Best way to laminate the coin door panel?

[pie taster]

Hey all.. noob question here.. long time lurker...

So I am in the middle of the slowest Arcade Project ever (being that I have twin girls, I only work on this when I have free time... which is never).

I am getting ready to laminate my UAII pieces and I was wondering how best to approach the panel with the coin door. 

What would be the best way to laminate the coin door panel?

1) Laminate the panel.. and then cut out the coin door from laminated piece?
2) Cut the hole in the panel first than laminate it and flush trim it?  - Then the second question would be should I try to cut the whole in laminate before I mount it to the panel or after?

thanks for any advice.

[shardian]

Cut coin door hole, then laminate, then flush trim. That is the easisest/neatest way to do it.
If you laminate first, then you risk tearing up the laminate. If you cut the laminate first, you will most likely misalign the laminate.

[leapinlew]

Cut coin door hole, then laminate, then flush trim. That is the easisest/neatest way to do it.
If you laminate first, then you risk tearing up the laminate. If you cut the laminate first, you will most likely misalign the laminate.

You also may need to do some filing in the corners of the coin door after the flush trim bit.

[pie taster]

Thanks guys...

So if I read that correctly..
1) Cut hole in panel
2) Laminate panel
3) use a flush trim router bit

My only follow up questions would be do I start the flush trim bit by drilling a hole in the laminate and then using the router, or cutting out a larger section in the laminate and route it?

[leapinlew]

Thanks guys...

So if I read that correctly..
1) Cut hole in panel
2) Laminate panel
3) use a flush trim router bit

My only follow up questions would be do I start the flush trim bit by drilling a hole in the laminate and then using the router, or cutting out a larger section in the laminate and route it?

you don't have a hole in the panel now? How about laminate it first, and then cut the hole out of the panel and laminate at the same time?

[pie taster]

you don't have a hole in the panel now? How about laminate it first, and then cut the hole out of the panel and laminate at the same time?

I don't have a hole in the panel now.. but to shardian's point.. do i run a bigger risk of tearing the laminate? 

[Wade]

I've done a lot of laminating, and you want to do it the way shardian describes.  Cutting the wood after lamination risks breaking the laminate as well as pulling it off from the blade movement.

Wade

[bfauska]

I agree with Wade and Sheridan.  Hole in panel, laminate, Drill hole in laminate for flush trim bit (a few inches inside the part about to be removed), flush trim.

[pie taster]

Thanks for tips guys.

Very helpful!