Bending formica and Templac/tempil stick
Hi again everyone,
I’m in the process now of making a cabinet/kneel hole/counter top desk to support the HO’s laptop computer.
Trouble is they want the counter top for this thing to match the existing countertop, post form and all.
Back when I worked in a laminate shop, we used either a Templac paint or a tempil stick crayon to mark the face of the laminate. Then we used a large heating element to heat up the formica. When the Templac paint changed color, we knew it was safe to bend.
So my questions are:
Where do I find this Templac paint?
What temperature range am I looking for in order to successfully bend laminate?
Do I need this large heating element to bend or can I get by with a heat gun?
Will it be able to take a sharp radius like the ones on the original post formed counters?
Am I better off just going to a counter top shop and having them make this little 2ft X 2ft counter and backsplash vs. buying the laminate, particle board, contact cement, and heat gun or element?
Thanks for your input!
Replies
You can get the temperature indicators from http://www.mcmaster.com. In the Find box put in "temperature indicators".
A 2 ft counter? Buy it from a shop. Something that size isn't worth your time. Concentrate on things that you do best.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
Thanks for your responses.
I think I will just sub it out. I'd rather not drive over/through St. Louis for one little piece of laminate, anyway.