Laminates and Solid Surfacing at WOODWEB's Knowledge Base

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Does it Pay to Own an Edgebander?

A good edgebander can really boost your productivity, but how much machine you need depends on how much volume you're doing. October 9, 2006

Certifcation for solid surface

What does it take to become certified to install by the manufacturer? July 9, 2003

Getting a Professional Edge on Laminate Without Filing

A card scraper method and other tips for fine-tuning the edge of a laminate top without laborious hand filing. June 12, 2014

Shopping for a Hot Veneer Press

Experts provide some technical insight for the benefit of a shop owner who is trying to select a laminate and veneer press with a heated platen. August 12, 2014

More on Spray-Applying Contact Cement

An extended discussion of pressurized tanks, spray equipment, application techniques, and adhesive performance. June 10, 2006

Installing seamed countertops

Fitting p-lam countertops in the field, due to size and shape. September 23, 2003

Getting Rid of Scrap Laminate

Suggestions for putting excess laminate into the hands of someone who might need it. September 17, 2014

Rough P-Lam Edges, Specs, and AWI Standards

A bad case of chip-out on some laminated door edges leads to an informative discussion of AWI standards and quality specifications, along with some good guesses about what caused the unacceptable chip-out. November 23, 2012

Sink cutouts in post form tops

Woodworkers share their favorite methods. April 3, 2002

Opening Laminate Joints Mystery

in a long MDF and laminate countertop? March 14, 2005

AWI Quality Standards and Balanced Lamination

Here's a long discussion of good practice for making laminate cabinet doors, and what the Architectural Woodworking Institute's quality certification standards require. September 27, 2008

Laminate Counter Top Edge Trimming

Tips and tricks for quick, clean work on laminate top edges. July 10, 2009

Costs of Contact Cement per Square Foot of Product

Thoughts on the economics of various contact cement application systems. June 12, 2014

Laminate and Substrate Movement

A question about what might cause melamine laminate to pull loose from a countertop leads to an in-depth look at the materials involved. April 18, 2006

Sanding and Buffing Solid Surface Countertops

Professionals share views about grits, buffing compounds, tool technique, and more. July 25, 2005

Making Laminate Countertops

This complicated thread combines a healthy helping of newbie advice with some advanced debating about seam location, plus a couple of pro fabricator tips.August 16, 2012

Polyester vs. Acrylic Fabrication

Pros and cons, including quality and cost in solid surface choices. May 19, 2004

On-Site Laminate Cutting Tips and Tricks

Cabinet re-facing work calls for a lot of cut-and-fit laminate work. Here's a long discussion of ways to go about the task. May 6, 2007

Post-Forming Laminate in Three Dimensions

You can't bend laminate to around a compound curved substrate, but there are other specialized materials that will do it. December 1, 2010

Heating Laminate for Postforming

A question about a slight delamination problem prompts a long set of tips about effective heating for postforming. February 1, 2015

Laminate Windowsills Shrinking in Service

Particleboard cores of laminate architectural elements can shrink in place due to seasonal changes in interior humidity. September 5, 2010

Balanced Laminating Over Melamine

Here's a detailed discussion about whether it's okay to apply laminate over just one face of a melamine door, and about various other ways to achieve the same product. October 12, 2012

Correcting High Spots on Laminate Tops

Tiny bits of debris left on the matching surfaces during glue-up can cause high spots to show on a laminate top. Here are tips on how to prevent that, and how to fix it when it does happen. March 29, 2006

Bubbles in Laminate on Steel Doors

Troubleshooting a bubble issue with laminate applied to steel doors. January 24, 2010

Cutting Matching Edges for a Long Laminate Seam

Detailed instructions for creating an accurately matched laminate seam for inlays or joints. April 10, 2007

A Flush Edge On Plastic Laminate dupe breaker

Pros share tricks for getting a wood edge absolutely flush with the laminate. May 10, 2005

Locating and Fabricating Countertop Corner Seams

Advice for a first-timer on making the corner joint in an L-shaped laminate countertop. May 31, 2010

Solid Surface as a Shelf Nosing

An architect's query sets off a spirited discussion of using solid surface material for shelf nosings. Appropriate adhesives, durability, and movement rates are issues (and yes, it has been done before). June 10, 2006

Balanced Construction of Plastic Laminate Doors

Experience shows that balancing P-lam doors can prevent the occasional case of warping. Here are thoughts on how to lay up balanced P-lam panels. February 12, 2010

Finishing Wood Edges of Laminate Tops

Suppose you want to edge-band laminate tops before finishing the edgebanding? Here are some creative ideas for protecting the laminate top from overspray while finishing just the edge. May 22, 2007

Blemishes on Granite Countertops

What seems like a mar or mark might be the natural look of stone, or it could be residue from a spill. In any case, granite is hard to touch up. October 2, 2005

Repositionable Adhesives for Laminate Work

Advice for test-fitting and adjusting laminate during glue-ups. January 28, 2014

Do Edgebanders Provide Perfect Output?

