Anyone use laminate from reliablehardware?

[ivwshane]

I want to use laminate for a bartop I'm building but because it's usually so expensive and shipping is usually high I was going to buy more sheets than I need.

I then came upon a link to reliablehardware and an abs laminate that they have that's about $25 (compared to the normal wilsonart price of $40-50 a sheet). Has anyone used this particular product? Do you have pics? How does it compare to the wilsonart stuff? Is it textured?

http://www.reliablehardware.com/abslaminateblack.aspx

[Le Chuck]

Home Depot has free shipping over $50 and half size wilsonart sheets. I can always spend 50 at HD and get things I need. Worth checking.

[shaolindrunkard]

Home Depots Black laminate sheets are exactly $42 each. Now with shipping for 1 sheet on that site (at least to my location) it would be more than $42. For 4 sheets you would save some, about 35 bucks, but laminate sheets can be damaged easily when being shipped. Personally I'd pay the extra few bucks and get it at Home Depot. On top of that you don't know the quality of that stuff.

[JDFan]

Home Depots Black laminate sheets are exactly $42 each. Now with shipping for 1 sheet on that site (at least to my location) it would be more than $42. For 4 sheets you would save some, about 35 bucks, but laminate sheets can be damaged easily when being shipped. Personally I'd pay the extra few bucks and get it at Home Depot. On top of that you don't know the quality of that stuff.

^Agree - They even state

Note: This item is rolled to ship UPS

and with the care UPS takes to try and destroy packages I'd much rather ship to home depot and be able to examine before leaving the store - especially since they state :

Returned items must be sent freight pre-paid. Returned items shipped Freight Collect will be refused. Custom Speaker Grills, Cut Aluminum, Cut Carpet, Cut Tolex or other Made-to-Order items are not returnable. Items specially made or modified to your specifications that required First Article Approval are not returnable. Shipping costs in either direction are not refundable.

So you'd only get a return credit for the actual panel and have to eat the $20 shipping fee to get it to you and another $20 fee to send it back - so you're out $40 for the panel if it is received damaged !!

[shaolindrunkard]

Also most of the full sized Home Depots actually have it in stock so you wouldn't even have to order it. You can check the stock for each store  in your area online... Then if they have it you can check it out in person and make sure you select non damaged sheets...

[ivwshane]

Well I was planning to get 4 or 5 sheets so the savings would be even more. Shipping for 5 sheets is $30.

[shaolindrunkard]

Well, if its worth it to you, go for it.

[Le Chuck]

Meh, I've ordered it rolled, paid zero is shipping because I ordered a spray can of glue to go with it, and had a perfect sheet arrive.  YMMV but works for me.  Besides, can't you just return it to the store if it's dicked up?

[JDFan]

Well I was planning to get 4 or 5 sheets so the savings would be even more. Shipping for 5 sheets is $30.

Well let's see then for 5 sheets at Home depot it'll cost $ 215 + tax and if any damage occurs they eat the cost of replacing with undamaged sheets

Or to order 5 sheets will cost $155 ( not sure if they charge tax)

So you either save $60 if no damage occurs or pay an extra $60 if any damage occurs in shipping.

Example :
1.)  you order from them and everything goes fine you pay $155 for the 5 sheets vs. $215 from    Home depot (save $60)

2.) your order is damaged you pay another $30 to ship the sheets back ( now paid $185) and get a refund of $125 - so you've spent $60 and have nothing to show for it and have to decide rather to risk reordering or going to Home Depot at that point !

Meh, I've ordered it rolled, paid zero is shipping because I ordered a spray can of glue to go with it, and had a perfect sheet arrive.  YMMV but works for me.  Besides, can't you just return it to the store if it's dicked up?

If you order from Home depot yes but the place he listed says they only refund for the product IF you pay return shipping and the do not refund the original shipping fee -- and since they put that in writing your credit card company will not do a charge back if you receive it damaged !!

[ivwshane]

Bottom line is this: I know my options with homedepot. My question is has anyone used the ABS laminate from reliablehardware and what was their experience with the product itself? The company has good reviews so I'm not concerned about that or about shipping issues (lol famous last words).

I like to have options and I like to support small businesses like this (and ggg, focus attack, etc).

[JDFan]

Bottom line is this: I know my options with homedepot. My question is has anyone used the ABS laminate from reliablehardware and what was their experience with the product itself? The company has good reviews so I'm not concerned about that or about shipping issues (lol famous last words).

I like to have options and I like to support small businesses like this (and ggg, focus attack, etc).

From the specs listed it seems the laminate is the same thickness as what Home depot sells - so as long as you are willing to take a $60 coin flip on whether it will get damaged or not in shipping with UPS - then go for it. (just be sure to let us know what the quality is like and how well or not well it is packed  )

[ivwshane]

I found this thread at klov and the feedback was good so I think I'll try it.

It helps if I actually post the link:o
https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=264113


I'll post back with some pictures once I get it showing how it was shipped and a close up of the product itself.

[ivwshane]

So I received my ABS laminate yesterday (that's three business days from southern ca to northern ca).

It is indeed the same thickness as horizontal grease laminate. Shipping was excellent in terms of packaging. Because this is ABS and not your standard Wilson art laminate it is more forgiving anyway and the package would have had to see some serious trauma in order to be damaged (like a forklift fork ramming into it).

Hopefully you can see the texture in the pictures.

[ivwshane]

Another

[shaolindrunkard]

Very different texture, i'd love to see if once its applied. When are you planning on using it? Does it trim the same way regular laminate does?

[ivwshane]

If I'm lucky I'll probably start my project in December, otherwise January. You can trim it with a router but it should be soft enough to cut with a razor.