how to fit a kitchen worktop and make kitchen worktop butt joint without router

[@graciemorris3954]

I just can't understand why people are putting negative comments on, hes taken the time to show you an alternative method and just become some joiners own festool and other very expensive tools doesn't make them a good joiner , it's always the same people putting stupid negative comments, if you dont like it dont watch it .

[@jayrollo6029]

Eat a 🍌

[@Farweasel]

They can f'cough too - I thought it was dead useful Vivid too. When he first ran the circular saw I realised I was holding my breath cos of the dust.

[@tobby1able]

Let's just say it would work IF both walls are in perfect 90 degree angle and absolutely straight or the angled counter top is max 0,5 meter/20 inch. Since most walls are almost not straight and in perfect 90 degree angle is why a router is better. 😊🙃

[@marktotnes]

@@tobby1able ? Doesn't matter if wall isn't @ a perfect 90 degrees - You offer up one piece to the other (both pieces should be held/butted up to both walls) and mark for the cut

[@santorini8423]

Have you seen the joint? As a kitchen fitter, if I did anything like that shyte, I’d be unemployed

[@martinhickey1608]

Fitted my worktop today using this method worked really well. Happy I took the chance.

[@sparkybrooks]

Just wanted to say thank you. You've saved me a fortune. I done exactly what you said and it cost me 5 pound for the cutter and 10 pound for the bolts...

[@mywaybystarlight]

This is exactly what I needed! After a ton of research I finally came to the conclusion that I needed to use this joining method and I'm happy to get the faustner bit but didn't want to buy another tool as my storage space is extremely limited and I'm already borrowing a circular saw. Can't wait to finish my L shaped counter top tomorrow thank you for all the help!

[@dannyconway2612]

I didnt have a router, brought myself a 35mm hinge hole drill bit from screwfix and used my small saw. My bolts fitted perfectly and tightened up the worktop to show no gap. I did a diagonal cut but this video was very helpfull for anyone without a router.

[@josephberrie9550]

its bought mate not brought ????????

[@yasmin1922]

@@josephberrie9550get a life mate!!

[@steveflatman]

I don’t think there was anything wrong with the technique in theory, but the execution and end result leave something to be desired. If you have to use this method, spend a bit more time ensuring clean edges to the joined faces, it will pay dividends in the long run, both in terms of looks and durability. The biggest issue though has NOTHING to do with router vs. without it’s the fact that he didn’t use anything to align the vertical faces and ensure they stay aligned. Pros use a biscuit jointer and this more than emptying helps give a strong and most of all stable joint that won’t move with time, which leads to porosity and swolen joints where water creeps in.

[@jamescooke5063]

As I understand it, biscuits are only useful for making a good level join in the first place, they don't increase the strength of the joint made with wood glue which is stronger than the wood itself, it is an old misconception.

[@steveflatman]

@@jamescooke5063 Biscuits support the vertical stability of the joint giving it a good flat join at the beginning and keeping the joint flat, preventing any exposure of the end grain that can lead to water absorption, which will ultimately weaken the joint. So while they do offer some albeit very limited lateral strength to the joint, their primary purpose is to ensure the glue is able to do its job as best possible and not become contaminated by water ingress breaking down its adhesion by seeping in behind and causing the bond to break down. They must work as they are the go-to for almost every professional kitchen fitter in the developed world, and I've had kitchens without, where the joint has always eventually gone and with where not one has ever bubbled, blistered, become misaligned or moved in any way, regardless of the material being chipboard based worktop or solid wood.

[@georgewheeler5817]

Biscuit joints, etc can't be used anyway when you have to join two counter tops that are tight fit upto walls.

[@oo0OAO0oo]

​@georgewheeler5817 what? Wdym? Why not?

[@TheCarinababy]

OMG it worked, thank you so much for your video, I was so worried about this. I actual use a hand saw to cut where the bolt seats, didn't have a small saw like you and didn't want to spend money on more tools. But you're video helped so much. Thank you

[@jlinkels]

This is a darn well excellent instruction. Despite of the shake camera now and then. It shows VERY clearly what to do and good explanation.

