Laminate On Control Panel

[Oldskool]

Should I predrill my panel before installing the laminate, and then use my router and laminate bit to clean up the holes........?

OR, apply the laminate first, prior to drilling?

[cdbrown]

Personnally I would drill the holes in the panel - then you can laminate and flip it over (so laminate is on bottom).  Use the exisiting holes as guides.  I would also have a piece of scrap wood to drill through to.  And take your time.

[SNAAAKE]

Drill after you laminate the piece.Its much "safer"
(seriouslly)

And wear gloves when working with laminate.
I cut myself many times because I was careless...

[rampy]

I agree w/cdbrown...

drill out everything you need on the control panel... (make sure it's right) then apply the laminate.  You can then use the existing holes as a guide with your router.  That's what I did with mine =)

If you are using carriage bolts on the TOP of the laminate, make sure to drill a little extra for the square part of the carriage bolt...

*Shrug*

rampy

[SNAAAKE]

A "professional" would never drill,then laminte then drill again. Doesn't make any sense.

 

[shmokes]

I think I will drill first then laminate and drill again, mainly because my panels will be covered with one of wilsonarts metal laminates and it was SOOOO expensive.  I can afford to make mistakes in unlaminated wood, but once it's laminated it's like gold.

[Brax]

A profesional would drill and then "drill" again because a DRILL is not the proper tool to get a nice edge on laminate.  You will get chips in the laminate and it'll look like an amature did it. (I've seen your fit and finish Snake)

Have all the holes in your panel predrilled.
Glue on your laminate.
Drill pilot holes in the laminate. (To allow the bearing to pass through on your laminate bit)
Trim the holes with your laminate bit.
Yes, it'll take longer. Yes, it'll be a professional job. Doing things right takes time.

If you want to cut corners, do it on the inside. You do NOT cut corners on the part of the cabinet that every single person who ever plays your cabinet will run their fingers over.

[rampy]

A "professional" would never drill,then laminte then drill again. Doesn't make any sense.

 

Snaaaaaaack, unless you are a "professional" (and I know you are not -- and further more a professional what? Control Panel Laminator? or just a laminator i.e. kitchen counter top?)

Regardless... measure twice cut once... or in this case measure twice, drill once, drill pilot holes (unless using a pluge router) route or laminate trimmer.... *Shrug*

I'm sure there's more than one "right" way to do this, but don't present misinformation as fact (who do you think you are Howard_C ? j/k HC)

A "professional" would use a laser cutting CNC machine of death and wouldn't have to go through the same mechaniations by hand a byoac'er would.

Rampy

[shmokes]

I suggest using a template bit, though, to trim the laminate once it's applied.  The bearing is on the opposite end of the cutting edge so you can turn your panel upside down and run the router over the bottom of the control panel while trimming the holes.  This way your router's base  plate won't scuff your laminate.  

[Oldskool]

This way your router's base  plate won't scuff your laminate.  

My router base has a layer of rubber on it, so it shouldn't mark the lam at all.

[SNAAAKE]

Okay chill.I said what I think worked best for me.I couldnt be happier then ever with my cab so no beef.Its all laminated(in and out).

I find it pointless to drill holes on the panel first,laminate,drill again. Whatever I ever did with any laminte came out perfect everytime anyway.I usually dont like to get in arguments as we got some really serious people around here who won't let it go (STOP IT rampy its annoying).I didnt say I was a professional laminator.The idea of drilling twice seems pointless.
I was only trying to save him the hassle of drilling twice thats all.Dont have to get all hostile about little things.Its "MY" opinion.

And brax,I wasnt talking about the "EDGE".Just the holes.
 

"Triming" holes with  a router is seriouslly lame and doesnt make sense unless I am missing something here.A holesaw or spade bit works fine.

 

[Tailgunner]

I don't concider myself a professional, though I've drilled several hundred holes through laminated cabinets over the years.  My first preference for doing a control panel would be to laminate first and then drill the holes using a winged butterfly bit. By winged I mean bits that have tiny points at the outer edges, these cut the laminate before the wide cutting edge touches the surface.

That said, drilling the panel before laminating and using using a laminate trimmer would give clean holes. Biggest thing to watch here will be drilling through the laminate for the router. A regular twist drill bit will likely catch as it passes through and could damage the laminate. I'd use a butterfly bit or a uni-bit for the pilot holes if going this route.

In either case, I'd definately prefer to do control panel drilling using a drill press. I've drilled holes free hand through laminated cabs as large as 3 1/2", but it's not fun and they rarely come out clean and square.

[rampy]

*Shrug* There's a difference between stating your opinion and claiming to know the professional way.

I'm not around enough any more (on the board) to be "serious" or hold a grudge snaaaack.  But, I do find it serious when someone passess off opinion as fact and claims it to be professional opinion.   With that said, you were much clearer in you latest post--> that it is what works for you and your cabinet came out great... we'll have to agree to disagree on whether or not pre-drilling is pointless or not =P

Jeeeze louise, I must struck a nerve or something! (just like old times =P)  

FWIW --> back on topic:  The point is to get your control panel pre-drilled  "right"/correct to your satisfaction (as noted earlier wood is cheaper than laminate if you goof)...  then apply the laminate.  Now you are gonna have a laminate trimmer or router out anyways to trim the excess on the outside edges of the CP.  It takes next to no time to whip through the joystick/button holes using the existing holes as  a template/guide (especially if you are using a plunge router).  Why put down router and pull out the drill?   If you must, feel free to break out the drill for that part -- you'll need it for the smaller holes anyways. It doesn't matter *that* much.  

I only suggest the predrilling as a precaution, safer route to go for the less experienced wood worker... YMMV

Rampy

Okay chill.I said what I think worked best for me.I couldnt be happier then ever with my cab so no beef.Its all laminated(in and out).

I find it pointless to drill holes on the panel first,laminate,drill again. Whatever I ever did with any laminte came out perfect everytime anyway.I usually dont like to get in arguments as we got some really serious people around here who won't let it go (STOP IT rampy its annoying).I didnt say I was a professional laminator.The idea of drilling twice seems pointless.
I was only trying to save him the hassle of drilling twice thats all.Dont have to get all hostile about little things.Its "MY" opinion.

And brax,I wasnt talking about the "EDGE".Just the holes.
 

"Triming" holes with  a router is seriouslly lame and doesnt make sense unless I am missing something here.A holesaw or spade bit works fine.

 

[BillyJack]

I like how he still calls you snaack when he's fighting with you.  funny times... reminds me of all those months ago...  

[SNAAAKE]

I like how he still calls you snaack when he's fighting with you.  funny times... reminds me of all those months ago...  

Yeah he needs to get off my E-d!ck and get a life

[allroy1975]

I put the laminate on then drilled with the butterfly type bits through the laminate from the top...down into the MDF.  I went through like..2 drill bits (maybe the laminate, but the glue sure seemed rough on the bits..) never chipped or anything.  How smooth do your holes have to be?  they're covered up but the buttons or that black ring around a joystick. Mine weren't rough, but...geez....c'mon.  no one will see it.

I did try to drill 2 holes from the under side...MDF then hit the glue and then the laminate..the laminate shattered...so I used more glue to put it back and make it look okay..but if I was doing it again, I'd still laminate and first and then drill.  

I'm no professional, but I agree with Snaaake.

Allroy