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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:
--- Quote from: CyberPunk on March 26, 2003, 01:08:17 pm ---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!
--- End quote ---
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