Residue-Free Labels Latest in Tools and Supplies

Pliage de stratifié à chaud
Conseils pour chauffer et plier les matériaux stratifiés afin de créer des bords arrondis. 18 juillet 2008

Bending Laminate with Heat
Tips on heating and bending laminate material to make radius edges. July 18, 2008

Installing seamed countertops
Fitting p-lam countertops in the field, due to size and shape. September 23, 2003

Rough P-Lam Edges, Specs, and AWI Standards
A bad case of chip-out on some laminated door edges leads to an informative discussion of AWI standards and quality specifications, along with some good guesses about what caused the unacceptable chip-out. November 23, 2012

AWI Quality Standards and Balanced Lamination
Here's a long discussion of good practice for making laminate cabinet doors, and what the Architectural Woodworking Institute's quality certification standards require. September 27, 2008

Laminate Counter Top Edge Trimming
Tips and tricks for quick, clean work on laminate top edges. July 10, 2009

Laminate and Substrate Movement
A question about what might cause melamine laminate to pull loose from a countertop leads to an in-depth look at the materials involved. April 18, 2006

Sanding and Buffing Solid Surface Countertops
Professionals share views about grits, buffing compounds, tool technique, and more. July 25, 2005


Making Laminate Countertops
This complicated thread combines a healthy helping of newbie advice with some advanced debating about seam location, plus a couple of pro fabricator tips.August 16, 2012

On-Site Laminate Cutting Tips and Tricks
Cabinet re-facing work calls for a lot of cut-and-fit laminate work. Here's a long discussion of ways to go about the task. May 6, 2007

Shopping for a Hot Veneer Press
Experts provide some technical insight for the benefit of a shop owner who is trying to select a laminate and veneer press with a heated platen. August 12, 2014

Laminate Windowsills Shrinking in Service
Particleboard cores of laminate architectural elements can shrink in place due to seasonal changes in interior humidity. September 5, 2010

Correcting High Spots on Laminate Tops
Tiny bits of debris left on the matching surfaces during glue-up can cause high spots to show on a laminate top. Here are tips on how to prevent that, and how to fix it when it does happen. March 29, 2006

Cutting Matching Edges for a Long Laminate Seam
Detailed instructions for creating an accurately matched laminate seam for inlays or joints. April 10, 2007

Locating and Fabricating Countertop Corner Seams
Advice for a first-timer on making the corner joint in an L-shaped laminate countertop. May 31, 2010

Making Concrete Countertops
Fabricating concrete countertops is not rocket science, but it takes practice — and it isn't cheap. March 26, 2007

Do Edgebanders Provide Perfect Output?
Few, if any edgebanders will consistently produce panels that can pass your thumb's feel test — and none will without continual tending by a good operator. December 27, 2006

Fill Material for Melamine Seams
The search for a quality product that will disguise joints in melamine. April 14, 2005

Repairing Bubbles in a Laminate Countertop
You can fix a contact-cement adhesion problem with a hot iron. Also, here is some advice on contact cement application equipment. August 15, 2011

Cutting a Post-Formed Laminate Countertop
Hiring the job out to a well-equipped countertop shop is your best bet — but here's how to do it with an installer's toolkit. February 8, 2008

Solid Surface Seam Kit Mixing Problems
Troubleshooting mixing problems in the seam adhesive applicators for solid surface countertops. February 14, 2010

Re-Covering a Laminate Top
Advice on handling the edge detail when applying new laminate over old. December 24, 2009

Troubleshooting Cracked Laminate Near a Sink Cutout
Square inside corners and drilled holes are potential trouble spot in a laminate surface. February 17, 2011

Solid Surface for a Steam Room Ceiling?
Be cautious, but not scared, about using solid surfacing in a non-warranteed application like a steam room. December 28, 2006

Solutions for Chipping Melamine
Melamine chips when you cut it, but the problem can be prevented — or at least minimized. November 10, 2006

Laminate Countertop Seam Tolerances
Customers may not be aware of industry standards for laminate seams; a third opinion is sometimes helpful. November 12, 2006

Making Seams with High Pressure Laminate
Here are the tools, bits, lubricants, and techniques the pros use to cut a perfect HPL seam. April 11, 2008

Shopping for a High-Volume Laminating Machine
If you're looking for manufacturing equipment to laminate a lot of vinyl to a variety of substrates, look carefully at the options. You'll have to sift through a lot of confusing claims. April 11, 2008

Filing the Edges of Plastic Laminate Doors
Advice on how to minimize the necessary hand labor required for dressing the corners of edgebanded P-lam doors. March 13, 2007

Working with Paper/Resin Composite Countertops
These paper and resin composite materials cut and sand nicely. Here are some tips. September 26, 2006

Suitable Substrates for Laminate
A discussion of which countertop materials are compatible with laminate, and why. July 13, 2010

Recutting Installed Countertops In Place
Advice for trimming a few inches off a laminate countertop, in place. January 9, 2006

Rough-Cutting Irregular Shapes Out of Laminate
Suggestions for cutting odd-shaped pieces laminate to rough size. April 20, 2007

Applying Kuhn edging
Methods, glues and clamps to use. April 2, 2002

Diamond tooling on laminate
Tool life and feed rates when using diamond tooling to cut laminate. November 7, 2001

Wood Edge Detail for a Laminate Countertop
Laminate trimming, edge attachment, and rounding-over technique for a wood edge on a laminate counter or table top. January 24, 2006

