I’ve never been a fan of solvent-base glues, but they’re quick and waterproof. On many occasions, though, I need to glue up a countertop that’s not going to see much water. When someone told me that I could use yellow aliphaticresin glue as a substitute for contact adhesive, I was all for it. The key is to use an exterior grade of glue and a thin-nap laminate roller (available in most paint stores).
First, apply a thin, even coat to size the substrate, and let it dry. Apply a thin coat to the laminate, then recoat the substrate. When the surfaces are tacky, put the two together and roll out. At this point, the bond hasn’t set completely, so there’s a little wiggle time if you need to adjust the alignment. Clamping usually isn’t necessary, and the laminate will be ready to trim within 30 minutes. Of course, the best thing is that there’s no odor.
Jeffrey Bickford, Putney, VT
