I have put off adding a second layer of phenolic plywood to my router table top, because I remember contact cement as being messy, dangerous, and malodorous. But it has been decades since I used contact cement–are there new and improved versions that will stick to phenolic plywood?
For that matter, do the two layers need to be glued? Can the bottom layer of plywood be attached with screws from the underside?
Janet
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the zen of RT layers
The zen of the router table demands that the two layers act as one in harmony with the (routing) universe. As such, I feel they should be glued.
Contact cement, Weldwood being the most common, is still contact cement, as far as I know. use with adequate ventillation, and with an appropriate respirator if you are particularly sensitive. I like spreading it with a small trim-style paint roller (4" or so) with very short nap. That makes spreading an even coat on both sides quite easy.
more user friendly contct cement
I used 3M "Fastbond" contact cement on a project a couple of years ago. Although 3M cautions to use adequate ventilation, avoid drinking it and stuff like that, I found it to be much more user-friendly and it doesn't have the flamability risk of the normal stuff. As to the performance - the veneer I glued down to MDF sheets almost two years ago has remained attached with no lifting or bubbles. I'd definitely use it again if/when I need contact cement. As to how it would perform on phenolic plywood I can't say. I did try it for fastening a measuring tape to an aluminum track and it seems to be holding up in that application.
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