Applying Laminate

[jmricker]

  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

[sodapopinski]

it will work, just aply enough pressure.

[somunny]

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

[ScottS]

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!

[blueznl]

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

[NickG]

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

[blueznl]

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  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...

[acevedor2]

I used  a rolling pin and it worked perfectly. 
Cheers