I had Home Depot cut the board for me...and I think they used a regular circular saw at their cutting station? But as far as the pre-drilling holes...they had told me to pilot hole through the 2x4's but no to pilot the melamine to make sure the screw would grip in there...I thought it sounded funny...and then when I made the first split, I went ahead and piloted the rest of them...so it wasn't too bad I guess

Just made it into a back heat rack too...I couldn't fit the tubs with the flexwatt as belly heat, so I wired up a strip of 11", mounted it on a piece of peg board, and mounted that on the back of the rack...I love it !