Laminate Application Basics
Tips on adhesives and trimming for a newcomer to plastic laminate work. December 30, 2005

Working With Aluminum Laminate
Aluminum laminate can be very difficult to rout, trim, and file. Here's a story of lessons learned by one fabricator. August 14, 2007

Making a Wood Edge Flush with a Laminate Top
Flushing up the top surface of a wood-edged laminate countertop is tricky, any way you do it. Here are some suggestions. April 10, 2007

Laminate Trimming Tips and Tricks
You work with laminate, you do a lot of edge trimming. Here are some tricks the smooth professionals use. April 11, 2008

Minimizing melamine chip-out
Why do specialty melamine blades cut chip-free for so short a time? July 3, 2001

Choosing Metal Laminates
Metal laminate products and their appropriate uses. August 30, 2005

Melamine/Laminate Panels
A discussion of practical ways of building cabinets with melamine exteriors and laminate interiors. October 13, 2010

Edge-Banding Issues with Laminated Doors
Minor thickness variations in shop-laid laminate doors cause the edgebander to scuff the laminate. What's the fix? May 10, 2005

Is It Necessary to File Edgebanding by Hand?
Most shops still have to do some hand work, even if they're equipped with an expensive edgebander. February 17, 2014

Laminating Equipment
Basic descriptions of laminating equipment. November 11, 2008

Coved backsplashes on solid surface
Is this a bad idea? April 2, 2002

Laminate Trimming Technique
Bit selection and lubricant choice for trouble-free trimming of countertop edges. March 14, 2006

Applying Laminate to a Curved Wall
Installers puzzle over how to seam sections of laminate applied to a curved wall as an architectural covering. July 15, 2009

Seaming solid surface materials
Tips and techniques for inconspicuous seams. October 15, 2001

Minimizing the Need to File Laminate Edges
Advice on getting a clean laminate edge that requires only a light touch with the file. June 12, 2014

Cracks at Sink Corners in Plastic Laminate
Tops in a science lab show cracking at sink corners. Info here on movement issues, and on chemical-resistant laminate material. April 11, 2008

Competing with the Big Box on Solid Surface Countertops
Business tactics for a cabinetmaker who outsources his countertops. January 9, 2007

"Hard Seams" for Laminate Countertops
Advice on giving special attention to the seamed joints in laminate tops. March 26, 2007

Applying Parchment as a Laminate
Advice on adhesives, substrates, and sealers for parchment applied to a table top. April 29, 2010

Quality Control with Gloss Laminates
It's hard to get laminate flat enough that imperfections won't show, when the surface is glossy. February 27, 2015

Installing Backsplash
Backsplash installation tips, including a cool new product. March 14, 2006

Making a Miter-Fold Joint
Here's a detailed description of how to make a miter-fold corner with laminate material. July 3, 2008

Heat-Forming Laminate to Fit Curves
Heat is the key to a good curved edge on a laminate countertop. January 9, 2007

Repairing Solid Surface Seams
An imperfect seam poses problems for a countertop installer. Here's the story, along with advice for fixing seams in place. November 13, 2005

Invisible Laminate Seaming
Advice on getting a visually acceptable seam in laminate. February 29, 2012

Supporting Solid Surface Vanity Tops
Thoughts on structural details for support of projecting solid surface tops. November 25, 2008

Fabricating a Laminate-Over-Foam-Core Door
Cabinetmakers consider how to lay up a large door with laminate on the outside and foam on the inside. September 27, 2008

Solid-Surface Edging for Laminate Countertops
Countertop pros give advice on a troublesome detail that probably isn't worth the hassle. July 30, 2007

Water-tolerant Substrates
The right material will resist edge swelling under laminates. May 4, 2005

Down-Stroke Jigsaw Blades for Laminate
Thoughts and experiences on cutting laminate on site without chipping it out. November 19, 2008

Rough-Cutting Laminate
Techniques for rough-cutting laminate sheets, in the shop or on site. May 11, 2006

Laminate Tools: Bit and File Choices
Advice from laminate counter specialists on bit and file selections for the tool kit. August 18, 2009

Seaming Solid Surface Countertops
Splines aren't recommended, but a seam block is (and other tips). June 12, 2014

Sustainable Adhesives for Laminates
Recommendations for "green" contact adhesives for use with laminate material, and a closer look at the details of the rules. October 3, 2011

Slip Sheet Material Choices
Countertop fabricators discuss dowels, "slip sheet" materials, and other options for aligning materials to substrates after applying contact cement.January 14, 2013

Applying Laminate with an Edgebander
Yes, you can apply high-pressure laminate to panel edges using an edgebander. Here are tips on trimming and adhesives. February 16, 2012

Melamine Finish Quality
Thoughts on the search for a smoother melamine. July 28, 2012

Laminate Door Fabrication Tips
Advice on applying laminate to glazed MDF cabinet doors, with some words about edgebanding and lacquer detailing. November 13, 2005

Edgebanding with No Edgebander
Alternative ways to apply edgebanding to small runs of laminate doors when you have no edgebander. September 23, 2006

Splinters Under Laminate
How to remove splinters that are telegraphing through freshly-applied laminate, and tips on avoiding the problem next time. November 12, 2006

Countertop Materials: What Does the Market Want?
Countertop and cabinet contractors discuss the current popularity of stone, solid surfacing, laminate, concrete, and green recycled composites as of mid-2009. February 14, 2010

Countertop Equipment
A brief description of post-forming and countertop sawing equipment. September 20, 2008

