How to assemble, use, and maintain your Exchange-A-Blade laminate floor cutter
2019/01/14

How are the Exchange-A-Blade 9” and 13” laminate floor cutters different? 

Both the 9” and 13” cutters provide quiet, dust free cutting, do not require electricity, and are lightweight making them easy to transport around your job site.

How to assemble your Exchange-A-Blade 9” and 13” laminate floor cutters

Tips for using the Exchange-A-Blade 9” and 13” laminate floor cutters

To open up the blade, undo the yellow knob on the front of the unit, apply a little pressure, slide the knob to one side and the blade will be ready to use. Mark where you want to cut your material (engineered wood flooring, laminate flooring, rubber/vinyl flooring, linoleum, or cement board) and position it on the bed of the laminate floor cutter. Holding it nice and tight, press down on the handle to get a good clean cut.

With less expensive laminate flooring, you may get some chipping along the edge of your cut. One way to help avoid this is by placing the laminate board finished side down on the cutting bed when cutting. Any imperfections on the cut edge will be hidden by your baseboards. Remember to leave ¼” space between the wall and the laminate flooring to allow for seasonal expansion. Use the protractor on the unit to cut accurate angles—you can cut at an angle from 0 degrees to 45 degrees.

To adjust the width of the laminate flooring, rip boards with a table saw or circular saw using a fine tooth blade. Use an oscillating tool or jigsaw to cut out vents or around doorways.

Cutting HardiePlank with the Exchange-A-Blade 9” and 13” laminate floor cutter

One of the hardest products to cut is cement board or HardiePlank—especially when you’re working in your home. The Exchange-A-Blade laminate floor cutters can cut a single layer of HardiePlank with no effort whatsoever and give you a clean cut every time. An added bonus is that these laminate cutters cut even HardiePlank virtually dust free.

Benefits of the Exchange-A-Blade 13” laminate floor cutter

The 13” laminate floor cutter can cut materials up to 13” wide and 15mm or 9/32” thick. The 13” professional cutter offers a wider, longer and substantially heavier duty work surface than the 9” cutter. Additionally, the handle can be extended for additional leverage when cutting heavier materials.

Maintaining your Exchange-A-Blade laminate floor cutter

After you’ve done a couple of hundred cuts, work in a little oil on both sides of the rotor bar of your laminate floor cutter by lowering the handle a few times in order to keep a nice smooth action. Your laminate floor cutter comes with a honing stone to keep the blade sharp and cutting smoothly. To use the honing stone, lift the blade slightly, place the honing stone on the bed of the laminate floor cutter and push it up snug against the flat side of the blade. Slide the stone across the entire length of the blade, several times. This will remove any burr from the edge of the blade and remove any gum buildup from the adhesives that are part of the laminate flooring.

As the blade wears down, you will need to adjust the cutting depth to ensure a clean cut. Remove the four screws on the bottom of the blade support columns, rotate the pads, and replace the screws to ensure a continued clean cut. To make sure that the blade is properly aligned, fold a sheet of paper in half and cut it. Replacement blades can be purchased for the 9” and 13” laminate floor cutters.

About Exchange-A-Blade laminate floor cutters

EAB offers reliable laminate floor cutters: a 9” laminate floor cutter, ideal for home DIYer use and a 13” heavy duty, professional laminate floor cutter. Exchange-A-Blade laminate floor cutters can be purchased online through Amazon, Lowes, and Rona, and from local building supply and home improvement stores.