side panels... if i don't want to paint, what are my options?

[coltchillin]

i'd like the outside of my side panels to be as smooth and clean as possible.

so if i don't want to paint, what are my options? like veneer etc.
they're going to be cut from mdf.

thanks.

[TOK]

Laminate. Not cheap to do, though.

[coltchillin]

a (rough) estimate?
for two side panels, outsides only.
thanks.

[jban4us]

I've been looking at this too for my first cab and what I've found is that there are basically 3 options: contact paper, Happ vinyl laminate, and formica. The contact paper is way cheaper, but I can't find any big enough that would cover a cab without seams. Formica and Happ vinyl are about the same price. The formica will be harder to put on the front and back because of the way you have to cut it (roughly with sheers and then route it), but it is probably much more durable.

I'm sure there are other places to get laminate too besides Happ, but I can't seem to find them online.

edit:
To get an idea of cost, here is the Happ vinyl page:
http://www.happcontrols.com/vending/acesor/49057200.htm
Formica:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=136583-76323-136583&lpage=none
Contact paper:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100388912&N=10000003+90276

[northerngames]

formica countertop laminate would run around $100-$120 for 2 sheets

[coltchillin]

thanks guys! 

[gatordad]

check out this thread as it has some self adhesive vinal sources
http://forums.klov.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=755587&page=0&fpart=1&vc=1

[coltchillin]

thanks sir!

[Franco B]

Im using 75 micron self adhesive vinyl for the panels of my cab that don't have graphics on. I bought somewhere in the region of 10 square meters of matte black, royal blue and carbon fiber effect and it came to around £25 ($50ish). I bought way too much so I can experiment with a few things, you could get away with buying much less.

Obviously this type of vinyl wont be a hard wearing as laminate but it should do for my needs.

If you do use vinyl contact your local sign writers/sign writer suppliers and go have a look at there vinyl.

As laminate is thicker you could get away with not having a perfectly even surface. As sign vinyl is so thin you would have to make sure your surface is completely smooth otherwise it will easily show any defects.