Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Xenepp on June 04, 2004, 11:27:31 am
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I have scoured the web and can't believe how little info I've pulled up on this subject! Not even a warm lead!
I was planning on using some on my cab (going with plexi glass for my cp)
Does anyone know of a supplier in the Uk?
-Joel
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la la la ;D
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Maybe you haven't found any because the correct word is "laminant".
...laminant isn't even a word ???
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I have scoured the web and can't believe how little info I've pulled up on this subject! Not even a warm lead!
I was planning on using some on my cab (going with plexi glass for my cp)
Does anyone know of a supplier in the Uk?
-Joel
Try searching using brand names like Formica and Wilsonart, you might have more hits. (hopefully those products are available in the UK!)
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Maybe you haven't found any because the correct word is "laminant".
Uh... no.
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Menards, Home Depot and Lowes all sell sheets of "Formica" (common name for laminate, just like "Sheetrock" is common for gypsum wall-board even though that is a brand name too) . The brands you will find are typically "Formica" and "Wilson-Art" and "Pioneer".
Usually they will have a few select sheets in stock of common styles, and then have tons of hanging tags of samples of sheets you can order.
Warning: It gets VERY expensive to put formica on your cabinet. Unless you built the cabinet out of a single sheet of plywood (most can't get both sides to fit), then you'll need to buy 2 whole sheets of formica and pay a lot for it, especially if special order.
Plus you'll need contact cement and a router with a trim bit.
Honestly, it's cheaper and just as easy to just buy real oak or birch laminated 3/4" MDF sheets to begin with (appx $32 for a 4x8 sheet at Menards when on sale) and then just buy a $5 can of stain and $7 can of polyurathene and stain and poly it in the color you want, and have real hardwood exterior. Farily durable, hides simple scratches well.
That's what I used when I built an Atari cabaret replica. Turned out nice. I primed and spray painted black the cross-pieces at an additional cost of about $5 in paint.
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Warning: It gets VERY expensive to put formica on your cabinet. Unless you built the cabinet out of a single sheet of plywood (most can't get both sides to fit), then you'll need to buy 2 whole sheets of formica and pay a lot for it, especially if special order.
Tell me about it! I had to special order a sheet of Formica brand Colonial Cherry (http://www.formica.com/colorchipdisplay.jsp?chip_id=69) for a Robo cocktail I'm restoring. It has a slightly more reddish tint than the original, but the grain pattern is very nearly a dead-on match. The only local Formica dealer in my area is a kitchen/bath contractor. It cost me $80 for a single 4' x 8' sheet of that particular pattern, where the more common Formica patterns are usually around $50 or so.
As monitorguru said, it can be a very expensive way to finish a cab. However, in the case of the Robo cockail, I don't think I really had any other options if I wanted a true-to-original finish. Besides, the Formica is probably the most durable finish you can put on a cab and it should keep looking good for at least another 20 yrs in a home environment.
Here are a few pics of how it turned out:
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry01.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry02.jpg
http://www.oscarcontrols.com/robotron-ct/cherry03.jpg
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Damn, I've always heard it called laminant. :-D
I apologize to all, the original poster, and most of all to Dictionary.com for not checking with them first, like I usually do.
:-[
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Damn, I've always heard it called laminant. :D
Well, phonetically, you're correct.
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Hey, I went to the wilsonart website. They have a reseller locator. Luckily I had a local cabinet shop. I made a call and asked if they would sell sheets of laminate. I had to buy 4'x8' sheets.
Good luck