David, we do a little of both. Prefinish the face and smooth the top and bottom, then glue up using the tape for lam top protection, then we "plane" it level with a razor blade - no kidding - then a final sand, then remove the tape.

It makes a real nice looking edge.

There are no easy solutions for textured laminate, but nothing is worth scarring the lam surface.

Tom, how in the heck did you cut yourself with a Virutex slitter? The wheels have no edge.

This item, Mar-Bel LS-7 Slitter is in just about every laminate shop I've ever been in. Awesome machine.

 

 

Used to share a building with the man who manufactures these.

Dave,
While running the slitter, I didn't notice a crack in the sheet. When you use the slitter, you can't help but put some tension at the front of the sheet. Once I hit the crack, it opened up and I drove it straight into the side of my palm.

Do you sell that floor mounted unit?

As a matter of fact I do. They are manufactured here in Pinellas County. Also sell their Pinch Rollers.

Tom,

I agree about that sander. I aquired one when we bought our current building. Cabinet shop went out of business, left it behind. Even have the accessories.

Mike G,
I'm sorry, which sanders?

Dave - pinch rollers. Ugh!

First lesson I ever learned about the economics of production was with a pinch roller. When you do custom, it's more of a hassle than it's worth. Free, however.... that's a different story.

Yeah, pinch rollers, old school for sure. We don't sell squat in them. However, Mar-Bel does a nice biz in that product. They have their niche.

We do very little with beval edge but one thing for sure, don't get started with it without a good supply of bandaids because that stuff is sharp and cuts like a razor.

Tom,

I was talking about the Perma Edge one Wilson art use to sell.

Mike G,
Duh, my bad.
The accessories must be the 45 and 90 fence edges? They are fantastic. I don't know about your sander, but mine keeps turning for a minute or more after we turn it off. This after a whole crapload of years and dust, including solid surface dust. Amazing. I wish I knew who made it.

Tom,

The fences plus a router base plate. The sander is definitely a beast for it's small footprint. We've used it to sand stainless steel ends for tray inserts, it eats everything we've thrown at it. I'd be interested to know who the original manufactuer was, maybe FEDSAW Dave has the means to find this out.

FedSearchDave is the man to do it.

The full kit had the sander, with accessories, a planing router and the wing cutter router. All Porter Cable, save the sander - but maybe that too?

The planer has a slightly arced plate for the base. By applying a careful amount of pressure, you flattened the plate, instead of arcing it like you would a standard plate. Works like a charm. The planer is nothing more than a quality router from PC, plus a great base adapted from a standard router base.

I have to say, WilsonArt got this one really right.