Brilliant tips. Especially the reverse on the drill. Thank you.
@FixitFingers7 ай бұрын
Cheers John. Yes that little reverse spin does wonders... Just watch the bit doesn't come out! 😅
@CrudeButEfficient Жыл бұрын
The drill in reverse was a new one for me, gonna remember that one for the future!
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Every tip is almost the same, trying to get the tool to push the plastic into the wood rather than lifting the skin is key to stopping chipout. Spiral Downcut theory ;)
@CrudeButEfficient Жыл бұрын
@@FixitFingers If possible, I tend to use round head screwes to hide the chipout... 😅
@Everythings_Adjustable Жыл бұрын
@@CrudeButEfficient And great big washers 👍😁
@SheltiesRule4917 күн бұрын
Good video. Quite helpful. I had forgotten about the counter sink trick in your video. Thank you very much for this refresher course!!
@FixitFingers17 күн бұрын
You're welcome, sometimes you just need a little reminder on the basics! Glad it was helpful! -- Wow that comment was generated by the new AI auto response option. Not bad, a little cringe 😅
@SujMenon Жыл бұрын
Now that's a proper instruction video, James. Very useful. For cutting sheets using a tracksaw, i have seen some people take a shallow pass backwards. That eliminates a lot of chipping. The concept is exactly similar to the reverse drilling example that you showed 👍
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers Suj, can't keep making popular pallet rubbish all the time, need some real woodworking :P Yes, I've seen that done. The Festool track saw has a dedicated function for this that sets the depth perfectly. I wouldn't try it with the accu-cut as a little too deep and kickback is very possible (setting the blade depth is tricky with this setup). Probably safer with a proper plunge saw.
@singhivan Жыл бұрын
Hi from South Africa. Awesome video and helpfully tips and tricks. Many thanks.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
G'day mate, cheers! It always amazes me the reach YT gives us to find folks half a world away 🌍
@Everythings_Adjustable Жыл бұрын
A whole lot of good tips there Mate! 🔨👍😊
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers mate! A necessary evil in modern DIY and repair work.
@BuiltByChris Жыл бұрын
I use melamine quite a bit. And you're correct, the right tools or jigs make the job so much easier. I actually have all the Kreg Jigs as well, and now, I would be lost without them. Great video by the way. 👍🍺
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
I think your early videos on the topic were some of the first I ever saw when you were making those big carcasses. Haven't had to do that yet...looked like heavy work. Festool has an automatic edge banding tool dont they? 😅
@THOUGHTLINES0210 ай бұрын
Thank you,nice,good,practical tips!
@FixitFingers10 ай бұрын
No worries! Glad they helped 😊
@alphapacktrinidadltd57356 ай бұрын
Kept blowing the melamine on my screen. Quality vid 👍.
@FixitFingers6 ай бұрын
It can be tricky stuff to work, glad this helped!
@danielmcilroy7089 Жыл бұрын
I’ve just finished a three week project to build a 4m long reception desk for my wife’s new clinic. I used melamine. Some of the tips in here I learned the hard way! Funny that it came out the night I finished the project! I’m new to your channel but have learnt a lot already. Thank you!
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers Dan. I picked up a lot the same way, though must also pay credit to many other Aussie makers whom I have gleaned various bits off over the years. There is no such thing as new content ;)
Жыл бұрын
Hello James, You are very practical and objective, congratulations on the excellent work and the richness of all the details.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
If I could craft videos like you craft comments I'd be a happy man Mehmet 😊
@thehoginator1827 Жыл бұрын
brilliant video, or should I say it was heaps good, and a fellow Aussie as well. Thank a lot mate this was very handy.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers Hoges, glad it was handy. I actually hate using the stuff, but it's a necessary evil in DIY land.
@rangars12 ай бұрын
Great tips James👍🏼
@FixitFingers2 ай бұрын
@@rangars1 thanks for the binge watch mate!
@Saw-IT Жыл бұрын
Cool tutorial. I actually have a big melamine panel given to me and am thinking of making it into a table saw cross cut sled. I never knew melamine edge banding was so easy, I will have to try it. I found a good way to avoid chip out is to use my drill press on the fastest speed but i will try that reverse drill trick next time for sure.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
A Drill Press definitely helps, but not everyone has one so I avoided it in the video. (It can also be tricky to use with big sheets). Melamine is very stable and slippery and therefore a good choice for jigs and sleds! As long as you start it straight, edge banding is quite forgiving (and can be cut off and redone if you really stuff it up :P)
@sumosprojects Жыл бұрын
Brilliantly presented as usual mate, gotta love that shelf pin jig 😊
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers Sumo! They've actually just released a new version of it... not sure what has changed, there was little I can fault in the older one.
@Fingerpopper4 ай бұрын
Awesome vid bro. Thanks a mil and all the best.