[@philscraftcorner]

Nice tutorial. I have fitted a few kitchens and this has to be the most pain in the backside part of the whole process. I bought the router and jig fir the first and that made a difference to the rest. As others have said a finer tooth blade and plunge/track saw makes a huge difference. Again after the first kitchen I took the risk and grabbed a titan track saw. It makes a huge difference to every other job I have done

[@dilligaf2386]

He's experienced I wouldn't advise anyone to attempt doing a worktop like this it can be an expensive mistake. Nice video

[@JORDANMARC1]

The idea is good! But cone on everyone being a proper tradesman it’s the little things that make the job finish perfectly like using a thin pencil line for marking and not covering up with your thumb the damaged Formica that chipped off when you didn’t hold your offcut from tearing away and ripping it off 😢 and using a handsaw when you’ve got a circular their which you are already using then use a tenon saw???? Apart from those few things the idea is solid it’s how it used to be done but it costs like £20 to hire a router n jog for the day so it’s a no brainier (16yrs time served) Iv done a couple 😉

[@franka8395]

Lovely worktop joint. Well done! Not many builders are comfortable using router to make this joint. They are reluctant to do it. Moreover, it saves money and time for folks installing kitchens by themselves.

[@noureddine309]

This video is for the people who have limited tools. I found it helpful and useful tips. I'm not sure why the pro do watch this kind of video if they know what they are doing 😂😂😂

[@jlinkels]

He uses the right saw at exactly the right moments. What he did with a hand saw could not be done with the circular saw. And he used the tenon saw where the hand saw would have been too coarse.

[@peterthompson7801]

Excellent, I was thinking of bringing in a carpenter, but after seeing this I will be doing it myself, I already have the tools. Brilliant

[@josephberrie9550]

good luck mate why do you think we have those tools to do the job consistently and to the satisfaction of todays clients

[@townsbrook8157]

Proper old school method, nothing wrong with it in my opinion, gonna give it a go in my own place👍

[@seamussmith910]

Thank you very much. For us diy enthusiasts whom don’t wish to buy an expensive jig for the once in ten years worktop change its perfect.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

I used to use this method in my early days, works pretty well, I used the colour of the worktop before I bolted it together instead of glue.

[@robertfoy1544]

Good video. Very similar to how we used to fit worktops years and years ago, hand saw, block plane and sanding block. Fostner bit and chisel for bolt channels. You can't beat a router and jig for consistency and speed though.

[@bobbysilver272]

Not bad if you are putting this worktop into your garden shed.

[@tommiealdridge]

😂😂😂 u would need new blade in plunge saw to mimic a router bit........is that permanent marker?

[@shaqeelshabir8945]

😂😂😂lol

[@jamesgreen4080]

That is a really lovely worktop, for a shed. Seriously would you be satisfied with that quality of work and the time he took to do it in your house.

[@antigoogleman1135]

Yes..I would. Seems fine. Not good enough for your palace then..?

[@jamesgreen4080]

@@antigoogleman1135 I'm A Carpenter

[@antigoogleman1135]

@@jamesgreen4080 Your work is cathedral quality then..? Do you have a KZbin video so I can see your work.?

[@antigoogleman1135]

Your trade wasn't the question.

[@jamesgreen4080]

@@antigoogleman1135 I don't need to Impress you, I've been a Carpenter for over twenty years.

[@TheFrenchieLad]

Exactly the guide I was looking for. Thanks. I'm doing a corner edge worktop so just needed to find out how to do the bolt fittings without a jig. 👍

[@lajosjozsa2600]

Brilliant! You have some calibrated hands that with that saw! Truly amazing! Well done!

[@simonafloat]

Professional carpenter here. There is nothing wrong with doing your worktops this way. I've done a few without using a router in the past and if you know how to handle a tenon saw there's no reason why the quality shouldn't be top notch. But i would always biscuit joint too.

[@jamescooke5063]

But if you're going to biscuit joint with a router you might as well use the router with a template?

