Rant: I was cutting all my laminate planks wrong for a decade

Was doing a job in a 1970s split-level in Akron last month. The homeowner, an older guy who used to do trim work, watched me for a minute. He just said, 'You know, you lose about a quarter inch every time you use that jig.' I was using a cheap plastic cutting guide I bought in 2013. He was right, the cuts were never perfect. I switched to a simple speed square and a sharp blade. The difference in the lock-up is night and day. Anyone else have a tool they ditched that changed their work?

3 comments

3 Comments

alice_hart15d ago

Yeah, that cheap plastic jig flex is a real hidden cost. I switched to a metal square years ago and it just makes every cut feel more solid. It's one of those small upgrades that pays off on every single job.

sanchez.pat15d ago

I used to think that was overkill, but @alice_hart is totally right.

mason.brian7d ago

A quarter inch over a whole floor is what, maybe one extra plank? Seems like we're getting a bit precious about plastic jigs. Most of that stuff gets hidden under baseboard anyway. If the lock is clicking and the floor is flat, the customer will never know the difference.