I'm new to woodworking and have noticed many local woodworkers in the Caribbean using double-sided melamine boards for making drawers and cupboards. I assume they're doing this to avoid the hassle of painting and to make cleaning easier once installed. I'm planning to build some drawers for a desk and want to use these melamine plywood panels, but I'm unsure about how to join them. Normally, when I work with regular plywood or MDF, I glue the pieces together and use brads or nails. What's the best way to join these melamine panels? Are there any better recommendations considering that some specialty items can be quite pricey here? Thanks!
3 Answers
Sounds great that you have your countersink bits! They make everything look cleaner. Just take your time with the drilling, and it will turn out well!
Good to know you're using melamine! Just a heads up, it can be tough on your saw blades. Make sure to use carbide-tipped blades, or be ready to replace or sharpen them more often.
In Australia, we mainly use screws for melamine instead of glue. Just make sure to pre-drill your holes so you don't end up splitting the particleboard inside. It’s the best way to get a strong hold!
What size boards do you typically use and how far do you space the screws apart?
Thanks for the tip! I wasn't aware of that.