Expert: Jamie Yocono - 1/29/2008

Question
QUESTION: I read a question and your answer to another question affirming that melamine is good for drawer bottoms. Could that be 1/4 melamine? And do you know where I could order this material on the internet? We're in a small coastal town and materials are very limited in variety.

ANSWER: Hi Ron,

I might be able to help a little more if you can tell me what coast you're talking about- west or east. Heck, it could even be Gulf coast, right?  How about sending me your zip code and I can try to locate a paneling supplier in your area?

Believe it or not, I've been buying melamine at Home Depot lately. See, my plywood/paneling distributor is across town, and in Las Vegas, that means it's about a 2.5 hour ordeal to go and pick up something. So unless I need more than a few sheets, it's easier to just run to Home Depot and buy one sheet. Just did it last week for the back of a kitchen cabinet. A worker stepped on the back I had originally cut, breaking off the corner. So I ran to HD, picked up a sheet for $15.44 to be exact, and cut another. This stuff was only faced with melamine on one side, but it didn't matter, since it was a permanent installation against a wall. I am pretty sure they also sell it with two sides of melamine, for about $19.00.  

So if there's a HD or Lowes near you, I'd check them.

Also, they sometimes sell this material in the area where they sell those handi-panels used in shelving. In fact, my HD sells pre-drilled melamine panels, so that you can line a closet with it for adjustable shelving. They also sell it in 2 x 2 and 2 x 4 foot sections. It's obviously more expensive that way.

I've heard from many woodworking friends that they buy materials on eBay. I've always thought that was nuts, because of the shipping, but I guess there are some decent deals out there. You can do a search on eBay by zip code, to cut down on your shipping costs.

Finally, this is just a thought, but is there a cabinetmaker in your town? I know I have gobs of 1/4" Melamine laying around. It's mostly odds and ends, but I suppose there is someone out there who could use it. So make a few calls in your town and see if someone has scrap pieces for sale.

Send your zip code and I'll try to help more,

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ah ha.... I forget there is another coast besides this one... the Oregon Coast! We live in a little coastal town of pop. less than 1500. No Home Depot or Lowe's closer than about 60 miles, but Ace Hardware and Lumbermans within 15 miles. Neither place has much in the way of cabinet grade materials. We have a Toyota Prius so it's tough to get building supplies home with that. Internet is our best source of things not available locally. If you know of any internet site that sells 1/4 inch melamine sheets in a size that can be shipped I would be grateful to know about it.

Answer
Hi Ron,

I have an idea that might work for you.  For the last couple kitchens I've done, I've used a company called CabParts out of Colorado. They make very reasonably priced melamine cabinet boxes. I honestly can't make the boxes as nice as they do, for what they charge.

Anyway, they will cut and sell just about anything - for this last kitchen, I needed a couple of 24" x 96" tall panels, with Cherry on one side, and white melamine on the other. All I had to do was tell them what I needed, and they supplied them. I am 99% sure if you give them a call, you will be able to purchase some 1/4" melamine stock from them, and you'll be able to get it shipped in the exact sizes you want.

Their website is www.cabparts.com, and you'll find their phone number there, as well as information about what they sell. My account contact person is a nice woman named Marisol, if you call and ask for her, you can drop my name if you want. Not sure if it will help! But I would explain your predicament, and ask if you can buy some material from them. If you keep the sizes small, you can get them to ship it via UPS.

Good luck, I am pretty sure this company will be able to supply your needs. Write back if you have more questions.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com