Tufnol, Phenolic, SRBP, HPL, CGL, SGL

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Guys I'm looking for some hard sheet material for use under a small lathe, I remembered back to some very hard plastics used in lab work surfaces and counter tops back in my school days which would be ideal.

Searching around the web it seems to come under many different names, HPL, CGL, SGL, SRBP, and Phenolic resin to name but a few.

I only need a small piece and was wondering if anyone knew of a supplier?

Failing that, does anyone know of an alternative? It needs to be tuff and hard wearing for my application. Tufnol might have been an option had it not been only available in brown.

Any suggestions?

[Andy_GParticipant @andy_g]

Lab worktops are often made of ‘Trespa’ – a trade name for some type of laminate. It’s horrendously expensive, but you may be able to buy an off cut. (It cuts & machines OK with TCT woodworking tools.)

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

The thing that comes to mind is what I would know as formica. Noel.

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Posted by Andy_G on 14/02/2021 14:03:55:

Lab worktops are often made of ‘Trespa’ – a trade name for some type of laminate. It’s horrendously expensive, but you may be able to buy an off cut. (It cuts & machines OK with TCT woodworking tools.)

Yes,thats the stuff. And yes expensive! I was hoping someone knew where to get an offcut.

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

Steel sheet galvanised, plated or painted would be cheaper, have much longer life, and be much more robust than laminates etc. as well as being the traditional proven under-lathe material. However if you really want laminate/plastic I would give a +1 to Noel's suggestion of formica, as used in kitchen counters. A kitchen or bath fitter shop may have an offcut or a counter that was cut too short for less than all new custom cut material.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Hello Hollowpoint,

What about the material used for the base of small trailers (Ifor Williams, etc). It's a phenolic covered plywood. Unfortunately, I haven't got a clue what it's called.

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Posted by Bo'sun on 14/02/2021 15:07:51:

Hello Hollowpoint,

What about the material used for the base of small trailers (Ifor Williams, etc). It's a phenolic covered plywood. Unfortunately, I haven't got a clue what it's called.

Buffalo Board and/or Hexagrip?

Rod

[egaParticipant @ega]

I know it simply as "phenolic-faced ply" but I suppose there may be a brand name.

AFAIK, Formica is a thin laminate ie not a board material as such.

[Peter Cook 6Participant @petercook6]

Thin stainless sheet glued down on a piece of MDF. Thin stainless is available as cooker splashbacks or just as sheet.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

If stainless will do PM me. Noel

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Thanks for the replies.

I have some stainless sheet (thanks anyway Noel) and have considered gluing a piece to some ply and I might yet go down that route.

My requirements though are quite specific. I have built a base from aluminium extrusion to house the motor and electrics for a small Cowells lathe, The board will sit in the top and be screwed up from the bottom. I want something durable and scratch resistant, I could use wood but I feel it will start to look tatty relatively quickly. Metal would be better, but will scratch. Hard plastic seems like a good compromise as it will do what I want while also having the benefit of insulating the electronics below.

[Grindstone CowboyParticipant @grindstonecowboy]

Corian would be good if you could get an offcut from a kitchen/bathroom fitter.

Rob

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Posted by Grindstone Cowboy on 14/02/2021 16:51:59:

Corian would be good if you could get an offcut from a kitchen/bathroom fitter.

Rob

Yes that might be an option. Thanks

 

Has anyone used SRBP? it seems to be quite cheap and plentiful on ebay.

Edited By Hollowpoint on 14/02/2021 17:06:02

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Hollowpoint on 14/02/2021 17:01:12:

Has anyone used SRBP? it seems to be quite cheap and plentiful on ebay.

.

But isn’t that typically Brown in colour ?

… as per the Tufnol products that you rejected

MichaelG.

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

It seems to be available in black too.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Hollowpoint on 14/02/2021 17:13:23:

It seems to be available in black too.

.

Then use it, and be happy

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ Possibly this : https://www.attwater.com/products/b4b

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 14/02/2021 17:21:51

[Martin Dilly 2Participant @martindilly2]

Hollow, I have an unused 6 ft length of white Formica kitchen work surface which you, or anyone else, are welcome to, f.o.c. I'm in the Bromley/Croydon area if that's any help.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

I hate a workbench that has scratches on it ! Dont you ?

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Posted by Martin Dilly 2 on 14/02/2021 17:43:28:

Hollow, I have an unused 6 ft length of white Formica kitchen work surface which you, or anyone else, are welcome to, f.o.c. I'm in the Bromley/Croydon area if that's any help.

Thank you for the offer, very kind! but I'm in the Leeds area so a fair distance away and I've just ordered a piece of SRBP so will give that a go.

[HollowpointParticipant @hollowpoint]

Posted by larry phelan 1 on 14/02/2021 17:59:57:

I hate a workbench that has scratches on it ! Dont you ?

It's more of a box to be fair, haha.

[Nick WheelerParticipant @nickwheeler]

Posted by larry phelan 1 on 14/02/2021 17:59:57:

I hate a workbench that has scratches on it ! Dont you ?

Several colours of overspray smudged around with brake fluid and thinners soon takes care of that….

[David SeniorParticipant @davidsenior29320]

Trespa offcuts are available from David Meddings DeSign (or they used to be when he had the unit next door to my work – he has now moved further up the industrial estate so I don't see the piles of material any more). I don't have a contact number handy but I am sure you can find him on Google – he also used to trade as Reel Furniture. He is in Attleborough, Norfolk

Dave

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