using big box store countertops, or laminate my own?

[deceiver]

I used a premade from Home depot in my little guy. It's supported on back and front. Thats it. It's bounced around for 12000+ miles with no problems.

If you should decided to make your own out of formica the gluing process is to apply a coat of contact cement on both surfaces and let it dry to at least a cloudy appearance. Then apply another coat, let it dry to cloudy then apply. You get only one chance to set it down and after that and a few hours to cure it only comes off with a chisel in chips.

[bdosborn]

I used a vacuum bag to apply the exterior skin on our trailer. I didn't want it to ever come off (so far so good).



Its over kill for a counter-top but vacuum clamping does make for a better laminate bond. I usually just roll the heck out of it for a counter-top. The instructions on the contact cement call for a roller pressure of 50 lbs! Luckily I've put on a few extra pounds.



Bruce

[Aaron Coffee]

I used cheap Menards laminate, all of the premade stuff I have seen is on heavy wood(that stuff made out of saw dust and glue), I have 1/2 plywood then added 3/4 plywood because the 1/2 seemed flimsy as a shelf, and even with over an inch of plywood I think it is still lighter than premade counter top would be.


After the first attempt I decided the put the laminate under the sidewalls, rather than just butt the laminate up to the sidewalls, and luckily it didn't stick well and peeled up somewhat easily. I haven't tried to peel up attempt 2. I used conact adhesive.