Working with Melamine

In this episode my wife coerces me into building some closet organizers for the kids' closets by threatening to buy them from a manufacturer of mass produced furniture. The solution? Make them out of melamine particleboard. I take time out after a glue-up to explain what you need to know when working with melamine particleboard.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• woodworking
• cabinetry
• melamine
• particleboard
• howto
• instruction

[marcellinasfigaro]

Good vid! I hadn't thought of using a biscut joiner. Have you ever used a Kreg Jig (pocket screws) for joining melamine where you wouldn't see the screws? I'm going to give that a try. Thanks!

[BHavensWoodworker]

@marcellinasfigaro Yes, I have used pocket hole joinery for certain special cases where adding additional trim to cover the outside holes would look weird. Just make sure you use pocket hole screws made for MDF/Particleboard. The threads on regular pocket hole screws used on solid hardwood are not deep enough. (You can get the MDF/PB pocket hole screws from www_dot_McFeeleys

[BHavensWoodworker]

@BHavensWoodworker @marcellinasfigaro The pocket hole screws I used are called "Super-8" (McFeelys part # 0812-SPR)

[mattmattn]

that was a great video. Can you post a link to the online screw retailer?

[BHavensWoodworker]

@mattmattn I buy my screws from McFeeleys () They also now carry a kit that brings using the conformat screws that I briefly mention in the video to a reasonable price range (search for confirmat ). I have not tried these myself yet, but one viewer stated that they work well.

[GrowMap]

Do you have any concerns about the melamine off-gassing toxins or your inhaling enough in the dust to cause kidney damage or even failure?

There is a YouTube video regarding intentional adulteration of food with melamine titled MELAMINE WARNING! that makes me wonder if there might not be similar risks from other uses especially to craftsmen who use power tools that generate dust fine enough to be inhaled.

Melamine contamination is also what caused the pet deaths and pet food recalls.

[smfield]

Great work and info. Thnks