- 1). Trace the outline of your sink on the countertop. Some sinks will provide you with a paper template that you can use to trace, or it might be located on the back of the box. Make sure that where you are placing the sink has the proper water inlet and drain connections. If you don't have a paper outline, you will have to measure the sink yourself and transfer those measurements to the countertop for your outline. Be sure to leave enough material for the lip of the sink to hang over the countertop.
- 2). Attach a spade bit to your drill. You will be drilling a hole to put a jigsaw blade in, so it needs to be at least 1/4-inch wide. Drill the hole in the corner of your outline and on the inside. Drill slowly and do not push the bit in.
- 3). Attach a laminate blade to your jigsaw. These are specially made to cut through laminate countertops with a minimum of splitting. The technique for sawing is the same as you used with the drill: Do not force the blade through the material---let the blade do the work---and be sure to take your time. Insert the jigsaw blade into the hole and start the saw. Gently guide the blade over to your outline. Don't make the cut too deep. Go shallow and take your time.
- 4). Go through three of the 4 sides of your hole this way. Then stop.
- 5). Brace the inside of the hole. You need to do this so that when you are making the final cut, the inside of your hole doesn't suddenly break off and take part of the laminate with it. You can try propping a 2x4 up underneath the cut, or hold the middle of the hole in place with a scrap piece of lumber screwed up in the underside of the countertop.
- 6). Finish cutting through the outline. Remove the brace and lower the cut part of the countertop through the hole.
- 7). Sand around the inside of your cut with 220-grit sandpaper to clean off any sharp edges.
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