Few, if any edgebanders will consistently produce panels that can pass your thumb's feel test — and none will without continual tending by a good operator. December 27, 2006

Making Concrete Countertops

Fabricating concrete countertops is not rocket science, but it takes practice — and it isn't cheap. March 26, 2007

Quality Control with Spray-On Contact Cement

Tips for avoiding bubbles and telegraph lines with contact cement and laminate. June 12, 2014

Pressure-Sensitive Versus Iron-On Edgebanding

Which is the better economical choice for low-volume, occasional edgebanding needs? March 25, 2007

Laminate Cabinet Tips

Advice (sometimes conflicting) about how to build high-quality laminate cabinets. July 5, 2006

Moving to Metric

Tips on making the transition as smooth as possible. September 9, 2004

Clamp Cart

Shop-made carriers for clamps. December 26, 2004

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Tops

Installers trade opinions and experiences on sink cut-out tools and methods. September 25, 2009

Cutting a Post-Formed Laminate Countertop

Hiring the job out to a well-equipped countertop shop is your best bet — but here's how to do it with an installer's toolkit. February 8, 2008

Pricing Solid-Surface Countertops

To make money fabricating and installing solid-surface counters, be sure to charge for all the incidental costs. September 23, 2006

Solid Surface Seam Kit Mixing Problems

Troubleshooting mixing problems in the seam adhesive applicators for solid surface countertops. February 14, 2010

Edgebander Glue-Pot Maintenance

Advice on how to prevent an edgebander glue pot from wearing out prematurely. October 9, 2006

Presses

Basic info on manual and automated veneer and laminate presses. November 12, 2008

Repairing Scratches in Glossy Laminate

From quick and simple to time-consuming and elaborate, here are ways to get a visible scratch "below the radar." September 26, 2006

Re-Covering a Laminate Top

Advice on handling the edge detail when applying new laminate over old. December 24, 2009

Miterfolds for clean corner joints

A sweet technique for classy corners. November 21, 2003

Troubleshooting Cracked Laminate Near a Sink Cutout

Square inside corners and drilled holes are potential trouble spot in a laminate surface. February 17, 2011

Solid Surface for a Steam Room Ceiling?

Be cautious, but not scared, about using solid surfacing in a non-warranteed application like a steam room. December 28, 2006

Fill Material for Melamine Seams

The search for a quality product that will disguise joints in melamine. April 14, 2005

Solutions for Chipping Melamine

Melamine chips when you cut it, but the problem can be prevented — or at least minimized. November 10, 2006

Edgebanding Glue Holding Problems

Cold melamine stored in the unheated shop overnight may be stopping edgebander glue from adhering properly. March 20, 2006

Water Damage to Laminate Counter Seams

A miter seam in a countertop near a seam is a risky situation. Here, pros consider a case of joint failure. July 3, 2008

Glue Injection Techniques

When laminate or veneer is lifting, you can make a slit, inject adhesive, and clamp for a clean repair. Here are some detailed tips on getting the glue where it needs to go. February 20, 2008

Bubbles Under Laminate

Help with a visual defects associated with spray contact cement and laminate countertops. April 21, 2011

Repairing Bubbles in a Laminate Countertop

You can fix a contact-cement adhesion problem with a hot iron. Also, here is some advice on contact cement application equipment. August 15, 2011

Laminate Countertop Seam Tolerances

Customers may not be aware of industry standards for laminate seams; a third opinion is sometimes helpful. November 12, 2006

Filing the Edges of Plastic Laminate Doors

Advice on how to minimize the necessary hand labor required for dressing the corners of edgebanded P-lam doors. March 13, 2007

Undermount Sinks for Laminate Tops

Tips on installing undermount sinks designed for laminate countertops. September 27, 2008

Making Seams with High Pressure Laminate

Here are the tools, bits, lubricants, and techniques the pros use to cut a perfect HPL seam. April 11, 2008

Shopping for a High-Volume Laminating Machine

If you're looking for manufacturing equipment to laminate a lot of vinyl to a variety of substrates, look carefully at the options. You'll have to sift through a lot of confusing claims. April 11, 2008

Applying Kuhn edging

Methods, glues and clamps to use. April 2, 2002

Working with Paper/Resin Composite Countertops

These paper and resin composite materials cut and sand nicely. Here are some tips. September 26, 2006

Bank Job (Refacing Laminate)

Thoughts about the pitfalls and difficulties involved in resurfacing a whole bankful of laminate countertops. February 23, 2008

Clamping Laminate Bevel Edges

Illustrated commentary on clamping and gluing beveled edge material to laminate tops. March 30, 2008

Laminate Application Basics

Tips on adhesives and trimming for a newcomer to plastic laminate work. December 30, 2005

Beveled Edge Details for Laminate Countertops

Tips on tricky details, transitions, and application techniques for beveled-edge laminate tops. March 26, 2007

Wood Edge Detail for a Laminate Countertop

Laminate trimming, edge attachment, and rounding-over technique for a wood edge on a laminate counter or table top. January 24, 2006

Rough-Cutting Irregular Shapes Out of Laminate

Suggestions for cutting odd-shaped pieces laminate to rough size. April 20, 2007

Production Machinery for Solid Surfacing Fabrication

Thoughts and advice for a solid-surfacing shop owner on investing in equipment such as panel saws or CNC routers. October 2, 2005

