I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot. Trouble
is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru Impreza wagon.
This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering if I could roll it
cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4' long without it cracking.
This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru. Alternatively, maybe I could
bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise & get it in there without cracking.
Anyone know if this is possible? If I try this, does it matter which side
is on the outside of the curve? Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan

"Dan" wrote in
:

I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot.
Trouble is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru
Impreza wagon. This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering
if I could roll it cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4'
long without it cracking. This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru.
Alternatively, maybe I could bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise &
get it in there without cracking. Anyone know if this is possible? If
I try this, does it matter which side is on the outside of the curve?
Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan





From this website

http://www.truetex.com/formica.htm




Let me add a few tips I learned about working with Formica laminate.

Formica laminate comes in a lot of different sheet sizes. Home Depot and
Lowes seem to stock only 4 x 8 sheets, and a small number of colors. By
going to the local distributor, instead of those retail stores, I was
able to get 3 x 10 sheets that avoided having to seam the material. The
distributor is oriented towards the trade, but is happy to sell to do-
it-yourself'ers. The one in my area also had a lot more colors and
styles in stock, and better prices.

It wasn't obvious to me, until I saw the crew at the loading dock of the
Formica distributor's warehouse, that you can roll up a 10-foot sheet of
Formica on about a 2-foot diameter and tape the outside that way for
transport. That makes it much easier and more secure to move around.

Yes, they have a device for rolling them up even.

s


"Dan" wrote in message
. ..
I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot. Trouble
is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru Impreza wagon.
This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering if I could roll it
cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4' long without it cracking.
This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru. Alternatively, maybe I could
bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise & get it in there without cracking.
Anyone know if this is possible? If I try this, does it matter which side
is on the outside of the curve? Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan

"docmill" wrote in message
...
"Dan" wrote in
:

I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot.
Trouble is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru
Impreza wagon. This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering
if I could roll it cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4'
long without it cracking. This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru.
Alternatively, maybe I could bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise &
get it in there without cracking. Anyone know if this is possible? If
I try this, does it matter which side is on the outside of the curve?
Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan





From this website

http://www.truetex.com/formica.htm


Doc-Thanks for the quick reply. I'll check out the site you mentioned.
Sounds like rolling up a sheet is ok, I thought I'd seen it done but wanted
to be sure. In my case, I'm buying the material to use as the surface for
an outfeed table I plan to make for my cabinet saw, so CHEAP comes before
LOOKS! ;-) Though actually, I thought $45 for a generic white 4x8 at HD was
a bit more than I would have guessed. I'll check the local phone book
(Seattle area) for a distributor also!

In article , "Dan" wrote:
I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot. Trouble
is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru Impreza wagon.
This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering if I could roll it
cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4' long without it cracking.

Heck, yeah -- it rolls up just fine, and even smaller than 3' diameter. Two
feet diameter might be pushing things a little bit, but 30 inches is easy.

This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru. Alternatively, maybe I could
bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise & get it in there without cracking.

Don't try that. Formica has a grain, like wood. It doesn't roll nearly as well
lengthwise as it does crosswise.

Anyone know if this is possible? If I try this, does it matter which side
is on the outside of the curve? Seems like it should be the top surface.

You want the good side on the inside of the roll, so it doesn't get scratched
during transport.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

Dan wrote:
....
...I'm buying the material to use as the surface for
an outfeed table I plan to make for my cabinet saw, so CHEAP comes before
LOOKS! ;-) Though actually, I thought $45 for a generic white 4x8 at HD was
a bit more than I would have guessed. I'll check the local phone book
(Seattle area) for a distributor also!


For cheap if looks aren't a concern, look for the local salvage freight
or similar outlets, not the name-line distributors. There's a lot of
bargains to be found in those places as ends, etc., particularly if you
can stand a seam or two -- which shouldn't be a problem simply for an
outfeed table...

--

On Sep 18, 6:33 pm, "Dan" wrote:
I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot. Trouble
is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru Impreza wagon.
This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering if I could roll it
cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4' long without it cracking.
This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru. Alternatively, maybe I could
bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise & get it in there without cracking.
Anyone know if this is possible? If I try this, does it matter which side
is on the outside of the curve? Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan

As others have stated you can roll it up; one thing to watch out for
is how you secure it. At the supply house I worked at many years ago
we would roll it and cover the edge of the sheet with a folded piece
of cardboard before securing it with twine. Those that omitted the
cardboard ruined the sheet because the tension of the formica against
the twine would be enough for the twine to split the sheet at the
edge. We always rolled it finished side in to protect the surface
during transport.

"Eric9822" wrote in message n
As others have stated you can roll it up; one thing to watch out for
is how you secure it. At the supply house I worked at many years ago
we would roll it and cover the edge of the sheet with a folded piece
of cardboard before securing it with twine. Those that omitted the
cardboard ruined the sheet because the tension of the formica against
the twine would be enough for the twine to split the sheet at the
edge. We always rolled it finished side in to protect the surface
during transport.


Great tips Eric thanks! I'll probably use tape in several places instead of
twine, & I'll roll it finished side in.

Dan

On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:33:57 -0700, Dan wrote:

I need to buy a 4'x8' sheet of generic "Formica" from Home Depot. Trouble
is, I have no way to get it home, except my wife's Subaru Impreza wagon.
This material is somewhat flexible, and I'm wondering if I could roll it
cross wise into a tube of about 3' diameter by 4' long without it cracking.
This would fit into the hatch of the Subaru. Alternatively, maybe I could
bend it into a "U" shape lengthwise & get it in there without cracking.
Anyone know if this is possible? If I try this, does it matter which side
is on the outside of the curve? Seems like it should be the top surface.

TIA

Dan

When I bought formica from a supplier, it was in a roll about 2' in
diameter. The leading edge had cardboard to protect it and the roll was
held together with twine.

I built a box like they have at menards for rolling formica. It's just a box with a 24" diameter hole. And a slot to feed the formica into. As you feed the formica, it rolls it up and holds it till I wrap it with cling wrap tape. It's easy enough to make.

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ca-251283-.htm

roy wrote

I built a box like they have at menards for rolling formica. It's just a
box with a 24" diameter hole. And a slot to feed the formica into. As you
feed the formica, it rolls it up and holds it till I wrap it with cling
wrap tape. It's easy enough to make.

Rather unlikely that they are still waiting for your solution after 13
years.

--
For full context, visit
https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ca-251283-.htm

On Mon, 15 Mar 2021 14:42:51 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

I built a box like they have at menards for rolling formica. It's just a
box with a 24" diameter hole. And a slot to feed the formica into. As you
feed the formica, it rolls it up and holds it till I wrap it with cling
wrap tape. It's easy enough to make.

Rather unlikely that they are still waiting for your solution after 13
years.

What a lonely useless senile swine you truly are, senile Rodent!

--
Richard addressing senile Rodent Speed:
"**** you're thick/pathetic excuse for a troll."
MID: