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Laminate/formica warning!
SNAAAKE:
--- Quote from: CyberPunk on March 26, 2003, 12:50:34 pm ---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.
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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-:
--- 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...
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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! :D