Repositionable Adhesives for Laminate Work
Advice for test-fitting and adjusting laminate during glue-ups. January 28, 2014

Applying wood edges to lam tops
Best methods for applying wood edges to laminate countertops. June 24, 2001

Finishing Over Laminate
Finishers discuss the application of pigmented topcoats to existing laminate countertops. June 18, 2013

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Countertops
Introductory tips for a new installer on cutting laminate countertops. May 22, 2007

Running Phenolic in the Planer
Can planer knives survive being used on 1/4-inch phenolic panel material? April 30, 2009

Troubleshooting Chipping in Service on P-lam Countertop Edges
A discussion of the factors that could have caused the edge of this P-lam top to snag on something and receive an ugly chip. June 12, 2014

Getting a Professional Edge on Laminate Without Filing
A card scraper method and other tips for fine-tuning the edge of a laminate top without laborious hand filing. June 12, 2014

Laminate on One Face of Melamine
A debate over whether it's okay to apply laminate to just one face of a melamine panel for cabinets and cabinet doors. March 26, 2009

End Gap Specs for a Solid-Surface Windowsill
An unusual application for solid surfacing leads to a discussion about movement joints and tolerances. May 23, 2007

Troubleshooting Warp in Postformed Laminate Countertops
Without balanced lamination (top and bottom side), tops are prone to warpage. April 18, 2010

Laminate-Top Bubble Repair
Here's a grab bag of tricks for getting bubbled-up laminate to lay back down and stick. October 3, 2007

Attaching a Plexiglass Protective Top
Clear silicone adhesive caulk works well. December 6, 2011

Working with High Gloss Laminate
High gloss laminate telegraphs imperfections in the substrate. September 5, 2011

Removing Old Laminate and Contact Cement
Heat, solvent, and scraping do the trick. August 23, 2005

Rubber T-Mold Tips and Tricks
Trimming, fitting, and touch-up tricks for T-mold on the edge of laminate tops. March 9, 2010

Uses for Sassafras
Sassafras has been called "poor man's oak" for its durability, strength and beauty. The markets for it are small ans specialized. April 20, 2011

Flexible Countertop Templating Material
With plastic material you can roll up after the template is built, transporting the template is easier. September 30, 2009

Telegraphing Issue with High Gloss Laminate on Luan Plywood
High gloss laminates have a tendency to reveal minor imperfections in the substrate. August 26, 2008

Site Cutting and Mitering Postform Countertops
Handling these tricky miter cuts on site when the fabricating shop went out of business in mid-job proved less than fully satisfactory. July 16, 2012

Countertop delamination
After five years, why is an HPL countertop delaminating? October 2, 2001

Stacking Laminations in a Vacuum Bag
Stacking multiple pieces in one vacuum bag to save time increases the likelihood that pieces will not be under sufficient pressure. March 16, 2015

Substrate for Laminating Cabinet Doors
Plywood cores are not recommended for laminate cabinet doors (MDF, particleboard, or plywood-core MDF are better). July 26, 2010

Smoothing Cut Edges on Clear Acrylic
Sander, router, jointer, or torch — many methods can be made to work. August 30, 2007

Aerosol Adhesive Coverage for High-Pressure Laminate
Aerosol adhesive coverage claims should be treated conservatively. May 18, 2009

Wood Edge on Laminate Countertops
Advice on how to fabricate a laminate countertop with a flush wood edge. July 3, 2008

Joints in Very Long Laminate Tops
Advice on fabricating and assembling large countertops so that laminate joints fall over solid substrate rather than at the substrate joints. May 3, 2011

Laminate Cutting and Seaming
This thread describes a router jig for making clean cuts and seams in HPL joints. June 12, 2014

Getting Rid of Scrap Laminate
Suggestions for putting excess laminate into the hands of someone who might need it. September 17, 2014

Copper Countertop Tips
Copper is tricky to work with. Here are a few thoughts on using it for countertops. April 17, 2009

Spray Adhesives for Plastic Laminate
Adhesives labeled for use with "plastic" may actually not perform will with plastic laminate counter materials, which have a paper backing. February 14, 2010

Removing Glue Film from Laminate
Wiping off glue squeeze-out has dulled the sheen on some laminate tops. Here are suggested remedies. February 25, 2009

Liquid Inlay for Solid Surfacing
Advice on filling decorative routs in solid-surface counters or cutting boards. August 8, 2008

Should Solid Surface Joints be Invisible?
With some solid surface materials, joints are highly visible because the material is "directional" or otherwise non-uniform. April 20, 2011

Interruptions, Interruptions
What can you do if you've applied contact cement to your particleboard, but then something happens before you apply the laminate? February 3, 2011

Quick Shop-Built Fabricating Stands
A laminate shop owner describes his quick-to-make workstands made with scraps of panel material, cut to size and slotted to interlock. December 30, 2007

Radius Corners for a Work-Surface Cabinet Top
The example shown could be done with T-mould, thick edgebanding, or a thermoformed panel material. June 10, 2006

Coving Solid Surface Counter/Backsplash Joints
Details about how to efficiently get nice results in a solid surface cove joint. March 28, 2012

Locating a Long Straight-Edge
How to make (or where to buy) a durable and accurate 12-foot-plus straight edge. March 14, 2006

Touch-Up for Scratched or Scuffed Laminate
Oops! Here's how the pros fix those little mistakes (perhaps the fault of a careless co-worker...)January 20, 2007

Laminating a Face Frame
Advice on joinery and lamination techniques for a laminated face frame. April 20, 2011

