different types of laminate

[Kangum]

I was wondering if there was different types of laminate or if i bought the wrong thing. I bought black laminate from parts express for my project.  when it arrived much to my surprise it was nothing but a black texture sticker. the material is so thin i dont see how it cuold possibly be routed. to make things worse because its so thin when applied it shows every single imperfection of your surface.

i thought laminate was laminate. i guess i got "fake" laminate. Would a place like lowes or home depot have the real stuff?

[wbassett]

There is HPL and LPL.  HPL is 'High Pressure Laminate' and what is used for kitchen counter tops.  It is very tough and thin.  It is meant to be glued to something like MDF.

LPL is 'Low Pressure Laminate' and what melamine and Do-Able are.  It is a thin laminate sheeting already glued to MDF.  It isn't as dense or durable as HPL and can be damaged if something is dropped on it.  It is much less expensive though.

Then there is laminate sheeting, like how an ID card is laminated with plastic.  It sounds like you got some sort of laminate sheeting or contact paper and not countertop laminate.

I actually use Wilsonart laminates for Home Theater projector screens and it is extremely durable stuff.  And yes, Lowes and Home Depot carry Wilsonart, Formica as well as some generic brands.  Lowes and HD tend to be more expensive though and if you need a full size sheet and they have to order it they throw on a $25 handling fee.  Check your local kitchen center stores or a local lumber store, they are usually much cheaper than the big chain stores.

How much did it cost and what size did it come in?

[Kangum]

good post thanks.

what i got was

Parts Express - Black Textured Vinyl Laminate 2 feet x 18 feet / $19.85

part number 261-618

[wbassett]

It sounds like you got something more along the lines of a contact type paper and not the type of laminate used for countertops and wood working.

[RandyT]

Laminate is basically any type of sheet material that is designed to be adhered to some other surface.  You can't laminate (verb) a surface without using some sort of laminate (noun) in the process.

Contact paper, and this much thicker material, qualify as such.  You were most likely expecting a rigid laminate instead.

But that stuff you have is fine, as long as you properly prep the surface.  It's designed for covering speaker housings, which are often made of MDF or some other man-made wood product with a smooth surface.  A little filling and sanding and you will get a good end result.  But don't even think of putting the thin stuff on raw plywood, or uneven surfaces.  It'll probably not stick well, and it certainly won't look very nice.

Oh, and you might be surprised to find that it will route ok, as long as it is adhered well and you have a sharp cutter.

RandyT