[@josephberrie9550]

Mcviteas or own brand

[@grumhotdog7423]

wow that's RAF wouldn't want that in my kitchen

[@owenjoseph6097]

Good work! It's nice to see an excellent result from largely hand tools. It show the class of the fitter. Thc

[@garyloudon2417]

If your a diy guy and it’s your own house it’s fine maybe new hand saws with fine blades you get smaller tooth large saws too and maybe the circular saw who be better making lots of passes dropping a couple of millimetres a time then when it’s at the laminate side the blades not shuddering as much I’ve did that type of cut myself many times with a timer guide and ten passes got great results with a bit of wood under to support the off cut if it’s your own it can’t be wrong it’s a learning curve

[@alexandrudobrescu4071]

You did a great job with what tools you've used, you showed that it can be done👍

[@Sifinds]

Nice to know Noel Gallagher is keeping busy

[@DominicFranklin-w6y]

😅😅

[@Mee10792]

It's all down to budget. If you don't have the money for the gear, it's a way of doing the hockey stick joint. The worst way is with the metal joining strip. But as I do wood worktops and compact laminate, I use my router and jigs. So when you pay £50+ per joint, just remember there's nearly a grands worth of tools doing a joint

[@davidpitfield2796]

This is how I used to join worktops back in 1983... but I didn't have your extensive "toy-town" tools back then. do ELC still sell them?

[@kirkgimp]

Did them on site years ago like that...spot on.

[@MrRmcbigboss]

As a carpenter who's peed off carrying so much kit, with enough practice any skilled person can make this an art form.

[@freebornjohn2687]

If you take your time and are careful when marking out this will just as good as using a router. It might not be the way to do it if you are doing it for a living but as a one off it works great. Also, I've seen plenty of idiots getting poor results with a router.

[@paulyoull5472]

Mate, it’s refreshing to see an alternative method.thanks!!! Hope your router and jig are back in the van again🤣🤣🤣

[@alexblizzard9113]

Useful video, thanks for posting. Ignore the old women carping in the comments.

[@philobrien5603]

The last time this method was used on site them tools were brand new

[@marconeill9510]

Tennon saw and a bingo marker, and away you go! 😂

[@drewmcintosh6300]

See the state of that plaster board saw

[@Mambafpv]

If you can use rusty tools and do a good job then why not! Some cant do it with all the right gear!!

[@jimallen9442]

Seeing a lot of negative comments here and I suppose its just because I'm an old man but, when I started fitting worktops most people never had routers, or jigs for that matter, and hand fitting was how it was done. It might not be too clear in this video, but with a bit of effort, the join is as good as a jig cut one, at least, if you are any kind of joiner it is. Just sayin.

[@ronnierobinson1502]

But its not tho

[@jimallen9442]

@@ronnierobinson1502 If you tried to say something, you failed.

[@puppyloveee-jn6ck]

How can you say its as good as a router and jig lol rough as fuck 😅

[@scottinnes4768]

Sure the method will work but the execution is poor and the finish of the joint is horrendous. I would genuinely have rather seen him throw a salmonella strip on it.

[@joineralbert2493]

Alright for a shed

[@JasonJohnson-yu8zf]

Never leave sharp corners at the 45°intersection of the female side of a masons mitre, it leads to a stress fracture of the laminate. Always use rounded corners.

[@jrsuk1170]

A stress fracture is the least of his worries on this joint.

[@bigsigtr]

Great idea. Genuinely interested as I've always routered. Easier with a router but obviously if you are only doing one why buy one. Well done

[@philstation335]

Great vid mate and great tips....wen you joined the worktops together well wen they wer on the offcuts they wer both cut then u put ur marker so it showed the line underneath but wen u went outside to cut the cut u already done went ther u was cutting a new bit ?

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

I done it the easy way, paid the worktop supplier £45 to cut the masons mitre for me. For an extra £9 a cut could have had the worktop cut to size for wherever it needed fitting. For a one off job was worth it but for those fitting tops regularly this seems a top method.

[@pstan6705]

Who supplied and cut your worktop please?

[@christopherinteriors6521]

GREAT VIDEO! The guy who originally taught me to fit kitchens when I was an apprentice years ago would do this with a handsaw. He even used to scribe the whole length of the worktop with a handsaw without stopping and had arms like popeye 🤣. As soon as it was time for me to do my first worktop I just bought a jig for the router and never looked back. I rarely use it now anyway as 99% of worktops that I do are solid wood and you should never masons mitre them.

[@SuperLofaszjoska]

Don't get me wrong, but if this is only a cheap or diy job, use a corner joint trim. Only a fiver and the end result looks way much better and saves you time. You can't cut corners. I mean you just did, but for God's sake use a router and a jig.

[@graciemorris3954]

What do people think joiners used before routers?,

[@johnmackay7789]

@@graciemorris3954 and why do you think postform mitre jigs were developed to work alongside the router?

[@JamieVauxnut1]

@@graciemorris3954 the router was invented before chipboard laminate worktops. Before the router people were fitting solid wood tops, big difference. Quality jobs cost money, just bang a joining strip on it to save money

[@TheTimutube]

No way do trims look better than this

[@jimelliott33]

Your obviously well versed in doing it this way, also very accurate with a saw, I’d advise people to use a router and a jig to do this as lack of saw talent will end up in another tip to wickes for a new section of worktop, top job though using that method

[@terencewidmer9586]

Great to see someone able to do a great job without loads of expensive tools.

[@hungquocgianguyen1215]

Good work, but why don't you use biscuits to join in the middle?

[@Mambafpv]

Hahaa love this ghetto approach dude, rusty saws n all 😆👌🏻 True be told, im a self proclaimed carpenter of many years and today i jointed my first worktop! Like 20 years in the game too! I used my own made up approach and thankfully it was flawless, then i watched videos on it while sitting in the boozer!! 😜 great video dude

[@soundslike.....]

Amazing! Just what I was looking for. Really informative and easy-to-follow instructions. Thank you!

[@bobdidit4539]

Thanks for this video. Made it very understandable and straight forward.

[@deanoh6414]

The bolt recess is clever. And the mitre would probably turn out ok if you had 80 tpi blade in the circular saw

[@stuc6787]

Really useful, thanks. I only want to join two sections of worktop to make a desk along one wall and this is ideal. No need to spend on expensive tools, I can use what I have, mark it up carefully and work accurately. Ideal!

[@mechtechmechanical1571]

works a treat, no router fitted it last week, not bad for my first go

[@andddyw88]

Looks good and a lot more doable for a novice like me the worktop jigs and routers scare me.

[@jogonjogon3294]

What ranch does this lad come from

[@tracer1127]

That’s funny mate 😂

[@TheTimutube]

You sir are very talented.thank you for uploading the video

[@w1zardssleeve]

Used this method last week, flawless 👍

[@daveevans6198]

where do they get these joiners from ffs

[@ianmurray3820]

If I was doing a one off kitchen for myself I ‘d hire the tools, if your a cabinet maker I’m sure you could make a job of it using this method, but with materials bring as expensive as they are a jig and a router takes away the need for a lot of the skill and experience. Maybe have go on solid wood where you can repair a mistake but not so much on a laminate.!!! Plus with the jig you get a perfect result, also those bolts looked to be bit on the shallow side.!!??

[@MrBledi25]

Nothing wrong with your technique but what you need is a plunge saw with a guide rail and 40teeth or more quality blade not a circular saw.

[@999smiley999]

Absolutely i agree as long as you dont chip the worktop this method is good enough masking tape on the cut line would help

[@cohenyoel83]

I’m in the trade mate and I appreciate the creativity

[@woosheroes494]

Good old skills! Thank you for sharing. If Oscar Onsurd had not invented the first basic router in 1915 and if the German ELU company had not redesigned it into a plunge router in 1949 what do you think people did?? Old fashioned honest skills are nothing to be laughed at. To those over-priced know it all tradesmen I can assure you I have seen some shitty router job finishes. This video is commendable as I would love to see what tradesmen would do if their power tools were taken off them?? I am awed at the amount of con-merchants out there pretending to be professionals. Once again cracking video.

[@midnightdog7418]

Agree with you 💯💯

[@graciemorris3954]

Well said

[@grahamkeith1959]

you tell em!!

[@woosheroes494]

@@grahamkeith1959 Cheers.

[@davidrobertson7964]

Your right. I was told and learned to do anything out of my toolbag and trecil. 40 years ago this would have been pretty much standard practice. And realy all this lad is doing is showing another way to do it. Along with the other 98 ways to do it. Collages still go down a traditional road thankfully. I do now reach for power tools as I'm nearly 50. Too many aches and pains now after 34yrs.

