Replies

1. 
   DanH | May 28, 2008 12:25am | #1

   Laminate a couple of pieces of 1/2" flakeboard together with glue and screws (from the "bottom"), taking care to keep it flat. After the glue is set give the top a couple of coats of varnish.

   Or ask around for anyone who's having their kitchen redone (or anyone who redoes kitchens professionally) and get some old kitchen counters.

   What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. --Bertrand Russell
2. 
   doodabug | May 28, 2008 12:29am | #2

   I have a kitchen cab with casters so I can move it around.

1. 
   andyfew322 | May 28, 2008 12:36am | #3

   yeah, only problem is that there's no where to move them around 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

1. 
   doodabug | May 28, 2008 12:45am | #5

   Don't put too many in, need to save yourself a little floor space. My shop space is only about 12' x 20'.

1. 
   andyfew322 | May 28, 2008 01:45am | #7

   yeah, these are only replacing pre-existing junky shelves so they won't take any more floor space. 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

1. 
   Sphere | May 28, 2008 03:42am | #9

   Get cha some solid core doors from Lowes or HD, no holes drilled, called slabs. 30" , 32" 36" widths are common. They are heavy and stable flatwise. I'd coat em with poly or shellac, so glue drips can be chipped off when hard.

   Pretty cheap IIRC, get the Lauan skins, not Oak.

   for hanging the cabs, google french cleats, a bevel ripped 1x that mates with the waste screwed to the studs so that a 1x6 is in half length wise at 45 degrees, pu the one half on the cab back with the bevel's long pt facing down and away from the cab, reverse the other hunk on the wall, they will then hook together.

   You need to add a spacer block the same thickness at the cab back bottom.

   Deck screws, no piffen screws!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

3. 
   segundo | May 28, 2008 12:45am | #4

   i got a job once to make workshop tables for a heating and air shop, working with sheet metal.

   they spec'ed the tables tops to be planks, but could easily be 3/4 shop plywood, and then 1/8" thick pieces of angle iron (1&1/2" x 1&12" legs) fastened on the edges. then they just had me cut 1/8" pieces of masonite to size to lay in between the angle iron.

   it made a great table for working with sheet metal (and other stuff) because the angle iron corners are a light duty anvil, for bending and beating, and the masonite interiors (smooth side up) was good for a cutting surface with a razor knife, and when they got too boogered up they just slip in a new piece of masonite, never messed up the actual structural top. 

4. 
   frammer52 | May 28, 2008 01:41am | #6

   you are welcome to come to my sons graduation party, you are only about 200 miles from me<G>

   If you get started when you get out of school you will be here in time!

   I think your bike might make it!

5. 
   Pelipeth | May 28, 2008 03:30am | #8

   I bought a 10' counter top (post form) from HD for $95. $80 something for an 8 footer. Has held up real well. They have them in stock.

6. 
   DougU | May 28, 2008 03:44am | #10

   Andy

   You got one of those Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores in your area? They'd have some counter tops cheap enough. Any used construction goods stores?

   Why so late for school? You guys have a lot of snow days? My son gets out Friday and that's cause there were about 5 make up days to take care of otherwise he'd been done last week.

   Doug

1. 
   andyfew322 | May 28, 2008 05:10am | #11

   no, only one day of snow make up, we get to learn extra 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

1. 
   TGuide | May 28, 2008 07:35am | #12

   Mr. Andyfew,Good evening. I'm just someone who warms the bench, but if I might offer a suggestion? I just finished reading a post by Mr. Mike Smith (*#* RFH Ranch *#*). In it, he details how he made a counter top using Advantech and laminate (post #261). I thought it might be a fun oppurtunnty for you to get the experience building a laminate counter top. Good luck!- T.

1. 
   andyfew322 | May 29, 2008 01:59am | #16

   can you guide me to the post? #261 seemed to be about rot 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

1. 
   TGuide | May 29, 2008 02:53am | #17

   Mr. Andyfew,Good evening. I posted a link to the discussion (hopefully the link works). Mr. Smith talks about installing the backsplash, cabinets, and the countertop. There is a great picture of the Advantech top. Good luck!- T.http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=92880.260(edited to repost link)

   Edited 5/28/2008 7:55 pm ET by TGuide

2. 
   andyfew322 | May 29, 2008 05:04am | #19

   much thanks. If I see corectally it is a wood core w/ the laminite glued down w/ a construction adhesive of some sort? 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

3. 
   DougU | May 29, 2008 05:55am | #20

   Andy

   Got your e-mail and sent out a response. Laminate should be at your door next week sometime.

   Doug

4. 
   TGuide | May 29, 2008 09:58pm | #21

   Mr Andyfew:Good afternoon. "If I see corectally it is a wood core w/ the laminite glued down w/ a construction adhesive of some sort?"You got it. If your not familiar, Adavntech is just fancy OSB, albeit with superior H2O repelling properties. There is an article in the FHB archive on building laminate countertops.http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/how-to/articles/making-plastic-laminate-countertops.aspx?nterms=65752&ac=ts&ra=fpGood luck!- T.

5. 
   andyfew322 | May 30, 2008 01:39am | #22

   Much more thanks TGuide! 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

6. 
   andyfew322 | Jun 01, 2008 03:56am | #23

   Greatest of thanks to those who helped, the cabs are in place  and were the best non-investment I have done  ;) pics will come soon enough 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

7. 
   andyfew322 | Jun 01, 2008 05:07am | #24

   PICS!!!

   here's how it went down. I sistered the wood studs with the metal studs w/ screws then installed bracing from the wood stud to the joists. then simply installed the cabs. because these were bathroom vanity cabs, they have a false front, so I am building some new drawers for them

    

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

   Edited 5/31/2008 10:08 pm ET by andyfew322

   
2. 
   DougU | May 28, 2008 01:42pm | #13

   Andy

   How big a top you need?

   TGuide gave me the idea, I have a few off fall rolls of laminate laying around, if one of them would fit your bill I'd send it to you and you'd get the experience of building your own top  - now how many other kids at school can say that!

   YOu be learning right here.

   Doug

1. 
   andyfew322 | May 29, 2008 01:55am | #15

   two cabs of 21" X about 30" 

   there's no need to reinvent the wrench

1. 
   DougU | May 29, 2008 05:03am | #18

   Andy

   You only need laminate enough to cover two cabinets 21" X 30", if that's the case send me your address through the BT e-mail system and I'll send you some laminate.

   You can build your own counter tops that size pretty easily. Be good experience for you.

   Doug

2. 
   frammer52 | May 28, 2008 04:18pm | #14

   In the north east US, school doesn't get out until June.  Of course we don't start until after labor day, either.