Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
.5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
"re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
Thanks
--
For email, use [email protected]
LurfysMa wrote:
> Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
> 12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
> ..5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
>
> I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
> But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
> "re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
> line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
> straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
> laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
>
> Thanks
>
Have you thought about fishing a new phone line without cutting the back
panel at all?
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
(Remove -SPAM- to send email)
Are you fixing a phone line or do you need the access door for some
other purpose as well?
On Sat, 06 May 2006 09:01:22 -0400, "no(SPAM)vasys"
<"no(SPAM)vasys"@adelphia.net> wrote:
>LurfysMa wrote:
>> Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
>> 12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
>> ..5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
>>
>> I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
>> But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
>> "re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
>> line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
>> straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
>> laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>
>Have you thought about fishing a new phone line without cutting the back
>panel at all?
On Fri, 05 May 2006 18:37:34 -0500, Thomas Kendrick
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Given the size of the access door, I would use a thin kerf circular
>saw blade to make the initial cuts. Just draw the rectangle for the
>door with straight sides and set the saw depth for 3/8" so that you
>cut a groove that does not penetrate to the other side.
Why not set the saw blade to cut all the way through?
>Do this for
>all 4 sides of the door. Use the jigsaw to complete the cuts and make
>the corner cuts.
>For the re-attachment, use hinges on the lowest edge and a magnetic
>catch at the top, all mounted on the inside surfaces.
I only have access to one side unless I unload the entire worksurface
and pull it away from the wall. There is maybe 4" between the back
panel and the wall.
>On Fri, 05 May 2006 14:18:32 -0700, LurfysMa <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
>>12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
>>.5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
>>
>>I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
>>But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
>>"re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
>>line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
>>straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
>>laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
>>
>>Thanks
--
For email, use [email protected]
On 5 May 2006 16:41:52 -0700, "tom" <[email protected]> wrote:
>You might want to use a "down-cut" jigsaw blade to complete the cuts.
>Maybe even use painters tape over the cuts to help prevent chipping the
>laminate. I think. Tom
Use the painters tape before the cut? That is, cut through the tape?
--
For email, use [email protected]
Given the size of the access door, I would use a thin kerf circular
saw blade to make the initial cuts. Just draw the rectangle for the
door with straight sides and set the saw depth for 3/8" so that you
cut a groove that does not penetrate to the other side. Do this for
all 4 sides of the door. Use the jigsaw to complete the cuts and make
the corner cuts.
For the re-attachment, use hinges on the lowest edge and a magnetic
catch at the top, all mounted on the inside surfaces.
On Fri, 05 May 2006 14:18:32 -0700, LurfysMa <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
>12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
>.5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
>
>I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
>But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
>"re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
>line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
>straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
>laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
>
>Thanks
On Sat, 06 May 2006 08:16:44 -0500, Thomas Kendrick
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Are you fixing a phone line or do you need the access door for some
>other purpose as well?
At the moment, just to fix the phone line. But I also have a lot of
power cords and cat5 cables back there. It would be handy to have an
access panel. I have wanted one on several other occasions. I thought
about taking the back panel to someone to make an access panel when I
first bought the unit. Shoulda, coulda, woulda...
--
For email, use [email protected]
On Sat, 06 May 2006 09:01:22 -0400, "no(SPAM)vasys"
<"no(SPAM)vasys"@adelphia.net> wrote:
>LurfysMa wrote:
>> Can anyone suggest the best way for me to cut an access door (maybe
>> 12-18" square) in the back panel of a large worksurface? The panel is
>> ..5" particle board with some type of laminate like formica.
>>
>> I know I can just drill a hole, then get a saber saw and cut the hole.
>> But I would prefer not to leave a hole. My hope is to be able to
>> "re-attach" the cut out part in some fashion after I fix the phone
>> line and make it look as nice as possible. That is, (a) the thinnest,
>> straightest possible cut, (b) the least damage to the surrounding
>> laminate, and (c) a good way to re-attach it afterwards.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>
>
>Have you thought about fishing a new phone line without cutting the back
>panel at all?
I think that would be a lot more work. It's in a home office on the
second floor on an interior wall.
I need the access panel anyway to retrieve pens and pencils and gum
drops that fall back there! ;-)
--
For email, use [email protected]