Contact Cement Spray-Tank Systems

Cabinetmakers and countertop pros see big advantages to spray-applied contact cement. April 20, 2007

Diamond tooling on laminate

Tool life and feed rates when using diamond tooling to cut laminate. November 7, 2001

Warranteeing Laminate-on-Particleboard Countertops

How long should your guarantee last for a laminate countertop? Installers discuss warrantees and materials. October 8, 2005

Working With Aluminum Laminate

Aluminum laminate can be very difficult to rout, trim, and file. Here's a story of lessons learned by one fabricator. August 14, 2007

Making a Wood Edge Flush with a Laminate Top

Flushing up the top surface of a wood-edged laminate countertop is tricky, any way you do it. Here are some suggestions. April 10, 2007

Recutting Installed Countertops In Place

Advice for trimming a few inches off a laminate countertop, in place. January 9, 2006

Pre-Mill Capability on an Edgebander

Advice on how to take best advantage of the pre-mill function on a new edgebander. May 23, 2007

Laminate Trimming Tips and Tricks

You work with laminate, you do a lot of edge trimming. Here are some tricks the smooth professionals use. April 11, 2008

Hiding Laminate Seams in Cabinetry

There's no easy way to disguise the dark corner edges of white laminated cabinet faces. April 17, 2009

Suitable Substrates for Laminate

A discussion of which countertop materials are compatible with laminate, and why. July 13, 2010

Biscuit joining vs. tie-bolts

Is it possible to join post-form tops and shop-built substrate with biscuits? June 24, 2001

Melamine/Laminate Panels

A discussion of practical ways of building cabinets with melamine exteriors and laminate interiors. October 13, 2010

Buying a Used Edgebander

There's more to running a glue-pot edgebander than plugging it in and turning it on — so be cautious when buying used equipment. December 30, 2005

Quality Control with Gloss Laminates

It's hard to get laminate flat enough that imperfections won't show, when the surface is glossy. February 27, 2015

Bending Laminate with Heat

Tips on heating and bending laminate material to make radius edges. July 18, 2008

Choosing Metal Laminates

Metal laminate products and their appropriate uses. August 30, 2005

Edgebander Glue-Pot Cleanup

A well-used edgebander can be a sticky mess. Here are tips for the occasional thorough cleanup. April 18, 2006

Is It Necessary to File Edgebanding by Hand?

Most shops still have to do some hand work, even if they're equipped with an expensive edgebander. February 17, 2014

Cleaning Glue Off Melamine After Edge-Banding

"Hot" solvents can dull melamine or leave a combined glue-and-thinner residue behind. Here are some suggested solutions. February 26, 2007

Installing Backsplash

Backsplash installation tips, including a cool new product. March 14, 2006

Panel Saw Chips Melamine Inside The Book

Voids between stacked pieces could be the culprit. April 10, 2005

Solid Surface Pricing

A little info on the solid surfacing market, circa 2006. September 26, 2006

Laminate Trimming Technique

Bit selection and lubricant choice for trouble-free trimming of countertop edges. March 14, 2006

Bevel-Edge Delamination with MDF

Troubleshooting an adhesion problem with laminate and MDF: is it the glue, or the substrate? October 12, 2009

Applying Laminate to a Curved Wall

Installers puzzle over how to seam sections of laminate applied to a curved wall as an architectural covering. July 15, 2009

Laminating Equipment

Basic descriptions of laminating equipment. November 11, 2008

Heat-Forming Laminate to Fit Curves

Heat is the key to a good curved edge on a laminate countertop. January 9, 2007

Competing with the Big Box on Solid Surface Countertops

Business tactics for a cabinetmaker who outsources his countertops. January 9, 2007

Minimizing the Need to File Laminate Edges

Advice on getting a clean laminate edge that requires only a light touch with the file. June 12, 2014

"Hard Seams" for Laminate Countertops

Advice on giving special attention to the seamed joints in laminate tops. March 26, 2007

Cracks at Sink Corners in Plastic Laminate

Tops in a science lab show cracking at sink corners. Info here on movement issues, and on chemical-resistant laminate material. April 11, 2008

Edge-Banding Issues with Laminated Doors

Minor thickness variations in shop-laid laminate doors cause the edgebander to scuff the laminate. What's the fix? May 10, 2005

Making a Miter-Fold Joint

Here's a detailed description of how to make a miter-fold corner with laminate material. July 3, 2008

Minimizing melamine chip-out

Why do specialty melamine blades cut chip-free for so short a time? July 3, 2001

Repairing Solid Surface Seams

An imperfect seam poses problems for a countertop installer. Here's the story, along with advice for fixing seams in place. November 13, 2005

Spreading Glue for Laminate Panel Pressing

Advice about hand application of adhesives for fabricating laminated panels. June 5, 2007

Polishing Granite

This thread covers a helpful topic: polishing scratches out of granite tops. June 18, 2010

Troubleshooting Melamine Chip-Out Around Bore Holes

Drill bit type and drilling speed control can reduce chipout on two-sided melamine panels, and there are also touch-up solutions for minor chipping problems. February 26, 2007