[@romainguebs5173]

awesome work my man, how much do you charge for that piece of art ?

[@davidmoody3810]

I'm just going for square edge worktops so all i have to do is take off the edge seal on the joint but now i know how to put the cavities for the bolt screws underneath

[@gardengnome2409]

Best explanation to date. How long would it take a good carpenter take to cut that joint?

[@joineralbert2493]

1 hour

[@carlrobson5745]

Nice how to got to do this in a few months so has come in handy got an old work top to practice on before hand.

[@petercooper1644]

Nice job worked with some old school joiners could do this using hand tools , no jigs for anything.

[@AmIamIknowIam]

I use jig and plunge router. Faster and easier. But well done mate

[@AmIamIknowIam]

Only because I'm a pro and I do this at least twice a week. For DIYs your method is thr best. Saves them money

[@ttrend5868]

Different people have different standards, i can understand. Definitely this is not the standard of todays kitchen fitting and I like my tea with biscuits

[@matthewstevenson3002]

Agreed this is like a throwback to when electrical tools were non existent

[@2icelollys1goat]

I'm not lazy and haven't got £2k to waste (give to an overpriced fitter) so I'll be doing this. The finish looks spot on.

[@MrVukovic]

Awesome video man thank you saved me a tonne of money from having to buy a router

[@thomasdolby3371]

All these people saying “this is great no need for expensive tools” I’d love to see how their job came out 😂

[@frank1847]

That was a real handy little cordless circular saw he had at 11;49. Anyone any idea what make it was?

[@malcolmlongfield3378]

Ryobi

[@riley165]

Great video and thanks ks for taking the time to upload it,can see its not the same finish quality as you get as a router and jig but it's also functional and would certainly get the job done! would be good to round those sharp edges over though could get a few cracks happening over time! new subscriber here.

[@KrazyAz68]

0000000000000000000000000+

[@ZipClipChannel]

just buy a jointing strip or call in a jointer at that point the strips are completely fine

[@paulrumbold2436]

Is this for a new film? Is it called carry on carpentry ?

[@tracer1127]

You made me laugh there mate 🤣

[@tennispennis7579]

Great work , clear and concise. will have a go myself now thanks

[@wootton900]

My router broke a few years ago I literally did the masons mitre with my jack cut And a block plane looked perfect 😂

[@tonygould580]

The use of some coloured mitre compound would have improved that joins final appearance vastly. It's good to show people options when you're working on a budget and can't afford a worktop jig router and the other paraphernalia.

[@jonathanbailey5896]

hi mate that was a good video thank you very well explaned

[@williambelford9661]

How many tools/power tools did you use in place of a router 🤔

[@marccarter4469]

If I fit my customers worktops using this method and finish I would expect to be out of business very very soon.

[@gulzarmalji7076]

Nice one mate! Nice to finally see some real craftsmanship. If you can do it without a tool, you are a real craftsman.

[@joineralbert2493]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😂🤣

[@bevhor]

I put in a kitchen benchtop without using a router, and just used a circular saw. It was a U shape bench and the walls were not square. It was a pain! However, the joins came up really well but there are some tricks! Trick one: the number of teeth on the saw blade made next to no difference to the result. I started with 24, moved to 40, and even 60. It was always bad, like that shown in this video. To get a clean cut you need to cut with the good surface face down AND sitting nice and flat on a scrap piece of mdf that you cut into. The piece underneath provides the support to stop the laminate chipping. This is the only way to consistently prevent chipping when using a handheld tool. All the claims regarding masking tape etc did not work, and I tried all sorts of different types of tape. A waste of time and offers false hope. Trick two: I simply made it a 45 degree mitre. I think trying to do a mason's mitre without a router AND jig is a mistake. I made a join that was within the capability of the tools I had. It might not be as nice as a masons mitre, but it was lightyears better than this disaster. Trick three: get a damn router and jig and do it properly. Seriously, it's not worth doing it without one. Although my attempt worked out ok, I'll never do it again. A colossal time waster. For all those suggesting they used to do this without a router I have this to say: This guy has a circular saw. If that technology exists then you can reasonably expect someone to use a router. Routers, even cheap ones, will do a much better job. It's the 21st century; get a router! When you used to join benchtops without a router, was that because laminate hadn't been invented yet? Timber benchtop joins are much more forgiving than laminate ones and thus advanced technology usually requires advanced technology. And in case I hadn't mentioned it: Get a damn router!

