"Veneer" on MDF - tips?

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mdaudioguy
mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
edited January 2012 in DIY, Mods & Tweaks
I put together some MDF cabinets to remake my Heresy II speakers. I'm thinking of covering them with... Formica! I wanted to do something a little different. Good idea or not? Anyone done anything similar or otherwise creative?
Post edited by mdaudioguy on
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2012
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    Contact cement world work best.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2012
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    Google "Colorcore" by Formica.( no dark/different colored edges):wink:
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited January 2012
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    IMO if you're going to go through all the work of putting veneers on a cabinet, may as well use real wood veneers. You can buy sheets of the stuff online.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • evhudsons
    evhudsons Posts: 1,175
    edited January 2012
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    wow, very interesting idea!

    I'm doing wood veneer eventually, but this would be something to consider. Is there marble, or granite formica that you could do speakers? I might consider making a housing for my outdoor speakers. Hmm.....
    Polk Audio SDA CRS+ crossover 4.1TL by Trey/VR3 (Rings and custom stand by Larry)-Polk Audio SDA SRS2 crossovers by Trey/VR3Parasound HCA1500aYamaha rxa-3070 with musicast-Celestion SL6S presence,- sl9 surround backNHTsuper1's surroundMagnepan SMGParasound 1500pre- Sofia "Baby" tube amp - Monitor Audio Silver RX2 Marantz 2230/B&Kst140Technics 1200mk2 Gamertag: IslandBerserker I am but a infinitesimally small point meeting the line of infinity in the SDA universe
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited January 2012
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    Just in case you are unfamiliar with wood veneers, you can get them backed with paper or peel-and-stick adhesive, so the procedure for installing them wouldn't be that much different from installing plastic laminate (Formica). So it's not really a matter of one being easier than the other--the main difference is simply the cost of the material.

    RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
    Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
    Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
    Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    Syndil wrote: »
    IMO if you're going to go through all the work of putting veneers on a cabinet, may as well use real wood veneers. You can buy sheets of the stuff online.
    I have plenty of wood speakers. I don't want wood. I want something different.
    Anyhow, this is just for the fun of it. Besides, I already own a spare 4x8 sheet of Formica.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2012
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    http://www.htguide.com/forum/showthread.php4?t=33523&highlight=Formica
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    ^^ Thank you for that link - very helpful.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2012
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    Just DO NOT use the trimmer bit shown, instead, get the ones with a ball bearing guide. The real art to laminate work is the filing of the edges. (and not getting crud under the laminate and causing a bump to show on the surface)
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    gdb wrote: »
    Just DO NOT use the trimmer bit shown, instead, get the ones with a ball bearing guide. The real art to laminate work is the filing of the edg es. (and not getting crud under the laminate and causing a bump to show on the surface)
    Yes, I was looking at both kinds today at Lowe's and bought one with a bearing. It just seemed like a better idea. I cut the laminate today, and plan to start gluing tomorrow evening.
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    A few pics of what I've done so far...
    20120116_152849.jpg

    20120116_162821.jpg

    20120119_222946.jpg

    20120119_222919.jpg

    I think I just invented myself a speaker that I can set my drink on and not have to worry about it! :cheesygrin:

    Next I need to cut the pieces for the front edge.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2012
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    Those pictures make them look small.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    Face wrote: »
    Those pictures make them look small.
    They really aren't very big overall, considering they house a 12" woofer. Only about 21" tall.
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  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012
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    Cool. I like the creative approach. I'd sorta like to see how a lighter fabric would look. Maybe a smooth-textured cream or sand color found in the Formica.
    b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
    Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
    Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
    Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
    Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
    Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
    Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
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  • Big Dawg
    Big Dawg Posts: 2,005
    edited January 2012
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    Looks much better than I expected. Very cool!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,522
    edited January 2012
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    That's exactly the same pattern on my 70's mancave bar. Wicked.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited January 2012
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    I'm pleased enough with the results... not quite perfect, IMO, but I definitely learned from the project. It also has me thinking of a future DIY project...

    20120122_131437.jpg

    20120122_131533.jpg
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  • TNHNDYMAN
    TNHNDYMAN Posts: 2,145
    edited January 2012
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    nice job, very creative
    2-ch System: Parasound P/LD 2000 pre, Parasound HCA-1000 amp, Parasound T/DQ Tuner, Phase Technology PC-100 Tower speakers, Technics SL-1600 Turntable, Denon 2910 SACD/CD player, Peachtree DAC iT and X1asynchorus USB converter, HSU VTF-3 subwoofer.

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  • vcwatkins
    vcwatkins Posts: 1,993
    edited January 2012
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    Nice finish!
    b]Beach Audio[/b]: Rega RP6 (mods) - AT33PTG/II - Parks Budgie SUT - PSAudio NPC * Eversolo DMP-A6 * Topping D90iii * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Pass Aleph 30 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl (mods) * PSAudio PPP3
    Beach Study: Pro-Ject Stream Box S2 Ultra & Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * DH Labs SS Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354 * PSA Dectet
    Beach Master: WiiM Pro * Dayens Menuetto * Zu Libtec * Dynaudio Audience 50
    Beach Den: Bluesound Powernode 2i * DH Labs SS Q10 * Zu Omen DWII * Richard Gray RGPC
    Town Study: WiiM Pro * Chord Qute (Pardo) * Elekit TU-8600 * MIT S3 * Revel M22 * Beyer DT-990 * Shunyata Hydra 2
    Town Den: Music Hall mm5.1se - Denon DL-103r - Jolida JD9ii (mods) * WiiM Pro * Cary xCiter * Rogue 99 Magnum * Schiit Aegir * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2tl (mods) * Dectet * Bottlehead Crack - Senn 600
    Town Porch: WiiM Pro Plus * Sunfire Sig II * Canare 4S11 * Magnepan 1.6 * Dectet
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