Formica??

[Jim McDonald]

I am getting ready to do a piece of word art for the church and want it to closely match the new cabinets they installed in the conference room. They are covered in "Cherry Birch" Formica.

I could cut the piece and then layer on some Formica and use a laminate trimmer or try to mix some stain and come close, but since I have zero experience with Formica since I was a teenager helping my dad and uncles recover some counters, I'm a little shaky on going that route.

Anybody got a suggestion or two to try? I have some cherry stain samples I'm going to try on a variety of woods, but short of that, I'm begging for intervention of the wood spirits (and the knowledge/experience of this board).

[PeteB]

Cherry birch is not cherry, but a type of birch that looks like cherry, apparently. This is Formica:



It looks a lot like natural cherry to me. Cherry stain is usually red rather than brown.

If I had your project, I would experiment with a couple of methods to see which looked better:

1. Glue matching Formica (if you can get it) to plywood with contact cement and cut it with your scrollsaw much as you would cut the plywood alone. I would paint the edges black or some other color that would harmonize with the decor.
2. Cut a piece of solid hardwood and stain it or paint it (use plywood or MDF if painting). Because it is unlikely that you will match grain and color exactly, I'd go darker.

[greatdane2]

I have cut Formica on my table saw and the scroll saw. I use tape over the cut line so the Formica does not chip. Sorry I do not remember which tape I used. I think it was masking tape. I would do some practice cuts to find the tape and blade to use.

Alan.

[minowevie]

Yikes, Jim, I am a dummy hear. but I just wonted to let you know, I am paying attention. and I know dittaly about formica. there is so many pretty fomicas out there. I would love to learn how to cut it as well. seams like it would crak. mmmmm just guessing. I would so use a top layer, and bottom layer to cut it. and then, Who knows. so I will watch your thread and learn also. thanks for asking. your friend Evie

[JohnB]

G'day Jim,
If you haunt the cabinet shops near you, you may be able to pick up a piece of matching melamine. Most Laminate producers also produce melamine boards in the same colours for vertical services.
Now here's the conundrum, use a fine blade to eliminate chipping, but you'll have to change it often as Laminates and Melamine don't take kindly to be cut with steel.

[millwab]

Jim,
Along the lines of John's thinking, some cabinet manufacturers have panels of matching material you can get (e.g. to cover the end of a cabinet that is open - not up against another cabinet - or skins to cover appliance surfaces so they match). If your word art needs to be thicker than that to stand out, you can always glue the matching skin to another board and cut them together and finish the edges as Pete suggested.

[Jim McDonald]

Thanks everyone, but Alan, a followup question for clarity.
Are you suggesting using tape on the material and putting the pattern on top of the tape, or am I just not thinking right at 0712?

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Jim McDonald

Thanks everyone, but Alan, a followup question for clarity.
Are you suggesting using tape on the material and putting the pattern on top of the tape, or am I just not thinking right at 0712?

G'day Jim,
What Alan is suggesting, I think, is to put tape on the formica face, or the melamine, then stick the pattern to it.
The tape, in this case, will go someway to preventing chipping of the laminate.

Now as for the Material, if you can't come across a piece of matching melamine board eg. the pre finished stuff, then glue your laminate onto the substrate prior to cutting. You can either use a Contact Cement, or PVA and clamps.