Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Dan Mitchell
>I need to build an outfeed table for my cabinet saw. Was leaning towards 3/4" particle board w/high pressure laminate sheet glued on, but 3/4" melamine is much cheaper & eliminates the step of gluing on/trimming the laminate. Seems like the high pressure laminate would be more durable. Would melamine be durable enough?
TIA
Dan
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio
>When I had my contractor's saw, I used the melamine covered particle board for bot my outfeed table and the right-side extension table/router table.
I used that combo for over ten years, and never wore through the melamine.
One caveat: The particle board will sag. Make sure you have it well supported/framed. I used 8/4 maple and oak (scraps I had from other projects) to frame mine.
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
John Cotten
>Go the little bit of extra cost for the laminate. If you check with some local top shops, they may have a piece that came in damaged or backing pieces that came on large orders they will give you if you aren't picky about color or pattern.
Like mentioned before, make sure you make extra supports for the top.
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Dan Mitchell
>Thanks for the replies. I'll need to route grooves for the miter gauge in whichever material I get, do they both route ok with a carbide straight cut bit, no chipping?
Dan
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Jim DeLaney, Austintown, Ohio
>A straight bit will probably be okay. A down-shear bit would be better, though.
You might think about cutting the recess with a half inch bit - one pass down the middle, then a 1/8" trim on either side. 3/4" is a lot of material to remove at once.
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Dan Mitchell
>Thanks Jim. 1/2" is the biggest bit I've got anyway! Wasn't familiar with a down-shear bit, I see it's spiraled to push the bits away from the router, presumably having less likelihood of chipping the top.
Dan
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Larry Marker in Alabama
>Mine is melamine particle board, and it works just fine.
I got a little chipping when I routed the paths for the miter gauge, but who cares? It still works just fine.
Larry
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Kirk (KC) Constable
>Perhaps it's the 'cheap' in me... or memories of formica boo boos on router table tops... but naked MDF has done me just fine for an outfeed table.
KC
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Dan Mitchell
>Thanks for the replies. I think I'll try the melamine. Saw a NYW program where they made an outfeet table & used melamine also.
Dan
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Jim Dillon
>Dan,
You should be fine with just about anything as long as it is supported well from underneath and flat. I used a nice flat piece of ordinary 3/4 plywood simply because I had it in the shop and 1 x 4s on edge to frame in the bottom and add support in the middle.
When I attached it, I made it just a tad lower than the TS top so lumber wouldn't accidentally catch. I made my extension table from MDF (again with 1x4s on the edge and in the middle) and soaked it well with Danish Oil (both sides), then waxed it. You will find the outfeed table (and extension table if you make one) to be extremely useful and the extension table adds a lot of additional safety. Sounds like you are making real progress.
Jim
Re: Melamine vs Formica for TS outfeed table
Paul Leuba
>You can avoid the laminate chipping with a straight bit by first scoring the surface along the edges before making the router cut. I believe a nice sharp razor knife would do fine.
Paul in Hunt Valley.