Sanding-Pad Staining on Solid Surface Tops
The color in sanding pads sometimes rubs off onto the solid surfacing, but it can be avoided. December 11, 2007

Repairing Bubbles in Laminate
Advice on re-adhering bubbled-up laminate to the substrate. January 8, 2010

Should Edgebanding Need to be Filed by Hand?
Do edgebanded laminate parts require hand sanding, filing, or other touch-up for quality? January 19, 2011

Working with Contact Cement at Cold Temperatures
The low end of recommended application temperatures for contact cement application and curing may allow a little leeway. February 26, 2007

Repairing a Chip in Wood Edging on a Laminate Top
Ideas for making a gouge look like a naturally-occurring knot. December 12, 2008

Glue Adhesion Issues with 3mm PVC Banding Issue
Troubleshooting a problem where edgebanding doesn't stick down along the centerline of the strip. September 15, 2011

Repairing A Laminate Seam
Placed to close to the kitchen sink, a laminate countertop seam is lifting. Here are quick tips on prevention and repair. December 14, 2005

Reversing a Router's Rotation
Woodworkers discuss ways to make a hand-held router spin backwards for special situations. September 17, 2008

Achieving a Polished Surface when Routing Solid-Surface Edges
Router bits can dull the material as they cut. Here's advice on how to minimize that problem. March 13, 2007

Miter-Folding Laminate
A fabricator seeks advice on making joints fit right and hold tight. April 14, 2005

Dealing with a Hairline Scratch in a Laminate Top
A just slightly too visible scratch in a deep red laminate top prompts advice on prevention and touch-up. June 12, 2014

Is a Solid Surface Crack Fixable?
Seaming a solid surface countertop over a heat source such as a dishwasher may cause a crack that can't be repaired. March 4, 2009

Water-Based Glue, Lamination, and Warping
Using water-based adhesives for laminating to wood-fiber panels can cause the panels to warp. To prevent, laminate both sides. May 20, 2006

Filing Laminate Edges
Pros give pointers on ways to file laminate counter edges smooth. July 29, 2007

Solid Surface Installed Over an Oven
It depends on the oven and the type of solid surfacing. January 9, 2007

Re-Laminating Existing Countertops
Advice and cautions on covering existing laminate tops with new material. March 14, 2006

Cutting Laminate on a Panel Saw
Advice on getting clean cuts on sheets of laminate using a vertical panel saw. October 25, 2007

Laminate Seaming
A quick lesson on achieving a tight, clean laminate seam. June 10, 2006

Adhesives for Laminating PVC
Recommendations for adhesive to apply PVC sheets as a surface lamination. April 29, 2010

Forming and Polishing Granite Tile Edges
Advice on how to round over and polish stone countertop edges. January 8, 2010

Trimming and Filing Laminate Edges
Advice on the bits, lubricants, and methods to use for smooth corners on laminate countertops with laminate front edges. September 15, 2011

Wood Edge on a Laminate Top — Which Comes First, Edge or Laminate?
Advice on the order of operations for assembling a wood-edged laminate top. June 12, 2014

Whether to Locate a Laminate Seam at the Kitchen Sink
Putting the seam in a long countertop at the sink location is a common practice. Here are tips. June 12, 2014

Laminating Sheet Steel to Plywood
What kind of adhesive will hold 24-gauge steel to wood panels? May 16, 2008

Costs of Contact Cement per Square Foot of Product
Thoughts on the economics of various contact cement application systems. June 12, 2014

Laminating HPL onto Cylinders
It's hard to apply sufficient pressure to a cylinder for good bonding of contact cement, but here are a few tips. August 23, 2006

Working with Water-Based Laminate Adhesive
Roll out with a low-nap roller, and don't let the glue or a new countertop freeze. The good news: no odor or headaches. October 28, 2005

Gluing P-lam to P-lam with Contact Cement
Be sure to let the contact cement dry completely before applying the laminate. February 17, 2011

Sourcing Exotic Laminate
Cabinetmakers discuss how to find unusual and interesting laminates, including distinctive patterns and glow-in-the-dark laminate. February 12, 2009

Laminate on the Wall Behind a Cooktop
Tips on how to apply laminate directly to a wall above a kitchen counter backsplash. September 27, 2008

Applying Contact Cement by Spray
Low-solvent spray canister contact cement sometimes creates telegraphing of spray overlap areas.August 15, 2011

Fillers and Putty for Melamine Repair
Choices for touching up nicks and scratches. May 10, 2005

Cutting Out Sink Holes in Laminate Tops
October 2, 2007

Miter Fold Joints with Solid Surface Material
Miterfolding is practical with solid surfacing, and can be accomplished more than one way. July 14, 2010

Improving Edgebander Glue Bond
Tips for making edgebanding stick more reliably. June 3, 2007

Troubleshooting Warping and Delaminating
Using a heat tunnel during fabrication of laminate tops can cause the top to warp because of temperature-related expansion and contraction of the laminate. March 13, 2009

Tight Miters for Laminate Countertops
Installers suggest ways to draw the joint tight. August 29, 2005

Grinding and Polishing Granite
A variable speed grinder and a full assortment of grits, and you're in business. April 20, 2011

Laminate Seam Separation — Causes and Cures
Melamine glue in the right place can stop those seams from opening up. September 26, 2006

Seam Detailing for a Deep Solid-Surface Countertop
An 80-inch by 38-inch countertop made with 30-inch maximum width solid surface panels creates some head-scratching about where and how to make the seam. May 23, 2007

