ACM board for worktop?

[Monkey Mark]

Ok, still thinking about a router/saw table.

What are peoples thoughts on using ACM board (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandwich_panel) for the top surface?

 

[Eric The Viking]

If it's not anodised it might mark the stock. Also, if not anodised, it might wear quickly. Otherwise it ought to be very flat, one would hope, which has to be in its favour.

Given it's an odd material, do you work with it and if so, can you say anything about what you do with it and how it is to work with?

Have you thoughts about how you'd rebate it for a router plate, and track, and fix it to a frame?

E.

 

[Job and Knock]

Alcobond and Dibond (two of the more common aluminium composites) are interesting materials, but I think that they are too soft for the use you envisage. They are used in signage and on building facades but they are prone to abrasion marking so when you install them you do have to take care not to mark them. They also dent very easily if struck hard (e.g. dropping a piece of timber onto them) because the core material is rather soft

 

[Monkey Mark]

If it's not anodised it might mark the stock. Also, if not anodised, it might wear quickly. Otherwise it ought to be very flat, one would hope, which has to be in its favour.

Given it's an odd material, do you work with it and if so, can you say anything about what you do with it and how it is to work with?

Have you thoughts about how you'd rebate it for a router plate, and track, and fix it to a frame?

E.

I don't actually work with it, a friend does meaning I can get off cuts (though off cuts its missleading as some pieces are quite big i.e. 2meter by 3meter). They use it for rain screen cladding on cmercial buildings.

It's easy to cut and route. I considered putting it on an mdf base. Rebate the base with a two piece board (one either side of rebate).

Not sure it would work though. As job and knock says it's probably too soft to use.

Never mind, it was just a thought. The same company use galvanised sheet steel so will ask about off cuts of that.

 

[Job and Knock]

Just out of interest, what's wrong with using some 18mm MFC or MF-MDF? Flat, rigid, reasonable wear charcteristics, not hugely expensive and you can rout grooves in it for track

 

[blackrodd]

Just out of interest, what's wrong with using some 18mm MFC or MF-MDF? Flat, rigid, reasonable wear charcteristics, not hugely expensive and yu can rout grooves in it for track

+1 For the above, MR MDF Is usually very stable, or get a cheap router table, then you will at least have a fence with waste/dust extractor ready made and some guarding that is relativly safe.
Regards Rodders

 

[Monkey Mark]

That's probably a better idea, im just terrible for trying to recycle

I do have a cheap router table but its not much use. The surface has a tendancy to grip your work piece, the fence adjustment is terrible, the cutter guard jams and the method of clamping the router bellow is crap.
Hence why I want to make another.

 

[blackrodd]

That's probably a better idea, im just terrible for trying to recycle

I do have a cheap router table but its not much use. The surface has a tendancy to grip your work piece, the fence adjustment is terrible, the cutter guard jams and the method of clamping the router bellow is rubbish.
Hence why I want to make another.

Oh dear! sorry to hear the cheapie table is a no go.
Back to the MDF then!
Regards Rodders