Down-Stroke Jigsaw Blades for Laminate

Thoughts and experiences on cutting laminate on site without chipping it out. November 19, 2008

Applying PVC Edgebanding Without an Edgebander

PVC edgebanding can be applied by hand, but it's tricky and difficult. Here is a handful of tips and advice. November 20, 2005

Invisible Laminate Seaming

Advice on getting a visually acceptable seam in laminate. February 29, 2012

Fabricating a Laminate-Over-Foam-Core Door

Cabinetmakers consider how to lay up a large door with laminate on the outside and foam on the inside. September 27, 2008

Supporting Solid Surface Vanity Tops

Thoughts on structural details for support of projecting solid surface tops. November 25, 2008

Applying Laminate with an Edgebander

Yes, you can apply high-pressure laminate to panel edges using an edgebander. Here are tips on trimming and adhesives. February 16, 2012

Solid-Surface Edging for Laminate Countertops

Countertop pros give advice on a troublesome detail that probably isn't worth the hassle. July 30, 2007

Sustainable Adhesives for Laminates

Recommendations for "green" contact adhesives for use with laminate material, and a closer look at the details of the rules. October 3, 2011

Rough-Cutting Laminate

Techniques for rough-cutting laminate sheets, in the shop or on site. May 11, 2006

CNC Tool Choice to Limit Laminate Chipping

Lots of CNC users experience chipping problems when machining laminated panels. Here's a discussion. June 28, 2010

Panel Cleaner Options

The big difference is brush orientation. Here's a look. June 12, 2014

Application of PVC Edgebanding

An edgebander is the method of choice, but here are some alternative suggestions as well. September 5, 2006

Laminate Tools: Bit and File Choices

Advice from laminate counter specialists on bit and file selections for the tool kit. August 18, 2009

Coved backsplashes on solid surface

Is this a bad idea? April 2, 2002

Mixing Solid Surface Brands

If you combine sinks and countertops from different makers, will warranties (and adhesives) hold? April 14, 2005

Applying Parchment as a Laminate

Advice on adhesives, substrates, and sealers for parchment applied to a table top. April 29, 2010

Poured Inlay Work in Solid Surface

Advise on using heat, additives, and other tricks to get good results with routing and pouring details into a solid surface top. July 16, 2012

Seaming solid surface materials

Tips and techniques for inconspicuous seams. October 15, 2001

Seaming Solid Surface Countertops

Splines aren't recommended, but a seam block is (and other tips). June 12, 2014

Edgebanding with No Edgebander

Alternative ways to apply edgebanding to small runs of laminate doors when you have no edgebander. September 23, 2006

Slip Sheet Material Choices

Countertop fabricators discuss dowels, "slip sheet" materials, and other options for aligning materials to substrates after applying contact cement.January 14, 2013

Tools for Solid Surfacing

To work with solid surfacing, you want professional quality routers and sanders, and the right type of sandpaper and bits. April 11, 2008

Will Solid Surface Material Hold a Screw?

Advice on screw connections to solid surface material. June 12, 2014

Water-tolerant Substrates

The right material will resist edge swelling under laminates. May 4, 2005

Melamine Finish Quality

Thoughts on the search for a smoother melamine. July 28, 2012

Basics of Applying Laminate

A beginner gets the basic introductory explanation of how to apply laminate to a particleboard top. January 18, 2011

Countertop Equipment

A brief description of post-forming and countertop sawing equipment. September 20, 2008

Countertop Materials: What Does the Market Want?

Countertop and cabinet contractors discuss the current popularity of stone, solid surfacing, laminate, concrete, and green recycled composites as of mid-2009. February 14, 2010

Solid surface fabrication in-house

Should a 30-person shop be subcontracting its solid-surface work or doing it in-house? April 2, 2002

Splinters Under Laminate

How to remove splinters that are telegraphing through freshly-applied laminate, and tips on avoiding the problem next time. November 12, 2006

Finishing Over Laminate

Finishers discuss the application of pigmented topcoats to existing laminate countertops. June 18, 2013

Subtops Under Solid Surface Countertops

Solid surface is not installed over a subtop, but over (at most) widely spaced mounting strips (and let the installer worry about those). September 26, 2006

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Countertops

Introductory tips for a new installer on cutting laminate countertops. May 22, 2007

End Gap Specs for a Solid-Surface Windowsill

An unusual application for solid surfacing leads to a discussion about movement joints and tolerances. May 23, 2007

Melamine Chipping

Is it the bits, the feed rate, the material? Pros troubleshoot a case of melamine chipping on a new CNC unit. June 30, 2005

Hand Filing and Laminate Trimming Bits

The right bit can reduce the need for cleaning up edges with a hand file, but may not eliminate touch-up filing altogether. May 13, 2009

Undermount Solid Surface Sinks with Laminate Countertops

A few technical tips on mounting solid-surface sinks under laminate counters. July 26, 2010

Laminate Door Fabrication Tips

Advice on applying laminate to glazed MDF cabinet doors, with some words about edgebanding and lacquer detailing. November 13, 2005

