How to Cut Tongues in Glueless Laminate Flooring

Using a combination square, draw two guidelines on the long, narrow edge of a scrap wood piece so that each line is parallel to the long edges and 1/4 inch in from either side.

Install the tongue router bit to the router table, using a nut. Add spacing washers, as necessary, to adjust the height of the bit until the blades line up with the guidelines drawn on the scrap wood piece.

Cut the piece of scrap wood along the guidelines to make a “tongue.”

Draw two guidelines on a second piece of scrap wood using the same methods used to draw guidelines on the first piece of wood.

Install the groove router bit to the router table, using a nut. Add spacing washers, as necessary, to adjust the height of the bit until the blades line up with the guidelines drawn on the second scrap wood piece.

Cut the piece of scrap wood along the guidelines to make a groove.

Interlock the pieces of scrap wood along their cut edges. The surfaces of the wood pieces should be flush. If they aren’t, add or remove spacing washers to the tongue and groove bits and continue cutting scrap wood pieces until they interlock perfectly.

Cut the long edges of the laminate floorboards once the router bits are perfectly adjusted. Cut a tongue on one edge of each board and a groove on the other edge.