[@colinellis4312]

Before post formed worktops it was Blockboard and formica laminate all cut with a tenon saw, glued with contact adhesive and edges trimmed with a file at 45. It took great skill and patience but all kitchens and shoplifting where done like this and the advantage was that you didn't have joints on the top surface as you cut the whole thing out of 1 sheet of laminate. Most kitchen fitters would not have the skill to do this. I saw my late Dad do exactly this for a whole fitted kitchen for my sister lots of years ago. And yes get a router, much easier and useful for many other tasks too not just masons mitres

[@aljones4719]

The mitre should be just more than the radius on the top edge of the work surface.

[@SquaddieSoul]

There's still a need for expensive tools here, a decent circular saw for a start.

[@DominicFranklin-w6y]

Could use a handsaw and to protect from chipping use masking tape.

[@peetkotze7206]

Thanks a million you helped me a lot. Great job👌you have a new subscriber 👍

[@sawdustwoodchips]

Nicely done!

[@phdiy3913]

Honestly is easier and quicker with a jig and router with plenty of tutorials on YT for people......if they can set up the straight edge for circular saw then no problem for a jig, and definitely a track saw for cutting the worktops if anyone is attempting this, lets you cut through the face, just ensure the splinter guard is on the side of the worktop you are using otherwise will still have to cut through the back......handy idea with the hinge cutter though, attended plenty of repair jobs where bolts weren't fitted to mitres and this is a great fix

[@KrasCarpentry]

I can't believe what I just saw! And I really meant it by SAW!!!

[@2spicy4uMoFo]

Great video thanks, tickled me with Speilberg shouting "Action" haha

[@karlhardman3087]

anyone else hear him say action 🤣😂🤣, "budget movie" 🤣

[@2icelollys1goat]

Smashing job, and perfectly explained and filmed. Thank you.

[@rorycubaking9572]

Good method but lacks finess, worktop joins should be virtually invisable, sanding laminate will always leave a white mark along the edge. Every kitchen fitter needs a router if they want quality but i suppose if its a DIY job then each to their own.

[@phillipcootes8031]

Meanwhile back at the ranch !

[@gordonkaz1]

Router and jig would be 10 times quicker

[@ExplodingPiggy]

Great advice but i'll stick with a jig and a router..... coz you know what you're doing 😂

[@chapman9230]

Sorry not the standard I would be happy with as a customer. Router and jig faster and better in my view

[@Trex-y5j]

Great job, thanks for sharing.👍

[@thejigstar9541]

Why go through all the trouble to make a mitre join if the finish looks as shabby as that. Using a joining strip would save you time and a lot of headache. Albeit props to you! I know what your aim was, which is to showcase your skills and prove you don't need any fancy tools. You are in essence a true cowboy builder, yeeehaw!

[@prestonworktop]

Dont forget to subscribe

[@arshk3612]

@@prestonworktop love your reply - most people who would want to have a go with what tools they have and the £ risk low - your tips helped

[@acxezknightnite1377]

Joining strips are hideous. In my rental properties this kind of finish is entirely appropriate. It looks decent and is going to take a fair amount of wear over time. Spending a fortune on a high end finish is not always the only way.

[@zeroxzerox114]

love the rusty saws like mine lol but sharp hehehe

[@derekbolton2094]

Good try, I would rate it above the pure diy and the jointing strip merchant, and ok for the pattern of worktop. The real skill comes in doing it with a gloss black worktop. Those who have fitted such will know what I mean.

[@antigoogleman1135]

Great video. I remember days before joiners became power tool crazy.. When they carried hammers and hatchets.. Too many experts these days...

[@2icelollys1goat]

I phoned some local kitchen company and got told any kitchen fitting work started at 2k. I'm gonna send them this link!