Running Phenolic in the Planer

Can planer knives survive being used on 1/4-inch phenolic panel material? April 30, 2009

Uses for Sassafras

Sassafras has been called "poor man's oak" for its durability, strength and beauty. The markets for it are small ans specialized. April 20, 2011

Working Copper Sheet Goods for a Top Insert

Advice on cutting and adhering copper for a vanity top. August 3, 2009

Troubleshooting Chipping in Service on P-lam Countertop Edges

A discussion of the factors that could have caused the edge of this P-lam top to snag on something and receive an ugly chip. June 12, 2014

Bit Life in High Pressure Laminate

How many sheets should you be able to cut before a bit wears out? Comparing carbide with diamond, and a discussion of feed rates and settings. July 3, 2005

Laminate on One Face of Melamine

A debate over whether it's okay to apply laminate to just one face of a melamine panel for cabinets and cabinet doors. March 26, 2009

Flexible Countertop Templating Material

With plastic material you can roll up after the template is built, transporting the template is easier. September 30, 2009

Attaching a Plexiglass Protective Top

Clear silicone adhesive caulk works well. December 6, 2011

Laminate-Top Bubble Repair

Here's a grab bag of tricks for getting bubbled-up laminate to lay back down and stick. October 3, 2007

Rubber T-Mold Tips and Tricks

Trimming, fitting, and touch-up tricks for T-mold on the edge of laminate tops. March 9, 2010

Working with High Gloss Laminate

High gloss laminate telegraphs imperfections in the substrate. September 5, 2011

Solid Surface Popularity

Some cabinetmakers say stone and laminate are edging solid surfacing out. November 12, 2005

Melamine Quality Issues

Cut-price melamine from the big-box DIY stores doesn't match up to professional-grade material, say the pros. December 28, 2005

Countertop delamination

After five years, why is an HPL countertop delaminating? October 2, 2001

Troubleshooting Warp in Postformed Laminate Countertops

Without balanced lamination (top and bottom side), tops are prone to warpage. April 18, 2010

Polishing Solid-Surface Tops

You can bring solid surfacing to a high gloss, but that doesn't mean you should. June 12, 2014

Heat-Bending Long Pieces of Solid Surfacing

The challenge is to heat the long piece to the correct temperature for thermo-forming. December 23, 2014

Aerosol Adhesive Coverage for High-Pressure Laminate

Aerosol adhesive coverage claims should be treated conservatively. May 18, 2009

Copper Countertop Tips

Copper is tricky to work with. Here are a few thoughts on using it for countertops. April 17, 2009

Telegraphing Issue with High Gloss Laminate on Luan Plywood

High gloss laminates have a tendency to reveal minor imperfections in the substrate. August 26, 2008

Spray Adhesives for Plastic Laminate

Adhesives labeled for use with "plastic" may actually not perform will with plastic laminate counter materials, which have a paper backing. February 14, 2010

Joints in Very Long Laminate Tops

Advice on fabricating and assembling large countertops so that laminate joints fall over solid substrate rather than at the substrate joints. May 3, 2011

Calculating Remaining Edgebanding

Formula to determine how much is left on the roll, with a nod to Archimedes. March 14, 2004

Site Cutting and Mitering Postform Countertops

Handling these tricky miter cuts on site when the fabricating shop went out of business in mid-job proved less than fully satisfactory. July 16, 2012

Stacking Laminations in a Vacuum Bag

Stacking multiple pieces in one vacuum bag to save time increases the likelihood that pieces will not be under sufficient pressure. March 16, 2015

Smoothing Cut Edges on Clear Acrylic

Sander, router, jointer, or torch — many methods can be made to work. August 30, 2007

Liquid Inlay for Solid Surfacing

Advice on filling decorative routs in solid-surface counters or cutting boards. August 8, 2008

Reversing a Router's Rotation

Woodworkers discuss ways to make a hand-held router spin backwards for special situations. September 17, 2008

Wood Edge on Laminate Countertops

Advice on how to fabricate a laminate countertop with a flush wood edge. July 3, 2008

Applying wood edges to lam tops

Best methods for applying wood edges to laminate countertops. June 24, 2001

Laminate Cutting and Seaming

This thread describes a router jig for making clean cuts and seams in HPL joints. June 12, 2014

Repairing A Laminate Seam

Placed to close to the kitchen sink, a laminate countertop seam is lifting. Here are quick tips on prevention and repair. December 14, 2005

Substrate for Laminating Cabinet Doors

Plywood cores are not recommended for laminate cabinet doors (MDF, particleboard, or plywood-core MDF are better). July 26, 2010

Working with Contact Cement at Cold Temperatures

The low end of recommended application temperatures for contact cement application and curing may allow a little leeway. February 26, 2007

Bending Corian

How to bend Corian to create small cylindrical shapes. June 24, 2001

Removing Glue Film from Laminate

Wiping off glue squeeze-out has dulled the sheen on some laminate tops. Here are suggested remedies. February 25, 2009

Compression Bit Size: What's Best

Half-inch bits run faster, but the 3/8-inch size wastes less. April 10, 2005

Should Edgebanding Need to be Filed by Hand?

