ATM Formica Method -- was, Glue for..?

["Barlow Pepin" <atmjedit@conceptsnet.com>]

Hi all,

In furniture shops we use the following method for formica type materials
which pretty much combines all the tips in this thread:

The piece is cut slightly oversized and trimmed after bonding. Contact
cement, yes. Any good brand. Petroleum-based type is preferable. The cement
is applied to both surfaces with spray gun in a coarse splatter pattern in
multiple layers or with a throwaway brush for small pieces (edge strips,
etc. -- similar to a bearing surface we are talking about).

After a 15 minute drying time (longer if it is cold or very humid) the
pieces are warmed with a heat lamp or array of lamps for large sections,
then placed in contact under weight or clamps. The heat is kept on (140
degrees or so, nominally) for up to half an hour to "flow" the cement into
the surface texture and keep the material soft so it conforms. The laminate
is allowed to cool and set for 12 hours under pressure, more for very large
pieces. (The cement doesn't actually harden into a set for several days.)

Edge finishing to size is done after the bond is set and cured. Edging with
a small router and/or smoothing with a fine-tooth mill bastard file makes a
crisp bevel, for those concerned with very neat appearance.

Mistakes can be removed by reversing the process if the cure hasn't had too
long to set. The surface is warmed with heat lamps to 150 degrees or more,
and the edge worked up and slowly lifted away from the substrate. Cleanup
with lacquer thinner.

Barlow


----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul LeFevre" <paull@lucasarts.com>
To: "'Bill Gillespie'" <bgillespie@pcrs.net>; <atm@shore.net>
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 5:35 AM
Subject: RE: ATM Glue for Formica?


>
> Bill Gillespie wrote:
>
> >Has anyone used Elmers Carpenters glue for attaching the formica
> >laminate around a wooden az bearing?
>
> Contact Cement (available as a spray -- not recommended -- or liquid in a
> can) works very well.  Since I've always used contact cement and NOT
> Elmer's, I can't tell you if it's any better or worse...
>
> Paul
>
> ATM Page: http://www.slip.net/~lefevre/scope.htm
>
>