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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Spark Detection and Extinguishment Systems and Quality Assurance Measuring Equipment
  • Vexor Custom Woodworking Tools, Inc.
    Custom and Standard Router Bits, Shaper Cutters, Profile Knives, Multi Profile Insert Tooling and More
  • Shop Gear Inc.
    Distributor of Co-matic Power Feeders, Le-matic Portable Edgebanders, and Supplier of Woodworking Machinery, Tooling and Accessories in North America
  • Cabinetshop Maestro
    Web-Based Project Management Software for Custom Cabinet Shops - Manage Jobs from Prospect to Punchlist Through Scheduling, Task Management, Time Tracking and Communication
  • Vacuum Pressing Systems, Inc.
    Vacuum Pressing Equipment - Including Bag and Frame Systems
  • American National Knife
    Manufacturer of HSS and Carbide Tipped Woodworking Knife Sets for Planers, Jointers, Molders, Shapers
  • Safety Speed Manufacturing
    Economical Vertical Panel Saws, Panel Routers, Edgebanders and Widebelt Sanders
  • OMEC/Macoser Inc
    Exclusive Importer of European Woodworking Machinery Since 1988

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