Hiding Edge Seams in a Laminate Door
Advice on how to built without seams where a door edge meets the face. January 25, 2013

When to Remove Peel Coat from High Gloss Laminate
Opinions vary on whether to peel off protective coating before the finished piece is installed. December 30, 2007

Vertical versus Horizontal Grade Laminate
What the difference is, and when to use which. March 14, 2006

Solid Surface for Cabinet Doors
Combining wood with solid-surface material raises risk related to movement caused by moisture or temperature changes. June 30, 2009

Finger Pull Detail for Laminate Doors
Painting the cove detail to match the laminate is more reliable than fitting laminate to the profile. July 12, 2012

Laminating Over Melamine
Scuff sand, spray, and stick. June 10, 2006

Cutting and Machining Phenolic Countertops
Tips on bit choice and speeds for working with phenolic sheet materials. October 12, 2007

Shrinkage and Laminate Seam Tightness
As a wood-based product, laminate changes dimension in response to variations in ambient moisture. This can create gaps at joints or seams. April 4, 2011

Tight Heat-Bending Laminate
Here's a short but informational conversation on applying heat to laminate in order to accomplish tight bends. July 26, 2010

Sharpening Laminate Files
There are laminate file sharpening services, but you might try a simple acid bath. July 28, 2008

Cutting Post-Form Laminate Tops
If you don't have a slider, you can cut the top from the back side with a circular saw. November 14, 2014

Filing Laminate Edges Left-Handed
Files are mostly designed for the right-handed craftsman, but a left-hander can file as well as a right-hander after practice. June 12, 2014

No-Drip Edges for Solid Surface Tops
Ideas for making a no-drip edge on solid surface counters. November 25, 2008

Forming Metal Laminate to a Tight Radius
Vacuum bag turns out to work. June 22, 2012

Quality Control with Spray-On Contact Cement
Tips for avoiding bubbles and telegraph lines with contact cement and laminate. June 12, 2014

Contact Cement for PVC Edge Banding
You have brush, roller, and spray can options. March 13, 2009

Fixing Cracks in Solid Surface Material
Here's how one fabricator repaired an 8-inch crack in a solid surfacing countertop. March 14, 2006

A High-Gloss Finish for Solid Surface
Here's a polishing schedule for buffing solid surfacing to a high gloss, along with a warning (it scratches easily). November 13, 2005

Applying Laminate to a Radius
Tradesmen explain handwork techniques for fitting laminate to radiused postform countertops. June 20, 2005

Repairing Melamine Tear-Out
Tips and tricks for using melamine seam filler. December 14, 2005

Laminate Trimming Bits
Considering the pros and cons of different laminate trimming bits. March 14, 2006

Laminate Trimmer Bits: Sharpen or Toss?
Here are a couple of alternatives to buying new trimmer bits every few jobs. June 10, 2006

Solid Surface Seam Fix
Advice on an undetectable patch for a small area of discolored seam in a solid surface top. August 3, 2009

Trimming T Moulding
Tips for quickly and easily trimming T molding for laminated countertops. August 7, 2006

Getting a Wood Counter Edge Flush with the Laminate Top
There are several ways, depending on whether you want to spend money or time. August 31, 2005

Is a Laminate Slitter Worth It?
Praise for laminate slitters. October 26, 2011

Will Solid Surface Material Hold a Screw?
Advice on screw connections to solid surface material. June 12, 2014

Minimum Corner Radius for Laminate Edges
How tight can you bend it? Depends on the grade of laminate. Here are some tips for a tighter bend. April 20, 2011

Edgebanding with Laminate
For good adhesion, prime the laminate with contact cement before edgebanding. October 19, 2013

Supporting Solid Surface Counter Overhangs
Quick ideas for stiffening solid surface cantilevers. March 14, 2006

Laminate Trimming Tips
Two quick tips on a clean job when trimming laminate edges. December 15, 2005

Laminate over Melamine
Quick, simple advice on adhering plastic laminate to melamine as a retrofit. March 25, 2010

Multiple Cabinet Refacing
Can you reface over existing refacing? Yes, if the first layer still adheres well. December 30, 2007

Polyester vs. Acrylic Fabrication
Pros and cons, including quality and cost in solid surface choices. May 19, 2004

Post-Forming Laminate in Three Dimensions
You can't bend laminate to around a compound curved substrate, but there are other specialized materials that will do it. December 1, 2010

Blemishes on Granite Countertops
What seems like a mar or mark might be the natural look of stone, or it could be residue from a spill. In any case, granite is hard to touch up. October 2, 2005

Balanced Laminating Over Melamine
Here's a detailed discussion about whether it's okay to apply laminate over just one face of a melamine door, and about various other ways to achieve the same product. October 12, 2012

Bubbles in Laminate on Steel Doors
Troubleshooting a bubble issue with laminate applied to steel doors. January 24, 2010

Balanced Construction of Plastic Laminate Doors
Experience shows that balancing P-lam doors can prevent the occasional case of warping. Here are thoughts on how to lay up balanced P-lam panels. February 12, 2010

Presses
Basic info on manual and automated veneer and laminate presses. November 12, 2008

Bubbles Under Laminate
Help with a visual defects associated with spray contact cement and laminate countertops. April 21, 2011

Hiding Laminate Seams in Cabinetry
There's no easy way to disguise the dark corner edges of white laminated cabinet faces. April 17, 2009