Do edgebanded laminate parts require hand sanding, filing, or other touch-up for quality? January 19, 2011

Radius Corners for a Work-Surface Cabinet Top

The example shown could be done with T-mould, thick edgebanding, or a thermoformed panel material. June 10, 2006

Adhesives for Applying Laminate to Walls

Advice on installing laminate on walls. November 23, 2012

Interruptions, Interruptions

What can you do if you've applied contact cement to your particleboard, but then something happens before you apply the laminate? February 3, 2011

Laminating a Face Frame

Advice on joinery and lamination techniques for a laminated face frame. April 20, 2011

Locating a Long Straight-Edge

How to make (or where to buy) a durable and accurate 12-foot-plus straight edge. March 14, 2006

Quick Shop-Built Fabricating Stands

A laminate shop owner describes his quick-to-make workstands made with scraps of panel material, cut to size and slotted to interlock. December 30, 2007

Should Solid Surface Joints be Invisible?

With some solid surface materials, joints are highly visible because the material is "directional" or otherwise non-uniform. April 20, 2011

Repairing Bubbles in Laminate

Advice on re-adhering bubbled-up laminate to the substrate. January 8, 2010

Touch-Up for Scratched or Scuffed Laminate

Oops! Here's how the pros fix those little mistakes (perhaps the fault of a careless co-worker...)January 20, 2007

Glue Choice for Laminate Top Assembly

Advice on adhesive choice and assembly techniques for a countertop joint. June 22, 2012

Coving Solid Surface Counter/Backsplash Joints

Details about how to efficiently get nice results in a solid surface cove joint. March 28, 2012

Sanding-Pad Staining on Solid Surface Tops

The color in sanding pads sometimes rubs off onto the solid surfacing, but it can be avoided. December 11, 2007

Heat-Bending Laminate

With care and attention, you can bend laminate to a one-inch radius. October 28, 2005

Repairing a Chip in Wood Edging on a Laminate Top

Ideas for making a gouge look like a naturally-occurring knot. December 12, 2008

Laminating HPL onto Cylinders

It's hard to apply sufficient pressure to a cylinder for good bonding of contact cement, but here are a few tips. August 23, 2006

Adhesives for Laminating PVC

Recommendations for adhesive to apply PVC sheets as a surface lamination. April 29, 2010

Edgebanding a Round Table

Here's a list of steps for applying edgebanding to a round laminate tabletop. April 8, 2013

Repairing Scratched Melamine

No repair is perfect, but here are some pretty good options for a surface gouge in a melamine cabinet interior. September 23, 2006

Glue Adhesion Issues with 3mm PVC Banding Issue

Troubleshooting a problem where edgebanding doesn't stick down along the centerline of the strip. September 15, 2011

Printing Artwork onto Laminate

Pros describe a range of methods for transferring pictures onto furniture. June 20, 2005

PVA Glue for P-lam?

PVA glue is not as fast as contact cement for applying plastic laminate, but it gives good results (if you choose the right glue). February 14, 2010

Laminating Sheet Steel to Plywood

What kind of adhesive will hold 24-gauge steel to wood panels? May 16, 2008

Achieving a Polished Surface when Routing Solid-Surface Edges

Router bits can dull the material as they cut. Here's advice on how to minimize that problem. March 13, 2007

Filing Laminate Edges

Pros give pointers on ways to file laminate counter edges smooth. July 29, 2007

Dealing with a Hairline Scratch in a Laminate Top

A just slightly too visible scratch in a deep red laminate top prompts advice on prevention and touch-up. June 12, 2014

Water-Based Glue, Lamination, and Warping

Using water-based adhesives for laminating to wood-fiber panels can cause the panels to warp. To prevent, laminate both sides. May 20, 2006

Is a Solid Surface Crack Fixable?

Seaming a solid surface countertop over a heat source such as a dishwasher may cause a crack that can't be repaired. March 4, 2009

Laminate Seaming

A quick lesson on achieving a tight, clean laminate seam. June 10, 2006

Re-Laminating Existing Countertops

Advice and cautions on covering existing laminate tops with new material. March 14, 2006

Cutting Laminate on a Panel Saw

Advice on getting clean cuts on sheets of laminate using a vertical panel saw. October 25, 2007

Tip: Disconnecting a Contact Adhesive Gun Glue Pot

The proper disconnect sequence will help keep your equipment from getting gunked up. May 27, 2014

Solid Surface Installed Over an Oven

It depends on the oven and the type of solid surfacing. January 9, 2007

Trimming and Filing Laminate Edges

Advice on the bits, lubricants, and methods to use for smooth corners on laminate countertops with laminate front edges. September 15, 2011

Forming and Polishing Granite Tile Edges

Advice on how to round over and polish stone countertop edges. January 8, 2010

Wood Edge on a Laminate Top — Which Comes First, Edge or Laminate?

