Plastic laminate gets a bad rap. Maybe it's because of all the avocado kitchens from the '70s, or the acres of faux woodgrain you come across in truck stop restaurants across the country. But the stuff has its uses. It's incredibly slick and durable-if you're making your own router table top, I'd definitely laminate it-and it comes in a wide variety of colors-perfect if you're making a set of nesting tables like those on p. 40. It also requires no finish, nor any real maintenance. In all, it is well worth knowing how to work with. In this article, I'll show you the basics along with a few advanced tricks so you can incorporate laminate into your work.
Purchasing laminate
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Beech
Plain looks, but a solid performer
Working with PLASTIC LAMINATE
Adding a durable, smooth, and colorful surface to your work
High-Tech ROUTER TABLE
A state-of-the-art shop essential
Albers-Inspired NESTING TABLES
A colorful array of Bauhaus utility
Desktop ORGANIZERS
Mini modules for your modern workspace
Joiner's MALLET
A hard-hitting shop hammer
Battery-backed biscuiting
DeWalt 20V Max XR Biscuit Joiner
Crosscut SLED
A basic build of a crucial table saw accessory
Power-carving BOWLS
Tools and techniques for sculpting
Library STEPS
Mitered box joints give rise to an updated classic