@FixitFingers4 ай бұрын
Cheers Ben, glad it helped. 👍
@soniasosa8911 Жыл бұрын
Great video. Thank you!
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Thanks Sonia, glad it was helpful 👍
@anders.svensson11 ай бұрын
With your advice - i all went perfect today :)
@FixitFingers11 ай бұрын
Awesome to hear! No matter how many times you've done something there is always anxiety it won't work for other people 😅
@anders.svensson Жыл бұрын
Excellent video! Cred!
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Cheers mate! My least favourite material, but it certainly has it's uses and it's nice and cheap...like me 😉
@diyforknuckleheads Жыл бұрын
Some good tips right there mate 👍👍 That slow close hinge was a little…. How do l put this delicately….phallic 😂 Good vid mate 👍😁🇦🇺
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
At least it can still stay up proudly! ;) I am sure a lot of this was osmosis from Uncle Knackers and others and has potentially been done to death, but when you've got paying work that takes away your private workshop time the content ideas tend to mesh with what is on the workbench currently! 😁
@diyforknuckleheads Жыл бұрын
@@FixitFingers Couldn’t agree more mate…work is such an inconvenience 😂
@cathwood10008 ай бұрын
Thanks for this video. I'm about to build a walk in robe, so I will be watching it again, probably several more times :) FYI the link to carbatec is giving a Page not found error.
@FixitFingers8 ай бұрын
Thanks Cath, apologies on the delayed replay YT somehow found a blocked word in your comment above... I wish it told which it found offensive :P I'll check and fix the Carbatec link now :D Cheers!
@FixitFingers8 ай бұрын
All done, they'd changed the page :) Here is the correct link to all the cabinet hardware tools by Kreg - www.carbatec.com.au/brands/kreg/kreg-cabinet-hardware
@ArchEdge Жыл бұрын
Great Video! ... I have not had as much luck with the Blue Tape previously, but, im eager to try the scribe cut method next time!! Thanks for the Tip. I believe the professional saws have a second blade which does this automatically - so it makes sense.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Yep those big panel saws often have them. The Festool track saw also has a setting to run safely in reverse to do the same thing before your normal cut. Wouldn't try that with a regular circular saw though 😉
@ArchEdge Жыл бұрын
@@FixitFingers I recon ive seen Dave Stanton do that before.... you'd want it to be a REALLY shallow cut...
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
@@ArchEdge that's exactly where I saw it 😅
@mastrsk8 Жыл бұрын
Cheers mate!
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Hope it helps! I still dislike using the stuff, but it's a necessary evil in DIY stuff 😉
@mastrsk8 Жыл бұрын
@@FixitFingers it will for sure. I’m making some shoe racks built into some closets and only the inside and shelves will be seen, but it still has to look good. Or at least I want it too. Great tips! 👍
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
@@mastrsk8 awesome, good luck 👍
@jack91522 Жыл бұрын
Melamine is great. It's cheap and the surface is smooth and easy to clean and the boards are always flat.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Especially with the spiralling price of ply, I've been using it more. Also, you can often find it free dumped in the gutter 😝
@Countryboy3167 ай бұрын
This video gives me confidence to work with this stuf. That guide you use with your saw, where does one get one??
@FixitFingers7 ай бұрын
G'day mate, that is the Kreg Straight Edge Guide. Nice cheap bit of kit. You can find them here via my affiliate link on amazon :) amzn.to/3VGDMGW
@Edtopia_upcycling_ Жыл бұрын
G'day James. Nice to see another video of you😊I've already noticed Uncle Nick....why don't you use wood drills with a centering tip. According to my information, you have them at A from Bosch. Cheers and Check Square mate 👍🏻😊
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
We call those brad point bits, I showed one at the start of the drilling section 😉 Even with an expensive carbide set I still get inconsistent holes with them 😅
@Edtopia_upcycling_ Жыл бұрын
@@FixitFingers If I'm home tomorrow morning after my night shift, I'll go to my workshop and try it out 🤘🏻
@mam2szczury Жыл бұрын
In my case, drilling holes in melamine was significantly improved just by switching to regular corded drill which spins quite faster than battery powered ones.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Yep that'll help too! I could never go back though after using battery ones 😅
@MrOffTrail8 ай бұрын
Good tips, thank you. FYI, it is pronounced “MEL-a-meen”, not “-mine” It’s a portmanteau name, and the final two syllables are derived from a chemical that sounds like “AM-meen”.