Advice on the order of operations for assembling a wood-edged laminate top. June 12, 2014

Whether to Locate a Laminate Seam at the Kitchen Sink

Putting the seam in a long countertop at the sink location is a common practice. Here are tips. June 12, 2014

Improving Edgebander Glue Bond

Tips for making edgebanding stick more reliably. June 3, 2007

Working with Water-Based Laminate Adhesive

Roll out with a low-nap roller, and don't let the glue or a new countertop freeze. The good news: no odor or headaches. October 28, 2005

Laminate Tops for Outdoor Exposures

Carefully balanced laminate tops can handle weather, says one craftsman. August 21, 2006

Applying Contact Cement by Spray

Low-solvent spray canister contact cement sometimes creates telegraphing of spray overlap areas.August 15, 2011

Laminate on the Wall Behind a Cooktop

Tips on how to apply laminate directly to a wall above a kitchen counter backsplash. September 27, 2008

Purchasing a Used Edgebander

Things to consider when evaluating used edgebanding equipment. August 8, 2006

Cutting 3/4 Melamine on CNC

Advice on bit type, feed rate, and RPM. July 3, 2005

Laminate Over Plywood for Cabinet Boxes

Cabinetmakers report their results using laminate on plywood for cabinet carcases. August 8, 2008

Poor Adhesion After Edging MDF

Why has the edge come off this MDF? Maybe it's the glue, maybe it's the method... May 10, 2005

HPL Tops with Solid Wood Edges

A little advice on constructing small restaurant tabletops with HPL top faces and solid wood edges. June 12, 2014

Sourcing Exotic Laminate

Cabinetmakers discuss how to find unusual and interesting laminates, including distinctive patterns and glow-in-the-dark laminate. February 12, 2009

Gluing P-lam to P-lam with Contact Cement

Be sure to let the contact cement dry completely before applying the laminate. February 17, 2011

Grinding and Polishing Granite

A variable speed grinder and a full assortment of grits, and you're in business. April 20, 2011

Finger Pull Detail for Laminate Doors

Painting the cove detail to match the laminate is more reliable than fitting laminate to the profile. July 12, 2012

Removing Old Laminate and Contact Cement

Heat, solvent, and scraping do the trick. August 23, 2005

Priming for P-lam Edgebanding

When you apply plastic laminate as edgebanding, using a primer helps a lot with strong adhesion in service. February 14, 2010

Miter-Folding Laminate

A fabricator seeks advice on making joints fit right and hold tight. April 14, 2005

Cutting Out Sink Holes in Laminate Tops

October 2, 2007

Diamond Bits for Cutting Laminate on CNC

Far more durable than other alternatives, diamond bits are cost-effective despite their high price. August 21, 2006

Tight Miters for Laminate Countertops

Installers suggest ways to draw the joint tight. August 29, 2005

Beveled Edge Fabrication

Purchasing, making, and applying laminate beveled-edge material. December 6, 2011

Miter Fold Joints with Solid Surface Material

Miterfolding is practical with solid surfacing, and can be accomplished more than one way. July 14, 2010

Troubleshooting Warping and Delaminating

Using a heat tunnel during fabrication of laminate tops can cause the top to warp because of temperature-related expansion and contraction of the laminate. March 13, 2009

Vertical versus Horizontal Grade Laminate

What the difference is, and when to use which. March 14, 2006

Bending Solid Surface Edges

Advice on miter-folding methods for solid surface corners (including radiused edges). October 28, 2014

Laminate Seam Separation — Causes and Cures

Melamine glue in the right place can stop those seams from opening up. September 26, 2006

Cutting and Machining Phenolic Countertops

Tips on bit choice and speeds for working with phenolic sheet materials. October 12, 2007

Seam Detailing for a Deep Solid-Surface Countertop

An 80-inch by 38-inch countertop made with 30-inch maximum width solid surface panels creates some head-scratching about where and how to make the seam. May 23, 2007

Tight Heat-Bending Laminate

Here's a short but informational conversation on applying heat to laminate in order to accomplish tight bends. July 26, 2010

When to Remove Peel Coat from High Gloss Laminate

Opinions vary on whether to peel off protective coating before the finished piece is installed. December 30, 2007

Hiding Edge Seams in a Laminate Door

Advice on how to built without seams where a door edge meets the face. January 25, 2013

Preventing Marble Tops from Cracking During Shipping

A quick tip for reinforcing marble countertops with steel rod. April 10, 2007

No-Drip Edges for Solid Surface Tops

Ideas for making a no-drip edge on solid surface counters. November 25, 2008

Shrinkage and Laminate Seam Tightness

As a wood-based product, laminate changes dimension in response to variations in ambient moisture. This can create gaps at joints or seams. April 4, 2011

Laminating Over Melamine

Scuff sand, spray, and stick. June 10, 2006

Sharpening Laminate Files

There are laminate file sharpening services, but you might try a simple acid bath. July 28, 2008

Cutting Post-Form Laminate Tops

If you don't have a slider, you can cut the top from the back side with a circular saw. November 14, 2014

Solid Surface for Cabinet Doors

Combining wood with solid-surface material raises risk related to movement caused by moisture or temperature changes. June 30, 2009

Filing Laminate Edges Left-Handed

Files are mostly designed for the right-handed craftsman, but a left-hander can file as well as a right-hander after practice. June 12, 2014

