I need help on forming a Formica countertop on an island. I want to put a rounded (double bullnose) edge on a curved section. I’m trying to make it look like granite or solid surface material, I’m on a budget and cannot afford the other materials.
Does anyone have any ideas on doing this?
I’ve thought about making the top 1/4 of an octogon vs truly rounded, then pie cutting the formica before heating and bending it over the edge and hoping the pie cut edges match up.
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Replies
Why don't you get a corresponding or same color solid surface pc and apply it as nosing first. Lay the Lam over that, rout your bullnose.
There may be solid surface nosings available, as there are premade beveled edge lam's.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
You type faster than I do?
Good morning!
Dave
and a good morning to you dave.
typing 101 in college.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Look at some of the solid surface edging materials. They are applied to the slab edge and then profiled with a router.
Getting a double bend out of vertcal grade p-lam is nearly impossible, in my experience, even with lots of heat. The more seams you add to it, the more seperation points you also add.
Check out WilsonArt for some potential product applications. There are several other p-lam edging systems available. WilsonArt is my choice because of excellent local support.
Any of the edging system I have seen will most likely work, but will be more expensive than a standard p-lam edge, but far less expensive than a true solid surface.
Dave
Thanks to everyone for the info, I didn't think it would be successful. I believe I'll go with the SS edge and use my router for the desired profile.
If the curve isn't to tight you may be able to bend OK. They used to make a special formica for bending and a crayon. You would put some crayon on the piece and heat carefully with a heat gun. When the crayon started to melt you knew it was warm enough. Been a long time since I used it. I don't know if that is still how it's done. The formica they use for postform tops is thinner than regular sheets.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Maybe I'm not understanding this properly, but it is impossible to have a bullnose on a radius section using laminate.
They make a postforming grade laminate (crepe paper), regular laminate is kraft paper.
For bending, I believe the stuff is call Templaq, that changes color when it is the right temperature to bend.
jocobe
Agreed that it is not possible to run a laminate bullnose around a radius. I did some research on this when I had a client ask for it, and the only way that's done is with a mold made for high production. No way to get it for a one-off counter.
A countertop shop will use a postforming machine and post grade laminate to do a bullnose edge. The machine is a bit like a sheet metal brake, with a heater bar that heats the laminate at the bend point.
Wilsonart and others make solid surface edges that you can apply to a laminate edge. You can't bend those either... just run them along straight edges.
The only bullnose edges I have seen radiused on laminate are wood.
To expound on the previos poster, try this company
http://www.loticorp.com/home.html
Shipping cost in the US is $34.00 and I paid about $50 per piece for 12' lenghts