Had my first experience with applying laminate to plywood today, went well it would seem, but in case it was beginner’s luck, thought I’d ask a couple questions.
This was for a small outfeed table (table saw) so I didn’t want to use a roller — too much mess and waste. Used a brush, which is now toast of course. Can you get away with using a cheap brush for this, or is it necessary to use a “quality brush” as indicated on the can??
When needing to put on two coats (on the plywood) how long does one wait inbetween coats?? How to tell how much is enough, but not too much??
Any other tips? TIA!
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
FG,
My preferred tool for spreading the adhesive on big surfaces is a wide painter's spatula. It's quick and cleans up easily.
If you need a second coat (usually only needed on edgebanding, not the faces), the rule of "thumb" is to wait until the adhesive doesn't feel sticky to the touch any more. That is, of course assuming that you don't have adhesive on your thumb; that's another story...
BTW, if you're working alone and need to glue up a large piece, the easiest way to lay it accurately is by putting paper or a dry piece of formica in between the 2 glued parts, align them, then slip the paper barrier out.
Apply serious pressure using a roller or even a balled-up rag to lean on.
DR
Hi, ring, thanks. Question and comments...When you use a spatula, do you pour a quantity onto the surface and then spread it around?
As far as the 2-coats go, that was specified on the can for plywood. Didn't seem to hurt. Some of the first coat did sorta disappear after about 10 minutes.
Fortunately, I have a J-roller. I did put "serious" pressure on <g>.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Yes, I just pour a puddle onto the surface and spread it around with a spatula, the wider the better. It takes a bit of practice to get it right but it's not rocket science. I could never see getting a roller all sticky for this. Of course I don't do this often, maybe once a month. I've seen guys that do it regularly using spreaders that dispense the adhesive behind a finely serrated kind of spatula.
DR
Forest Girl,
The brush only needs to be good enough to not shed a lot of bristles which some cheap brushes do, and of course, it can't dissolve in the solvent the glue uses. I have often used the small 3 or 4 inch wide paint rollers, the napped type not foam, for spreading both lamination adhesive and many other types of glue.
John W.
Thanks John. I was going to use one of those small rollers, but there weren't any extra covers in the storage box, and the store was closed, so rather than go with a big paint roller, I just used the brush. Will use a cheaper brush next time!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I use a regular paint roller. I start with the ones that have a thick nap and then cut the nap almost completely off with the electric barber clippers that I use to trim my beard.
The first time I did it I thought I would have to throw the roller away but I keep using it again and again. The contact cement seems to just soften the nap enough to make it work, combined with the fact that the nap is so short that it does not interfer with the process.
And I use thin wood strips about 1/2" square to place between the substrate and the laminate. Remove the ones in the center of the project first, press the laminate down until it makes contact, then work your way out to the edges and then use a J-Roller, from the center out to the edges, to press the laminate to the substrate while at the same time removing any pockets of air that are under the laminate.
I use a 1 1/2" china bristle brush, the throw aways, and let it sit in mineral spirits to keep it soft enough to re-use time and time again.
John
"...with the electric barber clippers that I use to trim my beard." Oh Nick'd love that, LOL. Actually, the only clippers we have are great big Oster horse-clippers.
Thanks for the info on the rollers being re-useable over and over. I had some scrap trim-sized pieces that worked to hold the lam above the ply, but I went from one end to the other. Makes sense that with a larger piece, going from center out would be better.
Man, that stuff is nasty. Glad I donned the respirator right from the get-go.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Roller- what mess and waste? You should be able to use just about all of the cement in the roller and even if it dries, letting it sit in the cement the next time will dissolve the old stuff. Get the foam rollers, not a regular napped roller cover. Last time, I used a thin 6" white foam roller and it worked best for what I was doing (some A/V department displays for a local mass merchandiser). I still haven't cleaned it or replaced it. I have also found that a brush doesn't leave a really smooth surface. It's a lot slower and I can roll two coats on in the time of brushing one coat and drying with a fan, too. Two thin coats work better than one on some substrates (MDF and PB) because the cement soaks into the surface.
Also, if you find yourself doing a lot more laminating, get some thin plastic rod or small diameter PVC pipe so you can suspend the laminate over the substrate on larger pieces/ Then, align the sheet and remove the center rod or pipe and press it down to start making contact. Get a J roller, too. Start rolling in the center and work the air bubbles toward the outside.
Given what I had available last night (big rollers v. paint brush) the roller approach would have been a waste, or at the very least a pain. But I realize it's definitely the way to go in general. Surprises me that you haven't had problems with the solvents in the adhesive (toluene, methyl ethyl ketone and naptha) mucking up the foam! Good to hear though. ....Maybe the brand you use isn't so solvent-ridden...??
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 8/2/2006 12:34 pm by forestgirl
I do not agree that foam is the way to go, I tried them and they did not hold up. I ordered two rollers from Virutex and they have no nap at all. They look like a very wide woven fabric of some kind and they gave me the idea to cut the nap from a regular paint roller (Because I did not want to use the Virutex rollers for a small job and risk ruining them) and I am still using the same paint roller and the ones from Virutex are still in their plastic sleeves. As to brushes, I only use them for very small areas and for edges.I use DAP original formula contact cement.John
Short nap roller is fine, but I just use a piece of the laminate to spread the CC around. 2nd coat when first is dry to the touch...
"Maybe the brand you use isn't so solvent-ridden...??"Oh, no. It's the real stuff! Didn't hurt the roller at all. Look at Home Depot in the pain(t) dept. They come in 6 packs and singles, pairs, etc. I also really like them for painting in tight places or for things that need to be smooth, as well as the little pink fuzzy ones for between wall corners and switches, outlets, etc. I've used rollers, brushes, pads, Bondo cards and nothing was as good as the roller. I also watched a counter/laminate installer when I was at work one time and he used the texture roller.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
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