Advice for Laminating Cabinet welcome

[Moksi]

Hello ,
I recently started building an cabinet first time with mdf 18 mm
im thinking about laminating the thing , not have any experience with painting but also laminate seems to look cool on it

Any advice is welcome with on how to laminate ,
the cabinet measures  top to bottom 184 cm /72,4 inch      [cabinet is same as an xtension arcade 27'']

Can i get Laminate sheets with the exact measures for the cabinet or do you guys use multiple sheets next to eachother to cover the mdf ?

[Le Chuck]

Laminate sheets commonly sold 48"x96", depending on depth and width you'll either need two or three sheets do to your cabinet completely.  There are tons to good tuts on youtube about laminating, but to get started you'll need a laminate bit and router (or a lot of patience and a pull saw) some glue, and some dowel rods (to lay your piece out over the glue before you set it down).

A lot of places will try to sell you some kind of expensive roller that works exactly like the rolling pin your wife has in the cupboard.  Use hers.  Wrap in a old shirt and tape it down to avoid marring the surface. 

I like spray glue but the paint on kind works just as good.  Spray/coat both surfaces for good adhesion.  Buy the glue that is next to all the laminate at the big box store.

If you need to cut exact pieces tape your cut lines and use a fine tooth saw.  I have terrible luck with score and snap.  I find a circular saw works well, just set the depth super shallow.  Alternatively you can just use a router and clamp out your piece to get nice finished edges with no taping required. 

Good luck! 

[Moksi]

OK thanks 4 the info

What website is best i checked Home Depot they only have Black Matte 48 by 96 inch
I think the standard Black is the colour for the cabinet isnt it
I see wilsonart has more choices of black colours



I also need to ship it across to europe

[Le Chuck]

I use the HomeDepot matte black.  Looks nice and black.  Much black.  Very wow. 

The color for the cabinet is the color you put on it.  Too esoteric?  The matte black laminate will look good and be fine but when in doubt order samples.  http://www.wilsonart.com/black-1595?q=black

[Moksi]

ok i saw the website it has a gloss effect on it i thought it didnt black matte should be ok then

[gumby510]

The guys on KLOV us this stuff to restore there cabs.

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

[Moksi]

Also is it better if you pre drilled all the holes into mdf, then adding the laminate ?

In my case i have all the holes  predrilled
or is the laminate thin enough to locate the holes after you add it to the mdf

[processedmeat]

The guys on KLOV us this stuff to restore there cabs.

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

Is this stuff really smooth or does it have a texture on it?  Does it look like to protrudes too much away from the T-molding?  Thanks.  Looking to try something else besides painting.

[ivwshane]

There is a smooth and a textured side. The smooth side mars easily. The thickness is the same as normal laminate. However the texture is different and rougher/larger than the texture of laminate.

If the texture was finer like that of laminate then this would be a perfect alternative.

[fablog]

Also is it better if you pre drilled all the holes into mdf, then adding the laminate ?

In my case i have all the holes  predrilled
or is the laminate thin enough to locate the holes after you add it to the mdf

The laminate is too much thick.

[Moksi]

OK

I already drilled holes in the cabinet i made if i had to add the laminate whats best to locate the pre drilled holes like holes made for wood dowels
& cross dowel holes


a method for [screw holes] should be just after adding laminate on the outerside of the mdf drill through the predrilled holes & through the laminate

But on the inside of the mdf are the wood dowel holes and router cuts .
And the cross dowel holes which are vertical drilled for the cross dowel to fit into
How will i be able to do that


vertical laminate appears to be thinner , dont know how thin if i can cut it with a scissor

[gumby510]

Black arcade laminate?

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums%2Earcade-museum%2Ecom%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D264113&share_tid=264113&share_fid=19164&share_type=t


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[ivwshane]

That's the same stuff me and another poster were referencing. Its not normal laminate, it's ABS.

Black arcade laminate?

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforums%2Earcade-museum%2Ecom%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D264113&share_tid=264113&share_fid=19164&share_type=t


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk