Cutting a recess out of laminated worktop (using a router?)

[andrew55]

Hi,

We have a project ongoing at the moment and we basically have a laminated worktop (like a kitchen worktop) and want to sink a computer keyboard into it so that the keyboard is flush with the worktop (its a work thing).

Whats the best way of making a recess (i.e removing a 15mm deep rectangle of materiel about 300mm x150mm) in the worktop without cutting right through. the plan is to use a router but we are worried about it chipping the laminate.

if using a router is a sensible way to go about it, what sort of bit should i buy?

Sorry if this has been covered before....

Cheers

Andrew

 

[big-all]

thats the way to do if your happy with all the swirles from the cutting and rounded corners

using a new cutter router the outline and assuming a12mm cutter in 3 passes per edge against a batton

then clamp a batton to each side then gradualy work your way accross to hollow out whats left by running on a third batton repositioned each time you do 2 passes [as your not worried about the finnish you could push it a bit ]

the bad news is you will go through about 4 cutters but they dont need to be worktop cutters

another way to do it is cut the hole 10mm smaller with a circsaw or jigsaw
then rebate a 10mm ledge for the keyboard to sit on
and if you dont like the hole underneath cut a bit of 18mm mdf assuming its a thin worktop or a bit of 25mm if its thick work top and a bit off 6mm mdf or ply a few inches bigger secured tothe bottom of the work top