Worktop Jig choice and fixing kitchen base cabinets off wall by 100mm

SomeOfTheGear

SomeOfTheGear

Member
I'm fitting Howdens' Kitchen units into an 'L' shaped area. Due to the slope of the ceiling along one wall (the long one), the Kitchen designer at Howdens has specified widening the worktop on one wall to use one of their Breakfast Bar worktops (850mm width) along the long wall which will be cut down to 731mm width. The units will be offset from the wall by 100mm to give a little extra headroom. This wider long run goes into a 90deg corner (gable end) which has a standard width worktop (616mm) along it. The worktops are square edge and NOT rounded.I'm thus going to be joining a 616mm worktop into a 731mm worktop

I've already got a 1/4" battery finishing router but I think I will need to get a 1/2" to cope with the worktop. I was also going to get a Worktop Jig to;
  1. Ensure that the face joints on the worktops are perfectly square.
  2. Do a Mason's Mitre. Yep, I know I could route some circles and cut some channels to achieve this but we've got another kitchen to fit later and I'll use the jig for that as well.
Q1 - Can anyone recommend a reasonable 1/2" router to do this? I don't want a really cheap one but I'm not a Pro and can't justify spending top money either!

Q2 - Can anyone recommend a good Worktop Jig that'll accommodate the width of the wider worktop (731mm)?

Q3 - What is the best way to fix the units to the wall to give the 100mm offset? The long run is 4555mm. I was thinking of fixing a batten to the wall (into the studs) along the length at the height of the top of the units/base of the worktop. Create a frame off this batten? Recommended timber size?

Cheers.
 
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Run a 45 x 18 batten along back making sure it’s at finished floor height and level then brace off with batten worktop will rest on batten at back. As for worktop a 10mm of set is all that is required for square edge worktops
 
Buy a decent half inch router and sell it once you've done the other kitchen. Good ones will hold their resale value well and over two kitchens the money you lose should still be less than the cost (and inconvenience) of hiring one.

You can't go wrong with the DeWalt DW625 (as it's an Elu in disguise) although Makita, Hikoki (formerly Hitachi) and Bosch all make good gear. The big Trend machines get mixed reviews which is odd given that they're also modelled on the Elu. There are others including Festool of course but that will require a conversation with a financial advisor. I use my Festool because it's all part of my integrated dust control but I still have my DeWalt as a backup.

You won't sell whatever you acquire by the way, but you don't need to tell senior management that at the moment.
 
If the worktops are properly square edge then you can just remove the correct amount of laminate edge and just cut your bolt holes. Just sand the chipboard where the edging has been removed from.

A lot of things in the S/F and T/S catalogues (including online) already have reviews written so maybe just look at ones in your price range and read the reviews. Personally, Makita routers for me, but mid to top money.
Same goes for a suitable jig, if you still need one.

Seems like you have the rest of it sorted.
 
Just looked on you tube and there is some good video on worktop joints as tilt said just take off laminate to join square edge tops.Makita router for me with biscuit jointer cutters
 
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I have a Trend 1/2 router and have done 3 kitchens for us with it. It works fine for me not pro use.
 
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