Considering changing our Kitchen Worktops, they are arranged in a U shape + breakfast bar add on, so I am looking at 3 90degree joints. The existing worktop has a radius bullnose, so the joints are first cut in at 45deg, then go straight 90deg. ____/

How the hell do you get the paper thin joints they have.

This stuff is a biatch to cut anyhow, due to its thickness, let alone cut to millimetric precision. Is there some form of jig available?

Also considering maybe Black Granite... Any rough ideas on cost per metre, plus working to fit in the sink, Hob etc. (I know I can't fit this myself!)

There's a jig available to do this, I believe you can hire them from various places. Even with the jig, it's still not terribly simple apparently - never attempted it myself as I was advised against it...

If you go for it, let us know how you get on. Mine are jointed with chrome jointing thingies. Looks naff, but took 3 minutes :D

Dr Hu,

Just done min elast week ! in Black Granite plus new sink and hob etc....

There is a jig you can hire from hire shops, plus you will need at least a 1300 watt router and half inch long router bit. You should be able to hire all of this apart from the bit (you will have to buy that)

The best advice I can give you - is take your time working out exactly what cut you need, sound silly - but it is vital - one wrong cut could cost you £50!

Another tip - make sure the jig is clamped down tight - one slightest movement and the join will be shafted.

Another tip - you will need to take about 5 - 6 passes of the router on the worktop - a little bit at a time (do not try and cut all in one go)

If you want more info then let me know

Oh yeah work top from B&Q was £40 per lengh I think

I have a pic of what it looked like if you want too....

Cheers
Nick

Hmmmm - thanks for the info - I did'nt realise it was finshed using a Router - makes sense now I think about it.

I was actually thinking of Granite - as in the stone.....

Any ideas on how much per metre this stuff actually costs? & do you have to go to a stone merchant?

I *think* you need to be a lot more skilled to work with granite. Make wooden templates and take it to the supplier and they'll manufacture to your specs, but working granite seems like a very specialist thing to do...

I wouldn't like to cut granite......

any decent place doing granite will do all mitres and cuts ie sink for you as long as you give them some measurement, lovely stuff to have in a kitchen just cost an arm and a leg for a couple of metres, needed 5 metres for my kitchen and was quoted £990 for the granite i liked- didnt like it that much hehehe :D

My granite cost something like £100/metre for a straight stretch - more for complex stuff. It does look absolutely the dogs though.

They came to the house and templated it all up then spent a couple of weeks making it all up.

It comes in big sheets that are then cut to the exact shape that you want. It looks really cool if you have something other than just long straight runs to make the most of this. I've got a hob at 45degrees in one corner with a single bit of top going all the way into the corner, a breakfast bar that is 1m wide, an island that is 1.2m square etc.

The main work was in polishing up all the edges that they cut - they have to go through something like 9 grades of diamond polisher.

I've got sinks mounted underneath - so a couple of polished holes in the granite and etched draining grooves. I also had a 10cm high back put on which really enhances the look. I then didn't bother with tiles.

It's all joined with an epoxy resin which is almost the same colour as the granite.

Also had to pit wooden blocks under all the units due to the weight !

I got mine from a monumental mason who was expanding - you should have seen my wife's face when I pulled up outside ! Fortunately he was in the middle of a job in the same granite we wanted so we could see the finished article.

It's well expensive, but IMHO it elevates your kitchen into a totally different class.

You can be brutal with it too - hot pans are no problem, curry is not an issue, we were given some wire wool to clean it with etc.

Not done anything in Granite - only woodblock. But my experience was that the cost to hire the jig etc was only about 20 quid different to taking it to a professional kitchen worktop specialist.

I was lucky that there was a worktop machine-shop close by who had the flat bed cutters and all manner of expensive kit.

My recommendation would be to search the yellow pages for one as it's much less hassle, quicker and a more professional job if done with the right equipment.

Cheers,

Andy

PS. These guys often can supply you with the worktop material at wholesale prices - much cheaper than kitchen suppliers can.

Here's a couple of piccies :)

http://upload.turbosport.co.uk/getpic2.asp?File=2003118101326547695.JPG

There's a join on this one - at the bottom left -

http://upload.turbosport.co.uk/getpic2.asp?File=2003118101326838737.JPG

If you ever manage this in wood you shouldn't be posting in the DIY forum - you should be posing in the 'serious professional forum.' If you can do it in granite give up your dayjob and earn several million being a freemason.... erm I mean a stone mason ;)

LOL - Thanks for the replies...

That granite worktop really does look the Dogs nads....

It's well tempting but the price:eek:

Just replacing our blue/green granite worktops with (probably) black.

Price varies from supplier to supplier, but you are probably looking at around £250-300 metre for black (but up to £3000 per metre for some of the rare blues!!).

[Edited by Dave T-S - 1/20/2003 2:08:09 PM]

I'm a competent DIYer but brought in a carpenter to do the normal work tops, 3 different joins and cost me £80. Well worth it though as I am certain I could not have done nearly as good a job.
Also pays to have a brand new router bit (£20 one, not a cheap one) as it makes the edges that much better!
Good luck with the granite, would have loved that but was too far out of my price bracket!

When I did the kitchen worktops, I specced the joints and radiuses needed, gave the supplier the measurements, and they delivered it all cut, edges trimmed and ready for me to slot into place...

As being a chippy myself (carpenter)i have cut a lot of worktops i use a new cutter 4 every job and make 4 plus passes per cut ,you also need 2 know that you can only come one way into the cut and also the males and female left and right cuts .
Ps thats why most people get us to do it
pps still take my time and triple check now after 5yrs.

Just remembered that bq do premitred worktops .
hope this helps Justin.

WHAT!! - B&Q do pre mitred worktops - really??

Dr Hu check Magnet as well as a mate told me they will cut them 4 a price? ,I don,t use them myself as find them expensive 4 what u get.

Hope this helps ,Justin.