Particle board is a low-cost and versatile material that can be used for a variety of DIY and construction projects. Inside the home, it is mainly used for floors, wall panels, furniture, and interior cupboards. To make these things more appealing, you may want to glue laminate to particle board. And sometimes, veneer, Formica, or wood to particle board.
Particleboard is usually an easy-to-work material when it needs gluing. PVA glue, wood glue, and contact cement work best on it. However, the adhesive type and procedure will vary when attaching different materials to particle boards.
This article will discuss how to glue laminate to particle board and the gluing process of particleboard with Formica, plastic, veneer, and wood.
How to Glue Laminate to Particle Board
Contact cement is the best adhesive to glue laminate to particleboard. It’s compatible with both materials. It creates a strong, long-lasting bond between the laminate and the particle board. And most importantly, it’s cheap and handy.
What You Will Need
- A pencil
- A foam roller
- A scoring knife
- A file
- Spare wood
- Some cloth pieces
The Gluing Process
After you have collected all the pieces together, dive into the procedures:
- Mark the laminate board to the size you will need. Keep at least an additional half-inch per side to allow gluing later on. For example, if you need a 2 x 3-foot laminate, keep it at 2 ‘1″ x 3 ‘1″.
- Put the laminate on an even surface to avoid damage. Now, cut it using a scoring knife and a straight edge.
- Apply contact cement on both the laminate and the particleboard. Use a foam roller or spatula to spread the adhesive evenly.
- Wait for about 15 minutes, or when you find the contact cement feels tacky.
- Align the laminate and particle board. Put sticks or thin particle board cuts as space between the laminate and particle board while aligning.
- Starting from the middle, push the laminate evenly using a J roller. If you don’t have it, bind the cloth pieces around a wood piece to help you push the laminate onto the particle board. Then, work your way outward. You can do it again on the other side. Remove the spacers one by one.
- Keep them overnight for a complete cure of the glue.
- Finally, trim the excess laminate using the scoring knife. And after that, brush the side with a file to smooth the edge.
Precaution
- When attaching the laminate to the particle board with the wood piece, apply enough pressure to eliminate trapped air between them.
How to Glue Formica to Particle Board
When you glue Formica to particleboard, you can use contact cement as the bonding agent.
What You Will Need
- A small paintbrush
- Two sawhorses
- A J-roller
- A small heavy object
- 1/2 inch dowels
The Gluing Process
After you have assembled all the things mentioned above, let’s get into the procedure.
- Take the Formica and place it facedown over two sawhorses.
- Put some glue on it and some on the particle board too. And then, spread the glue with a paintbrush, keeping a smooth coat.
- Wait for 15 to 20 minutes till the contact cement dries.
- Put the dowels some distance apart into the particleboard. Then set down the Formica carefully on top of the dowels.
- Now, take the dowels out one by one from the center dowel. During this step, the Formica will start to touch and sit down on the particleboard. It will attach to the particle board as soon as it touches it.
- Now, with a J-roller or that small heavy object, brush over the Formica with some pressure to get rid of any air between the Formica and the particle board.
- Allow them to stay overnight in a dry place. During this time, the glue will set completely.
Precaution
- Always work in a well-ventilated area when using contact cement.
How To Glue Plastic To Particle Board
It is challenging to glue two different types of materials together if plastic is one of them. Plastic is compatible with only a few glue categories like epoxy, super glue, and contact cement.
I prefer super glue for attaching plastic to particle board. It adheres perfectly to both surfaces and also dries quickly.
However, even if you find suitable glue, it will still get tricky if you want to glue plastic to particleboard or wood-like material.
What You Will Need
- Grit Paper
- Damp cloth
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Superglue
The Gluing Process
Let’s walk through the procedures.
- Use grit paper to sand the plastic surface. Put two or three gentle strokes to the side where you will put glue. Sanding will increase the surface area. Also, it will make the surface porous, allowing the glue to adhere to the particle board more easily.
- Now, take a damp cloth to wipe down the particle board. You can put some rubbing alcohol on the fabric while cleaning. Dust and debris weaken the adhesion, and wiping with alcohol will remove the extra dust and debris.
- Now add glue to both the plastic and the particleboard. While applying, control the glue flow from the tube by squeezing slowly. Note that, a small drop of super glue goes a long way towards bonding two pieces. Therefore, use the amount you need.
- After that, put the plastic on the particleboard. Press firmly and do not lose the hold and your pressing pressure until both have adhered enough not to fall down.
- Now, wait for the glue to set completely. Most superglue starts drying as soon as it is exposed to the air. However, the bond will fully cure in 2 hours. Meanwhile, keep the objects together in a dry and cold place.
Precaution
- Don’t sand the plastic too much.
- Superglue will dry within a minute, so attach the plastic to the particle board within a minute.
How to Glue Veneer to Particle Board
Particleboards are a common material for constructing floors, ceilings, or sidewalls. Putting veneer on top of particle board makes the particle board things more appealing and aesthetic. They are both simple materials to attach using glue.
I would suggest using contact cement in order to glue the veneer to the particle board. Contact cement is an ideal adhesive that creates a formidable bond between them. Besides, it’s resistant to water and chemicals. And you can attach them with PVA glue or white glue too.
What You Will Need
- Cutting scissors
- Scotch Tape
- Foam roller
The Gluing Process
Let us now get into the procedure of gluing veneer to particleboard.
- Veneer comes in long sheets. So, cut the veneer sheets according to the length of the particle board.
- To cover the width, you need to join the veneer sheets together. To do so, first, make the sides straight and smooth.
- Then, put them upside down and side by side in a way that there will not be any gap. After that, place one long strip of scotch tape down to the center of the joined area. And apply some glue on the other side.
- After the veneer pieces join completely, apply contact cement to the particle board. Spread them evenly with a foam roller. Wait for the glue to get tacky (it will be tacky in 15 minutes).
- Take the veneer sheet and put one side of it in the corner. Then slowly lay down the veneer on the particle board.
- Now, take a clean roller. Roll it from one side to the other with enough pressure so that any air trapped underneath will go away.
- Finally, wait for the glue to set completely. Leave them in a cool and dry place for one night.
Precaution
- Do not put contact cement on both sides. The adhesive on one side of the particle board is enough to make a stronghold.
How to Glue Wood to Particle Board
Using wood glue or PVA glue, you can glue wood to particleboard. Other than wood or PVA glue, you can use contact cement to glue wood to particle board.
The Gluing Process
- First, put some glue on both the wood and the particle board.
- Then, spread the adhesive using a paintbrush. Keep a thick and even layer of glue on each.
- After that, put the wood onto the particleboard and clamp them together until the glue fully sets. It will usually take 4-6 hours.
Keep in Mind
- Always take basic safety precautions like working in a well-ventilated room.
Final Thoughts
Following the right procedure using suitable glues, you can glue particle board to laminate, Formica, veneer, plastic, wood, etc. And you will need a little bit of patience too. Do not rush; take your time.
We hope our article has guided you with everything you need to know to glue particle boards to other materials.