I would like to build some cabinets by using HPL laminates (http://www.abet.be/paginas/NewLegni2004.htm). However, I don’t know how I should finish the sides.
Do you know a good book or website that can teach me some basics on working with HPL laminates?
Best regards
Ivan
Replies
These photos that you provided from the link are a man made material and are "usually" not very good for anything that will be in sunlight or alot of indirect sunlight. At least this is what they seem to be. They tend to fade and turn a greenish color. This goes the same for any of the pre dyed natural veneers. This is because they are veneers that are pressure bleached, then pressure dyed. Then thay are laminated into big blocks with various textures. After that ,thay are resliced into veneers to give them their various grain patterns. I think they are a great product(well, sort of) that gives very consistant color and grain, but not the same as real wood(natural) veneer.
I have used them and I'm not a big fan, The limitation is one of the reasons that you asked. We have used bullnoses for edge details and veneered the panels after the edge was done.
I have a friend that had a really nice upright piano that was made with this stuff. It fooled a few of my woodworking buddies who used to sell exotic hardwoods. They though it was some really wide flitches of East Indian rosewood. They color has faded out over the years, but not as bad as some of the other materials I have seen.
Braewood or Brae Wood, among others, is a company that has them available in the U.S.
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