Laminate sheets : Where can I get it?

[Xenepp]

I have scoured the web and can't believe how little info I've pulled up on this subject! Not even a warm lead!

I was planning on using some on my cab (going with plexi glass for my cp)

Does anyone know of a supplier in the Uk?

 -Joel

[RayB]

la la la  

[gibble]

Maybe you haven't found any because the correct word is "laminant".

...laminant isn't even a word  

[Santoro]

I have scoured the web and can't believe how little info I've pulled up on this subject! Not even a warm lead!

I was planning on using some on my cab (going with plexi glass for my cp)

Does anyone know of a supplier in the Uk?

 -Joel

Try searching using brand names like Formica and Wilsonart, you might have more hits. (hopefully those products are available in the UK!)

[zaphod]

Maybe you haven't found any because the correct word is "laminant".

Uh... no.

[MonitorGuru]

Menards, Home Depot and Lowes all sell sheets of "Formica" (common name for laminate, just like "Sheetrock" is common for gypsum wall-board even though that is a brand name too) .  The brands you will find are typically "Formica" and "Wilson-Art" and "Pioneer".

Usually they will have a few select sheets in stock of common styles, and then have tons of hanging tags of samples of sheets you can order.

Warning: It gets VERY expensive to put formica on your cabinet. Unless you built the cabinet out of a single sheet of plywood (most can't get both sides to fit), then you'll need to buy 2 whole sheets of formica and pay a lot for it, especially if special order.

Plus you'll need contact cement and a router with a trim bit.

Honestly, it's cheaper and just as easy to just buy real oak or birch laminated 3/4" MDF sheets to begin with (appx $32 for a 4x8 sheet at Menards when on sale) and then just buy a $5 can of stain and $7 can of polyurathene and stain and poly it in the color you want, and have real hardwood exterior.  Farily durable, hides simple scratches well.

That's what I used when I built an Atari cabaret replica.  Turned out nice.  I primed and spray painted black the cross-pieces at an additional cost of about $5 in paint.

[OSCAR]

Warning: It gets VERY expensive to put formica on your cabinet. Unless you built the cabinet out of a single sheet of plywood (most can't get both sides to fit), then you'll need to buy 2 whole sheets of formica and pay a lot for it, especially if special order.

Tell me about it!  I had to special order a sheet of Formica brand Colonial Cherry for a Robo cocktail I'm restoring.  It has a slightly more reddish tint than the original, but the grain pattern is very nearly a dead-on match.  The only local Formica dealer in my area is a kitchen/bath contractor.  It cost me $80 for a single 4' x 8' sheet of that particular pattern, where the more common Formica patterns are usually around $50 or so.

As monitorguru said, it can be a very expensive way to finish a cab.  However, in the case of the Robo cockail, I don't think I really had any other options if I wanted a true-to-original finish.  Besides, the Formica is probably the most durable finish you can put on a cab and it should keep looking good for at least another 20 yrs in a home environment.

Here are a few pics of how it turned out:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry01.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry02.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry03.jpg

[RayB]

Damn, I've always heard it called laminant. :-D

I apologize to all, the original poster, and most of all to Dictionary.com for not checking with them first, like I usually do.

 

[SirPeale]

Damn, I've always heard it called laminant.

Well, phonetically, you're correct.  

[depressd]

Hey, I went to the wilsonart website. They have a reseller locator. Luckily I had a local cabinet shop. I made a call and asked if they would sell sheets of laminate.  I had to buy 4'x8' sheets.

Good luck