Bank Job (Refacing Laminate)
Thoughts about the pitfalls and difficulties involved in resurfacing a whole bankful of laminate countertops. February 23, 2008

Beveled Edge Details for Laminate Countertops
Tips on tricky details, transitions, and application techniques for beveled-edge laminate tops. March 26, 2007

Production Machinery for Solid Surfacing Fabrication
Thoughts and advice for a solid-surfacing shop owner on investing in equipment such as panel saws or CNC routers. October 2, 2005

Panel Saw Chips Melamine Inside The Book
Voids between stacked pieces could be the culprit. April 10, 2005

Pre-Mill Capability on an Edgebander
Advice on how to take best advantage of the pre-mill function on a new edgebander. May 23, 2007

Biscuit joining vs. tie-bolts
Is it possible to join post-form tops and shop-built substrate with biscuits? June 24, 2001

Buying a Used Edgebander
There's more to running a glue-pot edgebander than plugging it in and turning it on — so be cautious when buying used equipment. December 30, 2005

Bevel-Edge Delamination with MDF
Troubleshooting an adhesion problem with laminate and MDF: is it the glue, or the substrate? October 12, 2009

Heating Laminate for Postforming
A question about a slight delamination problem prompts a long set of tips about effective heating for postforming. February 1, 2015

Poured Inlay Work in Solid Surface
Advise on using heat, additives, and other tricks to get good results with routing and pouring details into a solid surface top. July 16, 2012

Basics of Applying Laminate
A beginner gets the basic introductory explanation of how to apply laminate to a particleboard top. January 18, 2011

Hand Filing and Laminate Trimming Bits
The right bit can reduce the need for cleaning up edges with a hand file, but may not eliminate touch-up filing altogether. May 13, 2009

Bending Corian
How to bend Corian to create small cylindrical shapes. June 24, 2001

Heat-Bending Long Pieces of Solid Surfacing
The challenge is to heat the long piece to the correct temperature for thermo-forming. December 23, 2014

Heat-Bending Laminate
With care and attention, you can bend laminate to a one-inch radius. October 28, 2005

Printing Artwork onto Laminate
Pros describe a range of methods for transferring pictures onto furniture. June 20, 2005

PVA Glue for P-lam?
PVA glue is not as fast as contact cement for applying plastic laminate, but it gives good results (if you choose the right glue). February 14, 2010

HPL Tops with Solid Wood Edges
A little advice on constructing small restaurant tabletops with HPL top faces and solid wood edges. June 12, 2014

Bending Solid Surface Edges
Advice on miter-folding methods for solid surface corners (including radiused edges). October 28, 2014

Beveled Edge Fabrication
Purchasing, making, and applying laminate beveled-edge material. December 6, 2011

Priming for P-lam Edgebanding
When you apply plastic laminate as edgebanding, using a primer helps a lot with strong adhesion in service. February 14, 2010

Preventing Marble Tops from Cracking During Shipping
A quick tip for reinforcing marble countertops with steel rod. April 10, 2007

Panel Cleaner Options
The big difference is brush orientation. Here's a look. June 12, 2014

A Flush Edge On Plastic Laminate dupe breaker
Pros share tricks for getting a wood edge absolutely flush with the laminate. May 10, 2005

Solid Surface as a Shelf Nosing
An architect's query sets off a spirited discussion of using solid surface material for shelf nosings. Appropriate adhesives, durability, and movement rates are issues (and yes, it has been done before). June 10, 2006

Pressure-Sensitive Versus Iron-On Edgebanding
Which is the better economical choice for low-volume, occasional edgebanding needs? March 25, 2007

Cutting Sink Holes in Laminate Tops
Installers trade opinions and experiences on sink cut-out tools and methods. September 25, 2009

Solid Surface Popularity
Some cabinetmakers say stone and laminate are edging solid surfacing out. November 12, 2005

Laminate Tops for Outdoor Exposures
Carefully balanced laminate tops can handle weather, says one craftsman. August 21, 2006

Tools for Solid Surfacing
To work with solid surfacing, you want professional quality routers and sanders, and the right type of sandpaper and bits. April 11, 2008

Polishing Solid-Surface Tops
You can bring solid surfacing to a high gloss, but that doesn't mean you should. June 12, 2014

Trimming Laminate Applied to a Cylinder
Pros describe tool setups for accomplishing this tricky detail. October 2, 2005

Substrats adaptés au stratifié
Une discussion sur les matériaux de comptoir compatibles avec le stratifié et pourquoi. 13 juillet 2010

Bords tranchants sur les bandes en PVC
Les chants coupés peuvent être suffisamment tranchants pour couper les gens, il est donc préférable de limer les bords. 10 novembre 2006

Sharp Edges on PVC Banding
Trimmed edge-banding can be sharp enough to cut people, so it's best to file off the edges. November 10, 2006

Cacher les joints stratifiés dans les armoires
Il n'existe pas de moyen simple de dissimuler les bords sombres des façades des armoires laminées blanches. 17 avril 2009

Application of PVC Edgebanding
An edgebander is the method of choice, but here are some alternative suggestions as well. September 5, 2006

Solid Surface Pricing
A little info on the solid surfacing market, circa 2006. September 26, 2006

Repairing Scratches in Glossy Laminate
From quick and simple to time-consuming and elaborate, here are ways to get a visible scratch "below the radar." September 26, 2006

Réparation des rayures sur un stratifié brillant
Des méthodes simples et rapides aux méthodes plus longues et plus élaborées, voici des moyens d'obtenir une égratignure visible « sous le radar ». 26 septembre 2006