@FixitFingers8 ай бұрын
You know, as someone with an Honours degree in advanced analytical chemistry I should recognise an Amine when I see one ;) 😅
@readpad94152 ай бұрын
Pop
@baz_k5 ай бұрын
I know this is an old video, but is there a way you can prevent the edges splitting when screwing into it? Say when screwing two sheets at 90 degrees straight through the wood pieces
@FixitFingers5 ай бұрын
Two ways, predrilling in melamine should help stop it but you are still going into 'end grain' which is really weak because of the way melamine is compressed. My go to is Pocket holes. They and melamine are good friends. The way the jig works means the business end of the screw is hitting the face of the mating surface, which has more strength. Always put them on the outside of the 90° joint with course screws and that should stop splits and be super strong 👍
@baz_k5 ай бұрын
@FixitFingers Amazing response. Thank you so much. Im planning a wardrobe build, and this may have just saved me from having to use mdf and painting it
@FixitFingers5 ай бұрын
@@baz_k best of luck! If you use pocket holes, do a few tests to get the clutch setting on the drill right. Biggest risk in melamine is over driving and stripping the thread. Low is usually the go 😊
@paulr77192 ай бұрын
I am new to woodworking, and I have to ask. The clamps that you have attached to the blue track, what is that system called? I would like to build a table like that.
@FixitFingers2 ай бұрын
@@paulr7719 G'day Paul, that is the Kreg Clamp Track system, and on my channel is a full build video of the workbench and link to the plans as well 😉
@FixitFingers2 ай бұрын
@@paulr7719 here's the workbench video link - kzbin.info/www/bejne/pl64lGOHr8tjeNUsi=dxEQU3HKbmriRuVB
@paulr77192 ай бұрын
@@FixitFingers awesome, I'm going to check it out. Thank you sir
@paulr77192 ай бұрын
@@FixitFingers I'm thinking about making a workbench with a melamine top, think this system could work with that?
@FixitFingers2 ай бұрын
@@paulr7719 no worries, I still love this bench, going strong a few years on
@scottcates Жыл бұрын
Marlamine *loves* taking screws in the edge grain.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
I actually try to avoid that, for melamine drawers and carcsses I've always used pockethole joinery, but this video had enough blue tools in it already 😉
@billysaunders54411 ай бұрын
Are you best to cut your board with the top face down to prevent chipping?
@FixitFingers11 ай бұрын
With a circular saw, yes. The circular saw blade spins towards you and upwards meaning the bottom face will be cleaner as blow out will occur on the face up side, hence the tape to help reduce this. Note that on a table saw this is reversed. 👍
@billysaunders54411 ай бұрын
@FixitFingers cool beans, so face down produces a cleaner cut than taping? On a circular saw? So I'm better to cut with the seen face down and tape the back or unseen face of the board? ... if any of what i just said made sense 😄
@FixitFingers11 ай бұрын
@@billysaunders544 If I read this right yes 🤣 You can tape both sides if notice chip out on the underside but usually it's not needed 👍
@FixitFingers11 ай бұрын
In other words, I make the 'good' side face down with no tape, and the 'bad' side the taped top face my saw is sitting on
@billysaunders54411 ай бұрын
@FixitFingers perfect, thanks very much... I think I'll just stick to welding 👍😄
@longsplinter-paul Жыл бұрын
Bonus tip, melamine glue, it’s very effective.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
You know what, I've never found cause to use it yet! Hardware only usually for me...
@GreenLadyDV Жыл бұрын
💚💚💚👍🏼
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@adesignhouse10 ай бұрын
Who has a shiny chisel like his at his workshop?
@FixitFingers10 ай бұрын
I I'd like to say I keep them in great condition... But it was just pretty new 😅
@authortimwickenden5 ай бұрын
The best tool for trimming edge banding is a planer blade - much easier to use than a chisel. The special trimming tools are rubbish, they don’t cut clean particularly if you’re using real wood veneer edge banding.
@FixitFingers5 ай бұрын
But then I gotta take it out of the plane 😅 ...and make sure it's sharp. Yes, I've seen this done, good reference surface too especially on thicker veneer. If you're doing a lot of panels my friend The Wood Knight sets up a jig on the router table to zip through them
@barberspaddockwoodworking Жыл бұрын
I swear every time I watch a FF video, two things ALWAYS happen. 1.) I learn something new. 2.) Another blue jig gets added to my collection. Dam you.
@FixitFingers Жыл бұрын
As long as you are using my links I will say that is all part of the evil plan 🤣😋 Cheers mate. I do dislike melamine but it has one more redeeming quality... you can get a near unlimited free supply from dumped Ikea furniture! hahaha
@alumidoorswindows10 ай бұрын
Why not using glue
@FixitFingers10 ай бұрын
In which part mate? Melamine and glue are not good friends usually. That's why we make work surfaces with it, not much sticks to it 😊
@metcaelfe5 ай бұрын
Saying a material has idiosyncratic properties is too humanising, how am i supposed to cut it if it has a personality!
@FixitFingers5 ай бұрын
Hahahahaha not as bad as now I have put googly eyes on all my tools... and they have adopted personalities. Now I feel bad every time I drop or bash them 🤣🤣