Can you elaborate on the secret source for sheet goods that are “flat and cheap”?

I’ve been using a 3/4” sheet of melamine as the top layer of my assembly table. Wood glue won’t stick to it and it’s easy to scrape up once it’s dried.

"must be flat and cheap" uses $1000 worth of plywood

That plastic bit is genius. I'll def be adding that to my book of tricks.

I used to work in a high volume laminate cabinet shop. The *very best* way to hold contact cemented pieces apart while positioning is a clean round extension cord. You lay it back and forth over the substrate maybe 6” apart…the set the laminate on top of the cord. When ready to join start pulling the cord out as you press down. Big sheets use 2 cords and work from the middle out. This works 10x better than sticks, or slip sheets, or anything else I have ever used. I told Izzy Swan about it yrs ago - he has a video showing it or at least used to.

I use a long (50') extension cord, cleaned and placed on the top of the surface in a back and forth S pattern. I then start at on end and press the laminate down, roll it firmly, and then begin the pull the cord out, 1 S at a time.

Top tip for franks top tip fir the plastic, fold one end back on itself, you can then pull the plastic back as you go rubbing down the laminate rather than lifting the laminate up works a treat and i learnt it from a bloke called Pete 👍

Just a tip...use white Plam. Doubles as an "erase board" I have measurements and notes written all over my white assembly/out-feed table. Erases with DA or lacquer thinner

I need to water my shop and hope it grows a bit wider and longer. Short of that happening I'll probably make a slightly smaller table..

Come on Marc, your killin me. I go to all the trouble of building’ your “torsion box” assembly table and now your shortcut in me.

I have been doing laminate for YEARS - I've NEVER seen this technique before! BRILLIANT!

Just a foot note, when you are trimming the edge of the Formica, keep an eye on the bearing on the router bit. It tends to collect the contact adhesive and will keep it from spinning freely. Also use a good file to flush the edge after you run the router.

👍 An excellent bigger table made. Thank you very much for sharing.

I used the plastic trick whenever I was bringing two sheets of laminate together on a single plane because it is much easier to align. The first time I did it I transitioned to just using that method for laminating. That is until I noticed I was getting bubbles more often as air was prone to getting trapped. Not a difficult fix but was annoying enough I switched back to using dowls for the majority of my lamination. I only use the plastic where alignment is a higher priority. Definitely a handy trick to have in my holster though.

I advise filling the screw holes before laminating or over time you will see their presence on the surface if not straight away.

That looks so good! The plastic trick seems like it worked like [chef's kiss]!

Just used Formica on my miter station and have an extra sheet for an assembly table. Excited to see the video

I’ll standby for the video. Although I’m still standing by for the dining table build you teased awhile ago. Haha. Looking forward to both Marc.

Beautiful work, very well played!

Awesome technique. I did the same thing, and it came out amazing! Love the look of flat black formika set against the dense plywood. Added some dog holes and👌🏽

Very fine work!

I’ll take the plastic sheet and trial it myself. However the choice of top, “cheapest material” not so much, it’s warped. You can see it in the trimming procedure

I've laid miles of laminate in my time. I pull a long extension cord through a rag and loop it in waves. Lay the laminate on top of the cord to get your alignment and start at one end pulling the cord out as you press it down. Guaranty bubble free. Use particle core not plywood as a substrate. Plywood is susceptible to delamination and will telegraph the grain. When using waterborne contact take your fingernail and scratch the surface (outside the area being glued) If it skins up like pealing a sunburn , it's not ready yet. Get down at eye level and look across each glued surface and look for any particles that may have been picked up. Nothing worse then getting a bubble from a tiny wood particle.

Nice job! Wish I had the room for one!

That's nicer than many people's dining tables

It's almost a shame to make any kind of mess on it. Beautiful

But, but… the torsion box top ??? 😂😂😂

I need a nice big shop for an assembly table. 😂😂

The most important tool in any shop!

Did that guy Frank had a bunny suit?

Why not go with torsion box? I'd like to know the pros and cons.

Frank AKA CarpenterOne3 is the man!

I’ve never seen anyone use plastic. That was a pretty good trick.

Nice!

Seems more like a craft table a having all those screws in the top would be a problem in a wood shop again my opinion - also did the laminate show the screws below once it was drawn down to the table surface?

Nice Work, Mark.

Good to hear that people aren’t gate keeping tricks of the trade 🔥

So if you use stainless screws are you superman???LOL

Not to nit pick, but I’d put the top sheet face down then glue then the bottom sheet then screw it. I’d let it fully dry then remove the screws, then I’d flip it over and laminate the top. If those screws aren’t perfectly level with the surface of the ply those voids will get smashed, also, if for some reason you cut through the top with a saw you don’t want your blade hitting a screw.

They make 5 gallon spray tanks for that contact cement. It speeds up the process quite a bit. I also recommend a “PlASTI-CUT” file. It has a cutting edge where you can do essentially do the same thing as the router only by hand and you can get in tight areas and square off corners where the router can’t reach. It has a side for removing material and a side for finishing. They also make a wax you can apply to the router bits that helps with the adhesive gumming up the bearings.

