Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: jmricker on February 11, 2007, 09:00:30 pm

Title: Applying Laminate
Post by: jmricker on February 11, 2007, 09:00:30 pm

  When I apply laminate, is there any reason I can't use a rolling pin instead of the J-Roller they sell at Home Depot? To paraphrase Alton Brown, I have no room in my workshop for a single-tasker :) I hate to buy a tool I'm probably only going to use for that one purpose. It looks like to me that a rolling pin from my kitchen will do the same thing. Do you agree?

Thanks
Joel

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: sodapopinski on February 12, 2007, 12:23:52 am

it will work, just aply enough pressure.

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: somunny on February 12, 2007, 03:18:43 pm

I concur, but if you're near Phoenix/Scottsdale, you're welcome to borrow mine.  :)

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: ScottS on February 12, 2007, 05:07:10 pm

A J-roller is sometimes useful if you need to get into tight places or do precision work on an edge. It can also concentrate force on a smaller area. If you're just doing large flat surfaces I would expect that a rolling pin is fine. Heck, I've seen people use a piece of 2x4 successfully!

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: blueznl on February 12, 2007, 06:26:25 pm

Believe it or not, but I made my own. Lemme see if I can add a picture...

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: NickG on February 12, 2007, 06:35:58 pm

I just use my sneakers.  Thats up to 180+ pounds of pressure per shoe.  Gets me good results

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: blueznl on February 12, 2007, 06:41:44 pm

As promised. These are made using two rubber rolls, like the regular 'foam' rollers used for painting, yet of a somewhat harder material. You'll find them in most decent DIY shops. I've used two together, so that it's easier to apply pressure. I just assembled a wooden frame and this one has now seen good use for about 3 years or so, pretty difficult to break I guess  :)

When using contact glue, one of the tricks is to let the glue dry up a little, and don't make mistakes when aligning the laminate  >:D Large surfaces are best done by two people, ie. both put on the glue at the same time, wait a little, then lift the laminate and apply it. The glue I've been using is special contact glue, but regular 'Bison Tix' will work as well (though it dries slower and smells more, also it's a lot harder to do vertical surfaces with it.) Oh, and make sure you have enough glue dissolver / cleaner, makes life a lot easier...

Title: Re: Applying Laminate
Post by: acevedor2 on February 12, 2007, 09:39:47 pm

I used  a rolling pin and it worked perfectly. 
Cheers