Subtops Under Solid Surface Countertops
Solid surface is not installed over a subtop, but over (at most) widely spaced mounting strips (and let the installer worry about those). September 26, 2006

Réparation de mélamine rayée
Aucune réparation n'est parfaite, mais voici quelques bonnes solutions pour réparer une entaille superficielle dans l'intérieur d'une armoire en mélamine. 23 septembre 2006

Repairing Scratched Melamine
No repair is perfect, but here are some pretty good options for a surface gouge in a melamine cabinet interior. September 23, 2006

Undermount Solid Surface Sinks with Laminate Countertops
A few technical tips on mounting solid-surface sinks under laminate counters. July 26, 2010

Copeaux de scie à panneaux en mélamine À l'intérieur du livre
Les vides entre les pièces empilées pourraient en être la cause. 10 avril 2005

More on Spray-Applying Contact Cement
An extended discussion of pressurized tanks, spray equipment, application techniques, and adhesive performance. June 10, 2006

Water Damage to Laminate Counter Seams
A miter seam in a countertop near a seam is a risky situation. Here, pros consider a case of joint failure. July 3, 2008

Working Copper Sheet Goods for a Top Insert
Advice on cutting and adhering copper for a vanity top. August 3, 2009

Serrage des bords biseautés des stratifiés
Commentaire illustré sur le serrage et le collage de matériaux à bords biseautés sur des plateaux stratifiés. 30 mars 2008

Clamping Laminate Bevel Edges
Illustrated commentary on clamping and gluing beveled edge material to laminate tops. March 30, 2008

Undermount Sinks for Laminate Tops
Tips on installing undermount sinks designed for laminate countertops. September 27, 2008

Construisez votre propre scierie à ruban
Conseils pour l'installation d'éviers sous plan conçus pour des comptoirs en stratifié. 27 septembre 2008

Taches sur les comptoirs en granit
Ce qui ressemble à une tache ou à une marque peut être l'aspect naturel de la pierre ou bien être un résidu d'un déversement. Dans tous les cas, le granit est difficile à retoucher. 2 octobre 2005

Réparer les bulles dans un comptoir stratifié
Vous pouvez résoudre un problème d'adhérence de la colle contact avec un fer chaud. Voici également quelques conseils sur le matériel d'application de la colle contact. 15 août 2011

Application du parchemin comme stratifié
Conseils sur les adhésifs, les supports et les produits d'étanchéité pour le parchemin appliqué sur un plateau de table. 29 avril 2010

Retrait de l'ancien stratifié et du ciment de contact
La chaleur, le solvant et le grattage font l'affaire. 23 août 2005

Does it Pay to Own an Edgebander?
A good edgebander can really boost your productivity, but how much machine you need depends on how much volume you're doing. October 9, 2006

Certifcation for solid surface
What does it take to become certified to install by the manufacturer? July 9, 2003

Opening Laminate Joints Mystery
in a long MDF and laminate countertop? March 14, 2005

Sink cutouts in post form tops
Woodworkers share their favorite methods. April 3, 2002

Finishing Wood Edges of Laminate Tops
Suppose you want to edge-band laminate tops before finishing the edgebanding? Here are some creative ideas for protecting the laminate top from overspray while finishing just the edge. May 22, 2007

Moving to Metric
Tips on making the transition as smooth as possible. September 9, 2004

Laminate Cabinet Tips
Advice (sometimes conflicting) about how to build high-quality laminate cabinets. July 5, 2006

Clamp Cart
Shop-made carriers for clamps. December 26, 2004

Edgebander Glue-Pot Maintenance
Advice on how to prevent an edgebander glue pot from wearing out prematurely. October 9, 2006

Advice On The HMT Advantage Laminator
06/17/2012

Miterfolds for clean corner joints
A sweet technique for classy corners. November 21, 2003

Edgebanding Glue Holding Problems
Cold melamine stored in the unheated shop overnight may be stopping edgebander glue from adhering properly. March 20, 2006

Warranteeing Laminate-on-Particleboard Countertops
How long should your guarantee last for a laminate countertop? Installers discuss warrantees and materials. October 8, 2005

Contact Cement Spray-Tank Systems
Cabinetmakers and countertop pros see big advantages to spray-applied contact cement. April 20, 2007

Cleaning Glue Off Melamine After Edge-Banding
"Hot" solvents can dull melamine or leave a combined glue-and-thinner residue behind. Here are some suggested solutions. February 26, 2007

Edgebander Glue-Pot Cleanup
A well-used edgebander can be a sticky mess. Here are tips for the occasional thorough cleanup. April 18, 2006

Troubleshooting Melamine Chip-Out Around Bore Holes
Drill bit type and drilling speed control can reduce chipout on two-sided melamine panels, and there are also touch-up solutions for minor chipping problems. February 26, 2007

Applying PVC Edgebanding Without an Edgebander
PVC edgebanding can be applied by hand, but it's tricky and difficult. Here is a handful of tips and advice. November 20, 2005

Mixing Solid Surface Brands
If you combine sinks and countertops from different makers, will warranties (and adhesives) hold? April 14, 2005

Solid surface fabrication in-house
Should a 30-person shop be subcontracting its solid-surface work or doing it in-house? April 2, 2002

Spreading Glue for Laminate Panel Pressing
Advice about hand application of adhesives for fabricating laminated panels. June 5, 2007

