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curve on a kitchen worktop

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:30 pm
by handyman
I have to fit a worktop thats to be used as a bench (for an 'artist')

It requires the front edge to be rounded off, about a 7" radius each end, then the supplied iron on stuff to cover it.


How would you go about this?

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:36 pm
by panlid
i use my worktop jig that has a built in radius edge.
before that i made a template out of 3/8 ply, clamp it to the worktop and use a guide bush in the router. remember that you have to attack the worktop from the formed edges to the middle if a brekky bar.

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 4:46 pm
by handyman
will do, cheers for that :thumbright:

Will do the ply templete

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:03 pm
by handyman
any tips for the iron on stuff ?

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:21 pm
by Wood Magnet
Make sure the iron is hot enough. :thumbright:

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 5:51 pm
by handyman
pitbull wrote:Make sure the iron is hot enough. :thumbright:
and use the customers iron :lol:

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:52 pm
by tim'll fix it
most of them arnt iron on they need contact adhesive

the only ones I have fitted that iron were from MFI

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:30 pm
by handyman
cheers tim, will take some adhesive as well. I presume it will be as you said, as this 4m length of worktop cost £200 odd. :?

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:58 pm
by panlid
hank if it is a normal worktop your jig only needs to be half the width as you will have to turn the worktop over to do the other side.
the jig i make with a jigsaw then belt sand it smooth.
the edging is just solvent based contact adhesive and masking tape. try and get the top flush so it only needs a little file on the top. the bottom bit trim wioth a sharp knife and file.

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:26 pm
by tim'll fix it
as sid said, and I will say again just so you are sure

you cant route in and out of the curve as it will smash out as it leaves the laminate edge

so you must make sure you do it in two halves going into the edge each way, which means flippin it over for the second bit

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:57 pm
by handyman
first of all i'm not saying your wrong of anything :-)



I jig sawed out the curve (100mm radius) to prep for routering and seen the finish was almost perfect. So, just hit it with the sander with fine sanding belt. It was perfect, so went with it. Looks good.


One thing i did notice (never done a curve before) is you cant let the curve go perfectly onto the front edge, (if you did, then the thickness of the edging strip would be a step to the worktop front edge) it needs to hit the front edge at a slight angle, then you can finish the edging strip stuff.........well thats what i did anyway. Hope you understand this description :?

How else could you finish the edging strip ?

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:15 pm
by panlid
nope :scratch:

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:34 pm
by handyman
if the curve is a radius from the end to the front curved rounded finished edge of worktop, then when you put the edging strip (which is 1mm thick) round to the front rounded edge it will then have a step 1mm thick.

How do stop this step?

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 7:55 pm
by tim'll fix it
file it flush

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:05 pm
by handyman
is there a way of doing this, as the coloured part of the finishing strip is just on the surface, with the rest being a brown colour. If you file it to a smooth transition from the curved front edge of worktop, too the cut curve, then it will take about 5mm to do this, most of which will be brown.