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Finishing the Countertops

Brad Brewster of Princeton Custom Cabinetry shows Bob how the counters are rolled to apply consistent pressure once they have been glued to the undersurface. Once the Formica surface is completely set, the excess is trimmed from the edges of the counter using a straight trim router bit. The edges are trimmed with a funky, retro-looking trim that resembles chrome but is actually made of PVC. The counter edges are routered to make a groove into which the edging is pressed, making for a glueless installation. This edging has the advantage of being flexible and rust-free, unlike the chrome trim used with old linoleum counters. The last step is to cut the hole for the sink and the counters are complete.
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Finishing the Countertops

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" All right and now to really apply pressure brad. We don't let them do this for about ten or fifteen minutes right right what we want to do is go across the surface of all the Formica and it gets a nice tight bond and the roller achieves a uniform pressure for if you just do with your hand you get an -- even pressures -- that way. If you are doing Formica work it is best to use a roller or flat surface of some time yet to get a better bond. And what kind of a bit he used for this trimming. You just use a regular straight trim broader bet for that Bob. OK now we can see the architect's design. Which is up four and a half foot diameter right brad yes it is very good and in order to apply finishing touch which is this. PVC. Molding that looks like it's metal kind of retro we have to cut in. A little bit of a routed edge all along here. Go ahead. All right so this just goes without any kind of adhesive. Right into the groove. -- we've just routed out. And of course you're looking at the protective film that they add onto it so that you don't damage it while you continue with the job right. It's a good idea to leave the protective peel coat on there until the job is done. This is really a retro trim piece I mean originally they would make this out of metal and in kitchens and get countertops made out of linoleum and early materials back in the thirties and forties. You often had a chrome strip. That's right quite unique treatment and this way vehement PVC that it is it has a little bit of flexibility to it animates -- it's not real -- or not rust. All right so what's the masking tape for. That does Bob is that protects the laminate when you go over with the song you don't want to scratch the surface because some of that area will be exposed once the same -- sure. And now we're ready to cut out the sink -- and yes first thing you're gonna do is drill pilot all right. Yes. We just want to avoid having that fall down on the rough plumbing right. Yes gentlemen lots of good information thank you very much and you're wrong."

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