---
title: "How To: Get Clean, Chip-Free Cuts in Melamine and Veneer"
description: "With a bit of care you can get perfectly clean, factory-like edges when you cut melamine with your circular or table saw blade."
date: "2012-05-16"
modified: "2020-10-22"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Gardner"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/chris-gardner/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-cut-melamine-and-veneer/"
categories:
  - "DIY"
  - "Skills & Techniques"
tags:
  - "How To"
  - "how-to"
  - "saw"
  - "tool"
---

# How To: Get Clean, Chip-Free Cuts in Melamine and Veneer

![Clean-cutting-laminate](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/laminatefeature-rev.jpg>)
*Photo: Chris Gardner*

Melamine-coated particleboard is a great material for storage, basement, garage, home office, and kid's room projects. It's less expensive than plywood and has a much cleaner finished look than painted MDF or fiberboard. Unfortunately, the plastic resins in the coating are prone to chip when cut with a spinning saw blade. They make special (read: expensive) saw blades just for the task, but with a bit of care, you can get perfectly clean, factory-like edges with the circular or table saw blade you currently have.

This technique will also work when salvaging old particleboard furniture from secondhand stores or garage sales.

![Clean-Cutting-Melamine-Laminate-Scoring-Height](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/scoringheight1-rev.jpg>)
*Photo: Chris Gardner*

## Step 1

First, measure your cut line and use a straight edge, utility knife, or box cutter to lightly score along the line on both sides of the board.

![Clean-Cutting-Melamine-Laminate-Final-Cut](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/final-rev.jpg>)
*Photo: Chris Gardner*

## Step 2

Next, set up your table saw or circular saw blade to cut 1/4" into the material. You are not cutting through the material here; you are simply creating a clean cut in the bottom face of the melamine. Since most chips occur when the teeth that are not actually removing material come in contact with the surface, this 1/4" deep scoring will help prevent tear-out during the final cut.

![Clean-Cutting-Melamine-Laminate-Final-Height-Cut](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/finalheight-rev.jpg>)
*Photo: Chris Gardner*

## Step 3

Now, set your blade height or cut depth to just above the gullets of the blade (the standard height to prevent kickback), then...

![Clean-Cutting-Melamine-Laminate-Final](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cutlaminate-rev.jpg>)
*Photo: Chris Gardner*

## Step 4

Turn on the saw and make your final cut.

See? No chips, and no need for a special $150 laminate cutting blade.

## Author
Chris Gardner is an artist, writer, and sawdust-maker living and making messes in Portland, Oregon. He's the editor-in-chief of the DIY home decor community [Curbly.com](<https://web.archive.org/web/20230923114318/http://www.curbly.com/>), and the founder of [ManMadeDIY.com](<https://web.archive.org/web/20230923114318/http://www.manmadediy.com/>), a craft, art, and design site for guys.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<http://www.x.com/manmadediy>)