"Veneer" on MDF - tips?

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
    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
    Google "Colorcore" by Formica.( no dark/different colored edges):wink:
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  • Syndil
    Syndil Posts: 1,582
    edited January 2012
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    ^^ Thank you for that link - very helpful.
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  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2012
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    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
    Looks much better than I expected. Very cool!
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited January 2012
    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
    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
    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
    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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