Preferred Substrate For Plastic Laminate Tops?

mdshunk

Yeah, that's pretty much the question.

Thanks.

send_it_all

Cabinets are the preferred substrate for laminate tops.

They don't require a rough top. If the cabinets have something to screw through to hold the top down, like the little plastic angled corner brackets or wood stringers, just use them. If there is nothing like that, then I would use 5/8 plywood to be sure it doesn't show beneath the front build-up on the countertop.

send_it_all

Oh yeah, make sure you use screw short enough not to poke through the surface when you attach from below.

mdshunk

I guess I was asking more about making tops. On to what wood product is laminate typically applied?

jcease10

a fine particle board like an mdf works well but put solid wood on the ends for the end laminate to stick to better

TimelessQuality

I've always used two layers of 3/4" particle board(not mdf or osb)..glued and screwed together. It makes a solid top, inexpensive, and the adhesive really bites in.

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Dan_Watson

3/4" particle board, tite bond and staples. build up edges, and cabinet intersections. so when you screw up through the cabinet supports you are hitting material that is 1 1/2" thick, leave the other areas at 3/4" saves alittle material but mostly weight if they are big tops.

send_it_all

My bad. Then particle board is the way to go.

mdshunk

Particle board it is then. Thanks!

orson

make sure to coat the underside of the particle board w/ a thick coat of poly where the steam from the dishwasher is going to hit it.

mdshunk

No dishwasher in this case. Just some workshop tops.

I got a sheet of stainless too, and I'm going to try laminating a sheet of that. I got a 1/4" milling machine cutter I'm going to try in the router's 1/4" collet and see how that trims it up.