How to Use a Worktop Jig - Instructions for Perfect Mitre Joints

Instuctions for Using the Transtools Worktop Jig

A professional, leak free worktop joint is the hallmark of a high quality kitchen. By using the Transtools Worktop Jig, you can achieve precision mason’s mitre joints, radius ends, and bolt slots with ease.

The Essential Toolkit

Before you begin, ensure you have the following prepared:

• The Jig: Transtools 900mm Worktop Jig.
• Router: A heavy duty 1/2" capacity router (recommended 1600W or higher).
• Cutter: A high quality 12.7mm (1/2") tungsten carbide tipped (TCT) worktop cutter. Ensure it is long enough to pass through both the 12mm jig and the worktop.
• Guide Bush: A 30mm outer diameter guide bush (essential for the jig’s offset).
• Clamps: At least two heavy duty G-clamps.
• Safety Gear: Ear defenders, safety goggles, and a dust mask.

Preparation and Safety

Kitchen worktops are heavy and expensive, so preparation is key.

• Support: Ensure the worktop is supported properly and secured firmly.
• Direction: Always cut into the postformed (rounded) edge of the worktop to prevent the laminate from chipping.
• Clearance: Check that your clamps won't obstruct the path of the router before you start the motor.
• We always recommend practicing routing and jointing a piece of waste worktop before attempting the job.

Setting Up for a Right Hand 90° Female Joint:

• Place worktop face up with postformed edge towards you.
• Place three pins in the holes marked F90.
• Place the fourth pin the hole marked 400, 450, 500, etc. depending on the width of the worktop.
• Position the jig making sure all four pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Right Hand 90° Female Joint:

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you.

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for Female 90° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down with the postformed edge towards you.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.  
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop.
• Repeat for all the slots required.

Setting Up for a Right Hand 90° Male Joint

• Place worktop face down and postformed edge towards you.
• Place two pins in the holes marked M90.
• Position the jig making sure both pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for Right Hand 90° Male Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you. 

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for Male 90° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Setting Up for a Left Hand 90° Female Joint

• Place worktop face down and postformed edge towards you.
• Place three pins in the holes marked F90.
• Place the fourth pin the hole marked 400, 450, 500, etc. depending on the width of the worktop.
• Position the jig making sure all four pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Left Hand 90° Female Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you. 

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for Female 90° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down with the postformed edge towards you.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop edge.
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Setting Up for a Left Hand 90° Male Joint

• Place worktop face up with the postformed edge towards you.
• Place two pins in the holes marked M90.
• Position the jig making sure both pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Left Hand 90° Male Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you. 

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for Male 90° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down as shown.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Setting up for a Right Hand 45° Female Joint

• Place worktop face up with postformed edge as shown.
• Place 2 pins in the holes marked F45.
• Position the jig making sure the back of the jig is lined up with the pencil mark (650mm from the centre line).
• Make sure both pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Right Hand 45° Female Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you. 

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for Male 45° Female Joint

• Place worktop face down as shown.
• Make sure the shaded area is cut off for the appropriate width of the worktop (see cutting to size diagram).
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktopRepeat for all the slots required. 

Setting up for a Right Hand 45° Male Joint

• Place worktop face down with postformed edge as towards you.
• Place 2 pins in the holes marked M45.
• Position the jig as shown making sure both pins are pushed against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Right Hand 45° Male Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you. 

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for a Male 45° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down as shown.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Setting Up for a Left Hand 45° Female Joint

• Place the worktop face down with the postformed edge towards you.
• Place 2 pins in holes marked F45
• Position the jig making sure the back of the jig is lined up with the pencil mark (650mm from the centre line – see cutting to size diagram).
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Left Hand 45° Female Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finishing cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set to make the full depth of cut) and then make the cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you.

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots for a Female 45° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down as shown.
• Make sure the shaded area is cut off for the appropriate width of the worktop (see cutting to size diagram).
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Setting up for a Left Hand 45° Male Joint

• Place the worktop face up with the postformed edge towards you.
• Place 2 pins in holes marked M45
• Position the jig making sure both pins are pushed firmly against the worktop edge.
• Secure the jig with clamps.

Routing for a Left Hand 45° Male Joint

• Set the depth of cut for 8-10mm for your first roughing cut.
• Position the router on the left hand side of the slot and start cutting by pulling the router towards the edge of the slot closest to you.
• Increase the depth of cut and repeat until the roughing cut is completed.
• For the finish cut, position the router on the left hand side of the slot (with the router set for the full depth of cut) and cut by pushing the router towards the edge of the slot furthest away from you.

Cutting Bolt Recess Slots Female 45° Connecting Bolt

• Place worktop face down as shown.
• Place three location pins in the holes marked Z.
• Place the jig making sure all three pins are pushed firmly against the edge of the worktop.
• Secure the jig with clamps.
• The bolt recess should be approximately 20mm deep for 30mm worktop and 28mm deep for 40mm worktop
• Repeat for all the slots required. 

Curved Peninsular

• Locate the template on the worktop and line up by eye, ensuring the jig is laid at least 8mm in from the edges of the worktop to allow for the cutter and guide bush offset, then secure the jig with clamps
• When cutting the curved peninsular, hold the router guide bush against the edge of the template. Cut from left to right.
• It is recommended that depth stops are used and at least three or four cuts taken. 

Square end routing of worktops

The jig can be used to square cut the worktop using the central slot. Engraved lines on the jig correspond to the edge of the worktop. Up to 650mm wide worktops can be square cut using the central slot as a router guide. Follow the cutting instructions on previous pages to cut the worktop. 

Pro Tips for Success

• Sharpness is Everything: A blunt cutter will "climb" and ruin the laminate. If it starts to smoke or struggle, change the bit.
• The 30mm Rule: The jig is precision engineered for a 30mm guide bush. Using any other size will cause the joints to misalign.
• Stable Speed: Move the router at a constant pace to avoid burn marks.

For more information or to purchase a worktop jig, click the link below:

Transtools Kitchen Worktop Router Jig