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I've got a small 2'x4' wall mounted easel that I fabricated out of 5/8" melamine shelf material and discovered three things: 1). You can't push thumbtacks into this stuff without a hammer, 2). It's got some coating on it that masking tape or vinyl refuses to stick to, and 3). It eats multiple Xacto blades on a daily basis.
Does anyone have a suggestion on something I can put over this material that would solve my problems? I'd prefer to install over the existing easel since I made it somewhat permanently installed (ie. inaccessable fasteners, design flaw) so even a "sacrificial overlay" of some kind would work.
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If you want a vinyl materials surface PVC works well, but won't accept pushpins. I f you want a sign painting surface that will accept pushpins homasot works. Or just have one of each you can swap.
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You could always stick a self-healing cutting mat to it. A 2'x4' with a 1" grid printed on it is only about $50 and will last virtually forever.
-------------------- Pat Whatley Montgomery, AL (334) 262-7446 office (334) 324-8465 cell Posts: 1306 | From: Wetumpka, AL USA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Hiya Jean, I'm a vinyl jockey so my favorite work surface is glass. A 1/4" 2' x 4' sheet shouldn't set you back too much. Besides what's already mentioned I would recommend an old acrylic or polycarbonate sign face that should be 3/16"+ thick. It's priced right and can be sanded smooth if the surface gets too rough. There's also sheet metal. It eats up your blades fairly quickly but you can attach items to it using scrap magnet and if you have an electropounce, you can use it on this surface. PVC is easy on the blades, but if you do a lot of cutting, it wears out quickly. I've used other materials and the all have good and bad to them. Particle board is what is used in some franchises. They just repaint the tables every month or so and they are almost as good as new.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
-------------------- a.k.a. Brian Born www.CheckersCustom.com Harrisburg, Pa Work Smart, Play Hard Posts: 3775 | From: Harrisburg, Pa. U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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Drafting tables are usually covered with a sheet of material that works great with exacto blades, and accepts masking tape very well. It's called Borco or Vyco.
My mind wanders. And that's not a good thing, 'cause it's too small to be out there alone. Posts: 3129 | From: Tooele, UT | Registered: Mar 2005
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I recycle my 4'x8' Omega panels that I pull from Real Estate jobs that otherwise would go to the dump- have never had to buy a work table surface -easy on x-acto blades as well-usually haul a few off before the "current" one gits chewed up too much with cut lines- then flip over -
-------------------- Carl Wood Olive Branch, Ms Posts: 1392 | From: Olive Branch,MS USA | Registered: Nov 1999
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OMG! Surely you guys are kidding about the tileboard!! Buy you some "High Molecular Weight Polyethelene" from a plastics distributor. I bought my first sheets to cover all my tables with almost 10 years ago and I fully expect them to last another 10, based on their good shape now. I got mine in 1/4" thickness and that was a good call because a sharp razor knife can cut thru 1/8" material. Tape sticks good to it and it's easy on knife blades.
-------------------- Ricky Jackson Signs Now 614 Russell Parkway Warner Robins, GA (478) 923-7722 signpimp50@hotmail.com
"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Issac Newton Posts: 3528 | From: Warner Robins, GA | Registered: Oct 2004
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i've been considering different surfaces for my workbench when i make it, i kinda came to the conclusion that my bench (aprx 3ft wide by 12ft long) surface would be half 3/8 glass, mainly so i could stick some transluscent white vinyl and flourescent lights under it and have it double as a light box,
i'm unsure what to make the other half from, i too go thru plenty of blades in the scalpel, my current formica worktop (kitchen) and dining table are soon gonna be requiring a resurface !
i need something smooth and 100% flat as whilst i do not pre layer items for my own application, i have to when sending mail order, so flat is important !
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