Installing a formica 4x8 sheet

[Bill]

I need to install a 4x8 Formica sheet on the top of a quilting/ sewing table I built for my wife. I did a Formica desktop many years ago and had a few questions for guys who've done it.

- I have a quart of contact cement, I read it's better to dilute it with acetone to make it easier to brush on. True? Brush or roller?

- Is it better and easier to get cans of spray adhesive like the 3M spray industrial adhesive instead?

- What's the trick to get the alignment correct before letting the 2 sides stick together? I read using dowels every 6 inches, but that will leave me with a dozen plus 4' dowels when the project is over.

[Hoggslayer]

It's easier to leave the formica bigger and route to the edge of your table. If your table is 4x8 and your formica is 4x8, you'll have a hard time lining it up perfect. You might want to consider cutting it down by 1/2" if you can.

As far as thinning the glue, I haven't had much luck with that. I've spread it out with a notched trowel really quick and then went over it with a stiff bush to even it out. work in small sections and be quick about it.

[CabezaBlanca]

Roll the table, roll the Formica, let it tack up then stick together. Router the edges.

[Big_gun]

dowels are the only way to go to keep it up to adjust it but once down just trim /route edges .. buy 3' dowels and pull em out from either side. cut some flat spacers from old 2x4 1/4" or so thick?

[Bowhuntingobsession]

If your top is small enough rip some pieces of Formica to 1-1/2 to 2” and use those to keep them apart (about 12” between pieces) until it’s lined up. Use a fine notched trowel, 1/16 to spread the glue on both pieces (no thinning). You can spread the glue along the edge but about 4-6” away letting a 1/2-3/4” stream of glue run out towards the edge. Then take your trowel and quickly pull the stream out past the edge. If you do it pretty quick and get your trowel back on the top you won’t drip any and you won’t need to brush it.

[PYBUCK]

for that big of a piece, you better have at lease 2 helpers

[Bill]

Are there any adhesives that would let me readjust it if it doesn't align and I need to lift and try again?

[Txhunter3000]

Are there any adhesives that would let me readjust it if it doesn't align and I need to lift and try again?

No. If you do it by yourself without help, buy another piece. Once a corner is stuck you ain't changing nothing. I've put a ton of it down. I would buy a sheet of 1/8"masonite and put down first and position your formica on the short side and slowly work it out.

[txrevolution]

Contact cement both top and back side of formica. Let dry till tacky. Lay dowels across table top, then position formica over top of dowels. Once where you like it, remove center dowel and press down adhering the two. Then work your way out from center, removing dowel and pressing down from center out. Router overhanging edges. I like to trim with flush trim bit, then go back over with chamfer or roundover bit as final.