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Post by Joe Lyddon on Oct 15, 2010 12:37:41 GMT -8
I have a few pieces of laminate sheets.
I'd like to apply them by using two pieces to a panel.
I would be using Contact cement with dowels, etc.
What is the procedure for installing two pieces of the laminate seamlessly across a panel?
I remember bits & pieces of the procedure... but, what I remember will not work the way I want it to...
Perhaps someone could tell me the complete procedure?
Thank you very much, in advance...
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Post by cabinetman on Oct 24, 2010 3:12:53 GMT -8
You're gonna have a seam whether you like it or not. Here's what I do: I take the mating edges and rout them with a straight edge. Actually without getting into too much detail, I made a special jig that allows both sheets to be routed at the same time with the mating edges facing each other.
It's basically a mica edged jig that holds two pieces as they are to be installed, and a single pass with a flush trim bit against one part of the jig sets the pass for both edges. Any deviation in the pass registers to both pieces so they fit perfectly.
It's just as easy if you have a good straight edge and do a pass with a trim bit on each mating edge. Then, do a dry fit on a flat surface (preferably the section which will receive them). Push them together to see the fit. If it's good, make a pencil mark across both pieces in two places so that marks where they fit to each other. Then take each piece and back file the edge very slightly, to create a slight bevel, without filing off any from the faces. This allows them to touch without any obstruction.
When ready to install, draw a pencil line on the substrate where the seam will be. Make sure the area to be glued is free of any debris, including the backs of the laminate. Use contact cement and glue the area for both pieces, and the backs of both pieces. Lay out some dowels to rest the laminate and to position it. These should be at least ⅜" diameter, and spaced 8" to 10" apart...enough to keep the laminate off the glue. Starting with one piece, lay the laminate on the dowels making sure you have overhang on the sides other than the seamed edge.
Carefully move the dowel back from the seamed edge and lightly touch down the edge to the pencil line. Gently remove the dowels and let the piece lay on the glue. Don't press it down at this time.
Take the second piece and lay it on the dowels, and line up the pencil marks on the laminate for where they will touch. Move back the dowel from the seam about 10" to a foot, and touch down the laminate seam to seam. Behind the first dowel, remove the rest of the dowels, and allow the laminate to rest on the glue.
Now you have one piece with a slight hump. Remove that dowel. Carefully start pressing down on the hump working it towards the seam. With slight pressure on the first piece the seam will be as tight as it will get. Having too large of a dowel, or having it too close to the seam may make the hump too large and unable to press out. Both pieces must have a slight ability to move away from the seam while doing this.
If they can't move or the hump is too great, the laminate will be pressured with a rise however back from the seam. It should be no more than ½" high, but able to be worked toward the seam and the balance of the sheet can move to accommodate.
Once the seam is tight and the rest of the laminate is flat, use a roller or the edge of a block of wood and start pressing down the laminate from the centerline out, to remove any air. Trim off overhang with a flush trim bit, and file the edges.
As a laminating tip, the piece you see first, should go on last. IOW, for a laminate top, the edge would get laminated before the top.
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Post by Joe Lyddon on Oct 26, 2010 11:07:12 GMT -8
Mike,
Thank you very much... I will have copy this, print it, study it more closely, and try it out!
Looks like it will do a pretty good job of it...
Very good tips!
I remember about placing one edge over the other and then cutting both of them together to get matching edges... but it was... now what?
Thank you again... will let you know when & how it works for me...
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