Getting Clean Cuts In Melamine

-- ~ Debbie, Ontario Canada

Good information, biggest thing to cutting melamine with small chips on the bottom side is a “sharp” 80t saw
Melamine dulls saw blades quickly you will see more chipping as it dulls
slideoutshelvesllc.com

I agree with Debbie and Todd. Get the correct blade.

I have one question for Todd….

Do you work for Freud ?

Just curious….

Great information, share the love, share the information.

Maybe compare this method to trim laminate bit in a small router and clean up the edge with a file….

Excellent video, it looks almost “to good”. Sound person, Cameraman, Lighting done professionally ?

Please don’t take this negatively ! You are setting the bar very high for other “home refurbers” .

japanesewoodworker – No sir, I do not work for Freud nor anybody else, although I could see it appears that way;)

I do not receive compensation for anything that I endorse or share online. I spend my own money on all my tools.

I will admit that as a pro, what I am willing to spend on a good tool or blade is higher than a lot of hobbyists. It is not that I have a lot more money to do so, but I make my living with my tools and so I weigh the cost vs return by a different set of standards than many weekend warriors.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://AmericanCraftsmanWorkshop.com

japanesewoodworker – Sorry I did not finish answering your questions.

Concerning the “video looks too good” I am not offended. I will take that as a compliment since I have invested a lot of money and labor into upgrading the lighting in my shop and purchased a new iMac & Final Cut Pro X. I love working in my shop and my new passion is creating video to help others and share the knowledge.

You can see the blog entry here where I was making some upgrades: http://www.americancraftsmanworkshop.com/journal/2012/1/28/american-craftsman-workshop-video-is-back.html

I have 2 cameras that run simultaneously for a wide shot & close-up shot. I add in stills as well to increase the visual information. I also have a couple of GoPro cameras that I can mount to the machines, they provide a close, wide angle action shot that is a bit unique.

With Final Cut Pro X I can run all the cameras at once then synchronize them automatically in the editing process. I just switch between the multiple camera angles to produce the best angle for any given moment in the video.

It takes me about 4 hours to produce 1 minute of finished video. That is a lot of time, but once it is done, it is out there forever helping other people.

One of the other secrets to creating good video is good audio. I spent about $500 in a good wireless mic setup.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://AmericanCraftsmanWorkshop.com

Thanks Todd for the “above and beyond effort” you put in your videos.

-- The difference between a pro and an amateur, an amateur points out his mistakes

Hi Todd , I’ve been wondering where you have been hanging out as I don’t see you much on LumberJocks lately.
Great video and information as usual , my friend : )
It’s nice watching a PRO at work !
Best wishes.

-- "I've got an hour glass figure , but , it's later than you think"! _Minnie Pearl

Hey Dusty – I have not really had time to hang out anywhere in particular other than the job site or my shop. I am currently getting hammered with work (no pun intended.)

I am taking whatever work I can get since I am intending to replace my truck this year.

Believe me though. I miss sharing at LJ and HomeRefurbers:)

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://AmericanCraftsmanWorkshop.com

Take it when you can get it , has always been my motto : )
It’s good to be busy. I hope you meet your goal and get that new truck , my friend : )

-- "I've got an hour glass figure , but , it's later than you think"! _Minnie Pearl

Todd, I noticed the blade was well above the board. Is this a requirement for this blade?

Hey Tony – I like to run the blade just a little past the gullet in elevation. On the big table saw, I am closer to what I would recommend, but on the DeWalt jobsite table saw I am running a little higher than normal.

This is an oversight on my part, as I have a lot of things to keep in mind when I am making a video. I am running 3 cameras while trying to remember everything I need to say, to show, and to get it all in one shot.

Concerning the safety factor, everyone’s comfort level is different. But generally speaking, running the blade just so the gullet is allowed to evacuate the material waste is the normal height to run it. At that elevation the recommended blade provides wonderful results.

I really need to get on the second video where I put on the edge banding. It seems like I am always behind the eight ball and do not have the time I need to share regularly the way I would like.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://AmericanCraftsmanWorkshop.com

Hey Todd….any edgebanding in the future?
Always like to pick someone else’s brain/techniques.

I have the handheld Virutex AG52 hot air bander,but pre-glued edging is getting harder to come by around here.
My main supplier is only handling white, almond and black now. Mail orders never are the right color. Any sources that you use?

-- The difference between a pro and an amateur, an amateur points out his mistakes

I buy locally at A&H Turf Specialties, they are only 3 miles from my shop.

They do online sales here: http://ahturf.com/store/index.php

I only use the iron on banding since I do not do large volumes of edge banding.

Sorry I have not had time to get the edge banding video out, I am just tight on time with my business. Gotta keep the dollar rolling.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://AmericanCraftsmanWorkshop.com