Cutting Kitchen Worktops

[jelly]

Can anyone give me advice on cutting Kitchen worktops.
I have no mitres to cut just a cutout for a Sink and Hob.
The sink cutout is close towards one end of the worktop and there is a couple of water pipes the worktop has to goes round.Therefore the worktop could be quite weak at this point.
I assume i fit the worktop then do the cutouts while it is fitted.
I also assume that when cutting the cutout i should clamp the cutout in a way so when i'm nearly all the way round with my cutout the waste material doesn't try to rip itself away form the worktop and damage it.
Please let me know how it should be done or how you have achieved it.

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

You're right about clamping, even if it means screwing little bits of wood where you have already cut to stabilise it. Secret is to take your time , you get one chance at this .....
Distances between different cut outs should, theoretically be 100mm (4") with a strengthening batten underneath, depends how big your cut out for the pipes has to be in relation to your base cupboards and sink
(I'm assuming pipes are on the wall ??).
Now I wonder if anyone will answer my query about jointing worktops without specialist tools ? ? ? ?

 

[jelly]

Yeh The pipes are close to the wall

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

Should give the pipes 5mm clearance ( so if 15mm cu pipe use 20mm wood bit ) and start off slowly from laminate side then cut into hole(s) to give you a slot(s) (Sorry, that sounds patronising doesn't it). What I did then was used plastic trunking, the sort that fixes to pipe clips and run it up to, and above the cupboards, although in our case the trunking filled a gap perfectly between one wall cupboard and the oven extractor/bridging unit and I've just trimmed down some plinth to match cupboard height and level with base of extractor to the wall.
Lucky or what ??? ( But shh, I have convinced SWMBO that that is how I planned it !! )