Trimming T Moulding

Tips for quickly and easily trimming T molding for laminated countertops. August 7, 2006

Applying Laminate to a Radius

Tradesmen explain handwork techniques for fitting laminate to radiused postform countertops. June 20, 2005

Fixing Cracks in Solid Surface Material

Here's how one fabricator repaired an 8-inch crack in a solid surfacing countertop. March 14, 2006

Forming Metal Laminate to a Tight Radius

Vacuum bag turns out to work. June 22, 2012

Sharp Edges on PVC Banding

Trimmed edge-banding can be sharp enough to cut people, so it's best to file off the edges. November 10, 2006

Getting a Wood Counter Edge Flush with the Laminate Top

There are several ways, depending on whether you want to spend money or time. August 31, 2005

Trimming Laminate Applied to a Cylinder

Pros describe tool setups for accomplishing this tricky detail. October 2, 2005

Contact Cement for PVC Edge Banding

You have brush, roller, and spray can options. March 13, 2009

A High-Gloss Finish for Solid Surface

Here's a polishing schedule for buffing solid surfacing to a high gloss, along with a warning (it scratches easily). November 13, 2005

Laminate Trimming Bits

Considering the pros and cons of different laminate trimming bits. March 14, 2006

Repairing Melamine Tear-Out

Tips and tricks for using melamine seam filler. December 14, 2005

Solid Surface Seam Fix

Advice on an undetectable patch for a small area of discolored seam in a solid surface top. August 3, 2009

Laminate Trimmer Bits: Sharpen or Toss?

Here are a couple of alternatives to buying new trimmer bits every few jobs. June 10, 2006

Fillers and Putty for Melamine Repair

Choices for touching up nicks and scratches. May 10, 2005

Is a Laminate Slitter Worth It?

Praise for laminate slitters. October 26, 2011

Laminate over Melamine

Quick, simple advice on adhering plastic laminate to melamine as a retrofit. March 25, 2010

Solid Surface CounterTop

Watch as a CNC router cuts out and profiles solid surface countertops. July 12, 2007

Minimum Corner Radius for Laminate Edges

How tight can you bend it? Depends on the grade of laminate. Here are some tips for a tighter bend. April 20, 2011

Laminate Trimming Tips

Two quick tips on a clean job when trimming laminate edges. December 15, 2005

Supporting Solid Surface Counter Overhangs

Quick ideas for stiffening solid surface cantilevers. March 14, 2006

Edgebanding with Laminate

For good adhesion, prime the laminate with contact cement before edgebanding. October 19, 2013

Multiple Cabinet Refacing

Can you reface over existing refacing? Yes, if the first layer still adheres well. December 30, 2007

New Way to Fabricate Laminate Counter Edges

One craftsman's suggestion for a new way to create the edge detail for a laminate countertop. October 27, 2009

A Solid Choice

Basics of solid surface materials and their fabrication, and why shops are adding them to their product lines. July 20, 2002

Burning Off Water Damage

Wipe the white discoloration with alcohol, touch it with a lit match, and Bob's your uncle. January 7, 2010

Production Gluing of High Density Plastic Laminates

This article describes the gluing of high density plastic laminates (i.e. Formica, Debar, Nevamar, Micarta, Pionite and the like) to plywood, lumber core, and particleboard core panels - 1998

Spray-Applying Contact Cement

Advice on contact-cement application techniques. December 27, 2006

Using Water-Based Contact Cements

When you switch from solvent-based to water-based contact cement, there are a few new things to learn. Pros share application tips in this thread from the Woodweb Adhesives Forum. July 2, 2005

Template Routing -- with a Vacuum Clamp

March 19, 2002

Melamine Versus Plywood for Kitchen Cabinets

It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, but one that sets off a thoughtful exchange of views about workability and performance in this thread from the Cabinetmaking forum. June 28, 2005

Using a CNC Vacuum for a Glue Press

You can use a CNC vacuum for laminate and veneer glue-ups or for laminating plywood sheets together. February 15, 2009

Alternatives to painted interiors

Woodworkers offer alternatives to painted cabinet interiors. September 6, 2000

Bracing solid surface

When using solid surface materials, what sort of "bridgework" is needed for support? June 24, 2001

Radius Corners on HPL Counters

Applying laminate strip without pull-away problems. May 19, 2004

Edgeband failure

Searching for causes of edgeband failure. September 26, 2000

Production laminating -- is hot or cold press faster?

A laminator looks for time-saving pressing techniques. June 14, 2000

Best glue for cold-clamped edging?

Adhesive options for gluing and clamping edges on panels, with an eye toward time-efficiency. September 26, 2000

Tooling choices for solid surface

Tooling and feed speed info for machining solid surface materials. November 7, 2000

Laying up laminates using PVA glues

A quick guide to applying high-pressure laminate with PVA glue. September 26, 2000

"M" particleboard grades

The difference between grades of particleboard is explained. June 14, 2000

Shrinkage allowances for red oak

Estimating radial and tangential shrinkage when drying red oak to 12 to 14 percent MC. 1998.

Contact Adhesive for Spray Guns

Source of supply for spray contact adhesive - 1998

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