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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: AGarv on May 17, 2012, 10:36:36 pm

Title: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: AGarv on May 17, 2012, 10:36:36 pm: I have decided to have my cab cut with a CNC router (found a great local company that has good pricing). The 3D plans I have are for 3/4" build material, so I am considering melamine. My plans are detailed enough that I should be able to route the buttons holes, trackball, etc., so chipping should be largely a non-issue.

I searched the forum and it sounds like there is a lot of variability in melamine quality - the coating on some brands is only a little better than paint, whereas others have coatings similar to traditional wilsonart laminate.

I will have to custom order my 4'x8' sheets of melamine, as no local suppliers carry MDF core melamine of any kind. Any brands in particular that I should be looking for?
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: AGarv on May 22, 2012, 04:27:42 pm: I had someone at work mention "Duramine" to me as a possibly decent brand - anyone have experience with it?
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: Unstupid on May 22, 2012, 05:09:57 pm: Quote from: AGarv on May 22, 2012, 04:27:42 pm
I had someone at work mention "Duramine" to me as a possibly decent brand - anyone have experience with it?

I used it on my bartop neo-geos and it worked great... although I cut it with a cnc router
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: AGarv on May 22, 2012, 06:27:53 pm: It seems like there are a few different kinds of duramine - what kind of core did yours have?

I did manage to find some melamine locally that has a particle board core - I am considering it, although I would feel better with a different core material.
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: Unstupid on May 22, 2012, 06:38:52 pm: Quote from: AGarv on May 22, 2012, 06:27:53 pm
It seems like there are a few different kinds of duramine - what kind of core did yours have?

I did manage to find some melamine locally that has a particle board core - I am considering it, although I would feel better with a different core material.

Combicore FTW! Best of both worlds! Srtong plywood core then a layer of MDF which provides a nice flat/smooth surface for the Melamine layer! Stay away from particleboard... that stuff is crap!

(http://www.unstupid.com/myimages/combicore.jpg)
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: AGarv on May 22, 2012, 11:20:32 pm: Nice, thanks bud!
Title: Re: Recommended Brand for 3/4" MDF Core Melamine?
Post by: yotsuya on May 23, 2012, 08:31:07 pm: I looked up combicore. $140 for a 8x4 sheet locally. :dizzy: