To cut through laminate countertops, you can use a hand saw, but a circular saw makes the job much quicker. Because a circular saw can produce jagged edges and chip the laminate, your best bet is to lay the laminate face-side down and cut from the back to the front.
Laminate Shears
These are special tools for cutting high-pressure laminates like Formica. With laminate shears you can cut Formica quite easily without binding or chipping. When properly used, laminate shears can cut pieces of Formica up to 1/8 inch thick.
The Bosch T101BR jigsaw blade is an ideal choice for cutting laminate materials. The blade cuts on the down stroke, not on the upstroke, the “R” in the product code referring to its “reversed” teeth. This is a popular blade often referred to as a worktop blade.
Cuts that will be hidden (i.e. a cut-out to accommodate an overmount sink) can be started with a drill-hole in each corner of the aperture, and the rest can be cut-out using a hand-held jigsaw, router cutter (12mm or 12.7mm cutter recommended) or a circular saw with a rail guide and TCT triple chip blade.
Plastic laminates such as formica may chip when cut, resulting in ragged edges that expose the backing. Choosing a fine-tooth carbide blade will limit the chances of damaging the laminate edges.
Measure where you want to cut it, then masking tape roughly where it falls. Measure and mark again with a pencil on top to the masking tape. Then, using a fine tooth hand saw, start from cutting at the front section (where the profile usually is). Saw while aiming the hand saw downwards to get a straight cut.
Handsaw, jigsaw, crosscut saw (also called a plunge saw). For simple straight cuts, you can easily use a handsaw to cut laminate flooring if that's all you have, but for the most professional finish, you should choose a crosscut saw or table saw.
Just cut then laminate. You want the protective seal.
Therefore, you could use a table saw, a circular saw, a reciprocating saw or a jigsaw (ideal for curved cuts). As far as the blade is concerned, you should choose one with a fine high teeth count and long enough to cut trough the counter top (if it is also carbide tipped it would be great).
A hand-held plunge saw with a TCT triple chip blade is suitable for cutting compact laminate. An alternative might be a jigsaw with a selection of metal cutting blades. You will also need a router for finishing.
In fact, you can cut the planks using a table saw, miter saw, circular saw, hand saw or laminate cutter. However, using a diamond blade is recommended as laminate can be tough to cut through and may damage another type of blade.
In contrast to laminate worktops, solid laminate worktops are completely solid and do not have a chipboard substrate in the middle. Compact laminate worktops are water resistant and are more durable than ordinary laminate worktops which makes them a popular option for kitchens, bathrooms and outdoor uses.
Use a router to cut the laminate from the rear of the countertop, cutting it flush to the rear edge. You can install the cut countertop and then place the ceramic backsplash as normal, without the laminate backsplash interfering with the placement.