Does anyone have any experience with phenolic resin for kitchen counter tops? Granite is too flashy, soapstone too finicky, and laminate too laminate. Phenolic resin, at least the sample I’ve seen, usually used in chemistry labs looks just right. Thoughts?
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Isn't that Bakelite?
It would be a good material. XX grade, which is a paper based with a brown/copper color sells for around $30 per 1/8X24X96 sheet. If you are in a larger urban area, it should be a pretty quick lead time.
I'm not quite sure how you would seam it or do an edge treatment. It should be about the same as solid surface, I'm just not sure what glue you would use. But the plastic supplier you buy it from will probably be able to tell you.
Plastic laminate is just thin phenolic resin impregnated paper with a melamine-infused decorative layer on top, and it is very durable.
If I were doing thick phenolic counters, I'd consider the canvas reinforced stuff for the interesting look. Beware, it stinks when you cut it with saws and routers.
A paper phenolic is made that is black (probably graphite loaded) that could pass for oiled soapstone with no veining. Not cheap. Onsrud uses it for the work tables on their inverted pin routers in 1" thickness.
Bill
Yeah, I would think that the odor associated with phenolic would put a lot of folks off. Get a large piece like that and it'll never completely go away.
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http://kliptech.com/paperstone.htm
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