Replies

1. 
   BG | Oct 07, 2002 12:52pm | #1

   Wanabe,

   They have there own special screws for joining....better use them..along with the special drill bit...

1. 
   DustyTom | Oct 07, 2002 07:44pm | #2

   I just replaced my insides of my kitchen pantry with melamine. One of the most usefull projects to-date around my house. I used biscuits for the corner joinery and applied a 1/4" luan back to loack things in place. My pantry units were floor standing so I didn't have the problem of hanging them although some well placed french cleats should do the trick. The tricky part with the biscuits was the assembly. I had to plan ahead so I didn't have to move the unit until the back was glued and installed. The biscuits alone would not have worked had the unit been racked before the back went on. Good luck.

2. 
   Upraiser | Oct 09, 2002 03:46am | #3

   Make sure you use glue designed for melamine, it dies clear or nearly so.  If you use yellow glue it has a tendency to leak out in spots. I am assuming you are going to use white surface.   The edge tape works nice and is fairly easy to apply.

   I have used biscuts on some, but I was not happy with them. I prefer to rabbit, or use the special screws with butt joints and melamine glue.  But it really depends on how big and ackward you make them.   I like to keep them small as possible just to keep the weight down when mounting them on the wall.   Best to get some help with that part. That is when I had trouble with the biscut joint, it gave out when I racked it a bit trying to hang it by myself.

   You can get 1/4 material for the back.  

   If you are thinking about the wood finish stuff used for cheap furniture, Its called Cortron in my area, made by Willamette Industries.  Comes in lots of nice wood patterns, and colors, but has a rather thin skin that is easier to damage.  

   Remember the stuff is heavy.  I try not to use it, to hard on the back.

   Curt

3. 
   JoeCoty | Oct 09, 2002 05:36am | #4

   I've made four kitchen's worth of cabinets using melamine. Its especially economical if you can find factory seconds, however I can't stand handling the weight of this stuff anymore. I much prefer Birch plywood.

   To answer your question I successfully used rabbets and dado's with a 3/8" rabbited back. The carcasses were European design with T molding over the edges. I secured everything with 2" dry wall screws to pull the joints in tight after applying glue. The thickness is not 3/4" or 11/16" either so you're better served using a dado blade with custom shims to deal with the dado's. Also melamine quickly dulls router bits. If the joint is forced the material will deflect throwing the carcass out of square. I also used adjustable shelves. With the shelves removed I was able to sit in the mounted upper cabinets without it breaking- (grin)

4. 
   user-77354 | Oct 09, 2002 04:04pm | #5

   Or try http://www.cabparts.com - they have a big catalog of stock cabinet sizes and will do any custom cabinet you can design.

   The melamine cabinets are shipped to you as pre-drilled flat stock with dowels.  You have a choice of 5/8" or 3/4" stock for the Top, Bottom, Sides and 1/4" is standard for the backs.

   Production is generally within 2 weeks and shipment to the east coast from their Colorado plant is about 2 days.  I have done a few jobs with them and I have been quite happy.

   JM