Jig making ply

[Graham Orm]

Anyone know of anywhere you can get Formica backed ply or MDF? I know I can do it myself but it would be nice to get a price on a sheet for use for all sorts of bits n bobs. Cheers people.

EDIT: In the North West

 

[Grahamshed]

Haven't seen any, or any formica at all for that matter for years now. I think I have asked before and been told it is no longer available.

 

[nathandavies]

Formica is crazy money per sheet, would solid plastic be better?

Nathan

 

[JustBen]

Would melamine faced ply/mdf do?

You could always use good quality birch plywood with a varnish/lacquer finish.

 

[Student]

As Nathan says, 0.8 mm thick Formica sheets are very expensive. Robbins Timber, here in Bristol, sell laminate panels but they, too, are expensive - £133 + VAT for an 8' x 4' sheet of laminate on 6mm ply - see

http://www.robbins.co.uk/marine/sheet_materials.asp

 

[Graham Orm]

Would melamine faced ply/mdf do?

You could always use good quality birch plywood with a varnish/lacquer finish.

Yes that would do Ben where from though???

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

does it have to be ply/mdf? Because Wickes sell MFC ie melamine faced chipboard with max thickness of 15mm. Hideous stuff I know but it is flat and true so useful for jigs. Also Arnold Laver (country wide) sell veneer'd mdf of various hardwoods in all the standard thicknesses.

 

[Graham Orm]

does it have to be ply/mdf? Because Wickes sell MFC ie melamine faced chipboard with max thickness of 15mm. Hideous stuff I know but it is flat and true so useful for jigs. Also Arnold Laver (country wide) sell veneer'd mdf of various hardwoods in all the standard thicknesses.

Thanks Bob, but nah. Chipboard wont hold a screw. Thanks for the veneered MDF idea, I'll look into that.

 

[JustBen]

They have some on eBay,

There is a place in Newcastle under Lyme which isn't a million miles from you.
They are selling 10mm sheets.

A place in north brum are selling thicker sheets.

All seem to be odd size ie no 8x4

 

[hanser]

How's about phenolic faced ply ? Links here in marcros's thread

trailer-boarding-t77708.html

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks guys

 

[jago_g]

Justben mentioned "quality birch plywood", I've been searching for this stuff (10mm+) in off-cuts. Can anyone recommend a good source in the South West?

Regards,

Gordon.

 

[Graham Orm]

I found this place in Stalybridge which isn't too far from Stockport. I bought an 8x4 of 18mm MDF with Melamine on both sides for £30 inc VAT. I collected it and don't know if they will deliver. Worth knowing about if you are a northerner.
http://www.ableboard.co.uk/

Have a look at their product range. http://www.ableboard.co.uk/products.asp

 

[SteveF]

not sure what sizes u want

i was in ikea yesterday and went thru the scrap pile

loads of melamine faced mdf there sizes of 3 x 2 were £2
cupboard doors etc 18mm

i don't work for ikea

Steve

 

[Graham Orm]

Thanks Steve, worth knowing. I didn't know they had a scrap pile. There's a branch not too far from me.

 

[SteveF]

my nearest is lakeside

just before u get to tills there is a "bargain" area

worth a punt

 

[Graham Orm]

my nearest is lakeside

just before u get to tills there is a "bargain" area

worth a punt

OK I'm in Manchester but will bob in next time I pass our local and see if they have any. Thanks again.

 

[Ghengis]

I fit bathrooms for a living and get offcuts of wetwall, 8mm mdf with laminate both sides

 

[Graham Orm]

I fit bathrooms for a living and get offcuts of wetwall, 8mm mdf with laminate both sides

Brilliant idea. Thanks.

 

[brianhabby]

Not sure what you want this stuff for but some years ago I got hold of several sheets (random sizes approx. pallet size) of MDF covered both sides in a very thin laminate which I've been using over the years mainly when making jigs & the like. This stuff was packing from a laminate flooring company I happened to be passing, I think the place was in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester and the stuff was free, they were glad to get rid of it.

There must be many other places with similar scrap they would be glad for you to remove for them.

Hope that helps,

regards

Brian