Laminate/formica warning!

[VMJ Team]

I see a couple of posts regarding laminating wood...I've just experienced something I'd like to share:

The weather's getting nicer up here in Northern Ohio in the past week...so  I moved two of my cabs outside for refinishing...after about an hour or so in the sun, the "black" laminate became very hot to the touch..I also noticed that there was some warpage and large bubbled areas...it appears (I'm assuming) that there where tiny air pockets inbetween the particle board and laminate (particle board is not perfectly smooth like most MDF)....when the laminate became hot, it became soft and expanded around the air pocket.  The heat also appeared to have broken down the contact adhesive, because the edges of the laminate appear to be seperating from the particle board as well.  I did not experience these problems on the cab made from MDF (also in the sun for the same length of time).


...Just wanted to share.

[Keith O]

I imagine the tendency for most is to just buy the cheapest wood (particle board) because you're just going to finish it with laminate. Hmmm.... maybe that's not such a great idea. Thanks for the tip - that's really helpful.

[_Iz-]

Heat releases the contact cement and will also cause the laminate to expand...

We use heat guns to remove laminate...

I suspect the difference between the mdf/particleboard had more to do with the quality of the bond than the materials themselves. The contact cement soaks into the particleboard more than the MDF. The particle board needed a heavier coat of contact. Edges of both the mdf and particleboard are especially brutal.

[VMJ Team]

I'm sure particle board is still very much OK to be used with laminate...I think the lesson learned here is not to use laminate on a cabinet that will be exposed to sunlight...

My Jukebox cabinet is hanging on a wall in my living room that gets sun through the front window...After examining the jukebox, the laminate has seperated (slightly) from the wood around the edges.  The t-molding also appears to have expanded and come loose from the cabinet side panel.  This is all on the one side of the cabinet exposed to sun...the other side that doesn't get sun is completely fine.

Something to consider!

[rampy]

I'm sure particle board is still very much OK to be used with laminate...I think the lesson learned here is not to use laminate on a cabinet that will be exposed to sunlight...

My Jukebox cabinet is hanging on a wall in my living room that gets sun through the front window...After examining the jukebox, the laminate has seperated (slightly) from the wood around the edges.  The t-molding also appears to have expanded and come loose from the cabinet side panel.  This is all on the one side of the cabinet exposed to sun...the other side that doesn't get sun is completely fine.

Something to consider!

heh, sounds like you are making dracula/vampire cabinets =P  I better keep the garlic bread away from my cabinet, too just to be safe!

rampy

[SNAAAKE]

I see a couple of posts regarding laminating wood...I've just experienced something I'd like to share:

The weather's getting nicer up here in Northern Ohio in the past week...so  I moved two of my cabs outside for refinishing...after about an hour or so in the sun, the "black" laminate became very hot to the touch..I also noticed that there was some warpage and large bubbled areas...it appears (I'm assuming) that there where tiny air pockets inbetween the particle board and laminate (particle board is not perfectly smooth like most MDF)....when the laminate became hot, it became soft and expanded around the air pocket.  The heat also appeared to have broken down the contact adhesive, because the edges of the laminate appear to be seperating from the particle board as well.  I did not experience these problems on the cab made from MDF (also in the sun for the same length of time).


...Just wanted to share.

Thanks for sharing scott.

I was kinda worried about this particle board and NOW I know not to use particle board..1 question though..why dont ya use plywood?

no smooth?

[_Iz-]

I'm sure particle board is still very much OK to be used with laminate...

Particleboard is excellent to use. It's the preferred substrate at my shop. I'd be willing to bet the problem is with your glue application. Contact cement must be applied to both the back of the laminate and the face of the particleboard. The contact cement must be dry to the touch before bonding the 2 surfaces but it can't sit for more than a few hours. You must mate them before that time is up. You also need to make sure the laminate is FIRMLY applied to the substrate. If you don't have a laminate roller or a cold press then make sure the pieces are well supported and use a large flat block of wood and a hammer to (carefully but firmly) bang them all over. Lay the block flat on the piece and hit it with the hammer, then move to a new location and repeat. Do the entire piece.

However, too much heat for too long will release solvent based contact. Not sure if the waterbased is any better in this regard...

[Carsten Carlos]

I wonder why you laminate it yourself? I just got wood that is already black laminated (see my page) and doesn't get loose anywhere. For the outer sides I painted it -well, eggshellwhite or sort of.
Though I haven't tried to move my cab out to the sun - it has rollers under it but no idea how I should get this thing down upstairs!