I used 2×6 from 1999 I had to belt sand them from the very dark color they were garage kept so the table turned out good

I don’t find plywood very flat, after you laminate it you can see and feel waves in it…I’ve resorted to using 3/4 MDF as it’s perfectly flat

I've used sticks... plastic sheeting works, as long as it doesn't stick

Not nocking your methods but start with one corner, and align it. You don't need two people to laminate a 4x 8 or 4x10. Faster production.

Hi Marc. Did the solid wooden edges come with the second sheet (you know, the flat and cheap one) or the formica? I like how you roll......the formica 😂😂😂 You're welcome.

I was looking at this style "lab" table for a work surface.... Much too expensive. This will help greatly, thanks!

should you seal the bottom to prevent bowing from uneven exposure to humidity, or is there enough plywood so that you don't need to worry about that?

Oh she’s a beaut Clark!!!

I didn't see the Embly part😂

I used free mdf from the buttom of the good mdf pallet

Starting to think about a BAT myself, so I'm looking forward to this video.

Great. Black here, too.

Who doesn’t know about the plastic film trick? It’s everywhere…. Screen protectors, car wraps, tinted windows, I could go on

I don't recommend the plastic sheet method for laying laminate. Can it be done? Yes, but you have to be VERY careful. Plastic tends to pick up a static charge. This can make sawdust stick to it. The last thing you want is trash getting stuck under your laminate, causing lumps.

Wow, wouldn't it be great to have space for such a thing! Does any home/garage weekend warrior woodworker have space for such a thing? Free to dream!

Pretty darn slick! Are you going to drill it for bench dogs also?

There is a much easier way no plastic no sticks. Start on the shorter side n roll the sheet over ur head. Then slowly let it fall down. Done it a million times when i did cabinet work🤙

Love that plastic sheet idea.

She pulled out quick.

I have mine 5x10. Better for assembly big projects

Throw a Stabila level passed the edges and check all around for gaps. Screws tension tend to pull plywood out of square. Hope its dead flat.

Instructions unclear! I ended up glueing my laminate to the plastic!

“Flat AND cheap “ sheet-goods do not exist 😂 I only know of “flat and expensive” or “wavy as the friggin Ocean and cheap”

Tightbond 3 is is for exterior use. Why would you use it on a work bench?

Put the glue on the substrate last. It dries faster.

Love it!!!

People talking shit about the gun being pump, but he's doing more work with it than most Americans do with their semi autos.

Why would you not just buy a piece of melamine? It works great as cheap or cheaper and just put one piece.

Plastic is the best way to laminate!

Black tops are sexy, but white ones can be drawn on. In my experience, white melamine serves its intended shop purpose far long enough to yield a significant cost benefit compared to application of horizontal grade laminate.

What screws did you use?

Nice job!

That plastic trick is pretty awesome

No screws, only glue and clamps and weight and then dog hole the crap out of it.

Great job I want to build one

That is the most elaborate and tedious work bench build I've ever seen.

I’m not sure if it’s important but shouldn’t you screw down the table from the center out? That way you push any trapped air pockets out. In the video it looks as though one guy started on the edge while the other started in the middle. Again if you saw the stuff I’ve built you’d still be laughing.

3/4” plywood is $100/4x8 sheet in Ontario Canada 😢

Did anyone else read that as "Big Ass Assembly Table"?

That unsupported overhang looks sketchy, like it's already drooping, but that could be the camera lens. Still, seems like too much.

Not a bad idea. I always used 30" long pieces of 1/4" x 3/4" cabinet scribe, spaced about 7" apart. Let's you slide the glued laminate around, you can pull the sticks from the wall out or from out in to get it tight.

I don’t man it looks ok my opinion doesn’t matter just one of a few things I don’t care for is the screws and the Formica not sure what’s going on there

I love it!

Vacuum pressing? Then you don't need the screws.

Nice table but can you replace the top when it becomes damaged or worn?

Flat and Cheap? Available right next door to the Golden Unicorn store.

Or just use that J roller, skip the table assembly and have a chill weekend.

Why use laminate on a work table? Bare wood can be resanded periodically to take of scratches and stains

Looks AWESOME! How did you level the first sheet?

if you are going to use two sheets, why not just make a torsion box?

Forget d plastic, free hand d laminate

How do you maintain flatness with a wood product over such a large span?

Where you get the laminate?

Why TB 3 if fact we only use 1 unless it's for a laminate 😅

Wouldn't that chamfer make it easier for the top layer to peel up at the edge?

Please define "cheap"? The definition seems to have changed since 2020.

I don't understand the point of several layers of, what seems like, expensive materials. Throw a second layer of mdf for a sacrificial surface. Whatever.

There will be enough energy from the contact bond to pull the edges up in no time. The bottom side should be laminated as well if you want this to remain flat.

I use newspaper instead of plastic

Wouldn't a 4x8 Melamine on MDF panel have been cheaper? Home Depot shows the entire panel costing a lot less than that laminate sheet.