Argos but returned it, unused, when I discovered that the 30mm guide was in fact a 33mm guide).
After three or four practise cuts, made on some old unit doors, and after dozens of measurement checks, I dived in the deep end and made my first cut. It looked good so I then tackled the ‘male’ cut and it was a perfect match. All three of the joints I had to make turned out ok. Even the one that I had to cut a bit off the straight because one corner of the kitchen was not at a right angle. I had also to attach a three inch off-cut to a length of worktop to widen it.
When fitting the new worktops, I very quickly found that holding the clamping bolts in place while trying to tighten them, was, to put it mildly, a wee bit infuriating. So I was forced to think up a way to make that job a bit easier. (Photos attached)
Anyway, I am more that pleased with the results and would say to anyone who feels competent enough to tackle the job themselves, go for it. Who knows, it might just work out alright.
Cheers
Fergie.
The only bond/sealer I could get was white. Using sand paper on a scrap piece of worktop, I produced some dust that was rubbed into the joint while doing the final wipe over with solvent.
To help with fiting the bolts, I drilled two holes on one flange.
After inserting the bolt, I selected two 1/2" tacks
The tacks were sharp enough to be thumb pressed into place.
The using the flat side of a screw driver, they were driven home.
I found this toi be very helpful in fitting the bolt but I'm sure that many of you will have been doing this for years.
This is the three inch strip that I fitted to the worktop edge.
Undaunted however, I bought myself a jig and borrowed a router from a friend. (I had bought a router from Argos but returned it, unused, when I discovered that the 30mm guide was in fact a 33mm guide).
After three or four practise cuts, made on some old unit doors, and after dozens of measurement checks, I dived in the deep end and made my first cut. It looked good so I then tackled the ‘male’ cut and it was a perfect match. All three of the joints I had to make turned out ok. Even the one that I had to cut a bit off the straight because one corner of the kitchen was not at a right angle. I had also to attach a three inch off-cut to a length of worktop to widen it.
When fitting the new worktops, I very quickly found that holding the clamping bolts in place while trying to tighten them, was, to put it mildly, a wee bit infuriating. So I was forced to think up a way to make that job a bit easier. (Photos attached)
Anyway, I am more that pleased with the results and would say to anyone who feels competent enough to tackle the job themselves, go for it. Who knows, it might just work out alright.
Cheers
Fergie.
The only bond/sealer I could get was white. Using sand paper on a scrap piece of worktop, I produced some dust that was rubbed into the joint while doing the final wipe over with solvent.
To help with fiting the bolts, I drilled two holes on one flange.
After inserting the bolt, I selected two 1/2" tacks
The tacks were sharp enough to be thumb pressed into place.
The using the flat side of a screw driver, they were driven home.
I found this toi be very helpful in fitting the bolt but I'm sure that many of you will have been doing this for years.
This is the three inch strip that I fitted to the worktop edge.
)