Working With Metal Laminates
05/20/2012

Melamine Chipping
Is it the bits, the feed rate, the material? Pros troubleshoot a case of melamine chipping on a new CNC unit. June 30, 2005

Calculating Remaining Edgebanding
Formula to determine how much is left on the roll, with a nod to Archimedes. March 14, 2004

Glue Choice for Laminate Top Assembly
Advice on adhesive choice and assembly techniques for a countertop joint. June 22, 2012

Melamine Quality Issues
Cut-price melamine from the big-box DIY stores doesn't match up to professional-grade material, say the pros. December 28, 2005

Cutting 3/4 Melamine on CNC
Advice on bit type, feed rate, and RPM. July 3, 2005

Adhesives for Applying Laminate to Walls
Advice on installing laminate on walls. November 23, 2012

Edgebanding a Round Table
Here's a list of steps for applying edgebanding to a round laminate tabletop. April 8, 2013

Laminate Over Plywood for Cabinet Boxes
Cabinetmakers report their results using laminate on plywood for cabinet carcases. August 8, 2008

Tip: Disconnecting a Contact Adhesive Gun Glue Pot
The proper disconnect sequence will help keep your equipment from getting gunked up. May 27, 2014

Diamond Bits for Cutting Laminate on CNC
Far more durable than other alternatives, diamond bits are cost-effective despite their high price. August 21, 2006

Z Clips On Solid Surface
06/12/2012

Surell Countertop
04/27/2012

Laminating Large Sheets On Walls
05/20/2012

Solid Surface CounterTop
Watch as a CNC router cuts out and profiles solid surface countertops. July 12, 2007

Pricing Solid-Surface Countertops
To make money fabricating and installing solid-surface counters, be sure to charge for all the incidental costs. September 23, 2006

Polishing Granite
This thread covers a helpful topic: polishing scratches out of granite tops. June 18, 2010

Bit Life in High Pressure Laminate
How many sheets should you be able to cut before a bit wears out? Comparing carbide with diamond, and a discussion of feed rates and settings. July 3, 2005

Purchasing a Used Edgebander
Things to consider when evaluating used edgebanding equipment. August 8, 2006

Poor Adhesion After Edging MDF
Why has the edge come off this MDF? Maybe it's the glue, maybe it's the method... May 10, 2005

Glue Injection Techniques
When laminate or veneer is lifting, you can make a slit, inject adhesive, and clamp for a clean repair. Here are some detailed tips on getting the glue where it needs to go. February 20, 2008

Cracked Laminate
12/07/2013

Compression Bit Size: What's Best
Half-inch bits run faster, but the 3/8-inch size wastes less. April 10, 2005

Taille du bit de compression :
Les forets d'un demi-pouce fonctionnent plus rapidement, mais la taille de 3/8 de pouce gaspille moins. 10 avril 2005

CNC Tool Choice to Limit Laminate Chipping
Lots of CNC users experience chipping problems when machining laminated panels. Here's a discussion. June 28, 2010

Choix de colle pour l'assemblage de plateaux stratifiés
Conseils sur le choix de la colle et les techniques d'assemblage pour un joint de comptoir. 22 juin 2012

A Solid Choice
Basics of solid surface materials and their fabrication, and why shops are adding them to their product lines. July 20, 2002

Using Water-Based Contact Cements
When you switch from solvent-based to water-based contact cement, there are a few new things to learn. Pros share application tips in this thread from the Woodweb Adhesives Forum. July 2, 2005

Spray-Applying Contact Cement
Advice on contact-cement application techniques. December 27, 2006

Template Routing -- with a Vacuum Clamp
March 19, 2002

Melamine Versus Plywood for Kitchen Cabinets
It's an apples-to-oranges comparison, but one that sets off a thoughtful exchange of views about workability and performance in this thread from the Cabinetmaking forum. June 28, 2005

Alternatives to painted interiors
Woodworkers offer alternatives to painted cabinet interiors. September 6, 2000

Radius Corners on HPL Counters
Applying laminate strip without pull-away problems. May 19, 2004

Edgeband failure
Searching for causes of edgeband failure. September 26, 2000

Tooling choices for solid surface
Tooling and feed speed info for machining solid surface materials. November 7, 2000

Laying up laminates using PVA glues
A quick guide to applying high-pressure laminate with PVA glue. September 26, 2000

Shrinkage allowances for red oak
Estimating radial and tangential shrinkage when drying red oak to 12 to 14 percent MC. 1998.

"M" particleboard grades
The difference between grades of particleboard is explained. June 14, 2000

Contact Adhesive for Spray Guns
Source of supply for spray contact adhesive - 1998

Burning Off Water Damage
Wipe the white discoloration with alcohol, touch it with a lit match, and Bob's your uncle. January 7, 2010

Production Gluing of High Density Plastic Laminates
This article describes the gluing of high density plastic laminates (i.e. Formica, Debar, Nevamar, Micarta, Pionite and the like) to plywood, lumber core, and particleboard core panels - 1998

Bracing solid surface
When using solid surface materials, what sort of "bridgework" is needed for support? June 24, 2001

Production laminating -- is hot or cold press faster?
A laminator looks for time-saving pressing techniques. June 14, 2000

New Way to Fabricate Laminate Counter Edges
One craftsman's suggestion for a new way to create the edge detail for a laminate countertop. October 27, 2009

Best glue for cold-clamped edging?
Adhesive options for gluing and clamping edges on panels, with an eye toward time-efficiency. September 26, 2000

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