C-9 Laminates wood and composite materials

Overview

When laminating wood and composite materials, the RSOS stresses that the correct sequence and arrangement of the pieces is critical. Choosing and using the right adhesives and clamping devices is what ensures a quality lamination.

The task has three sub-tasks: arrange the materials (C-9.01), apply the adhesive (C-9.02), and clamp the pieces together (C-9.03).

C-9.01 Arranges materials for laminating

What you do

• Work out the finished component size from the drawings and project specifications.
• Inspect materials for defects according to industry standards.
• Match the colour and grain of the materials to the project specifications.
• Prevent warping and cupping by alternating growth ring orientation.

What you need to know

• Materials for laminating, and types of laminated products.
• Common laminating problems.
• Dimensions and grain direction of the materials to be laminated.
• Types of adhesives and their properties; wood properties.
• The tools and equipment used to laminate products, common laminating procedures and the sequence of lamination.

Range of variables

• Defects include: knots, checks, out-of-square, cracks, honeycomb, wane, contaminants.
• Industry standards include: AWMAC, AWI, WI, CKCA, shop-specific standard.
• Types of laminated products include: butcher block tops, tables, panels, segmented layers.
• Laminating problems include: splits, sunken joints, delamination, starved joints.
• Types of adhesives include: wood glues, contact cement, epoxies.
• Properties (adhesives) include: open time, setup time, curing time, clean-up.
• Wood properties include: absorption rate, presence of oils, moisture content.

C-9.02 Applies adhesive for laminating

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment.
• Select the adhesive according to end use and process.
• Decide on the application method from the manufacturers' specifications.
• Work out how much adhesive is needed from the type and quantity of wood.
• Spread adhesive evenly over the joint surface, following the manufacturers' specifications.

What you need to know

• Adhesives for laminating, their properties, characteristics and applications.
• Types of laminated products and common laminating problems.
• Wood properties.
• The tools and equipment used to laminate products, and common laminating procedures and sequence.

Range of variables

• Adhesives include: wood glue, contact cement, epoxies, casein glue, polyurethanes.
• Application methods include: rolling, brushing, spraying.
• Types of laminated products, laminating problems, properties (adhesives) and wood properties: same lists as C-9.01.

C-9.03 Clamps pieces together

What you do

• Select and use tools and equipment, and select and use clamps according to industry standards.
• Work out clamping pressure from the material thickness and density.
• Make sure the pieces are aligned before final clamping pressure, adjusting them with tools and equipment.
• Remove excess glue and squeeze-out with glue scrapers.
• Take the clamps off after the adhesives have set.

What you need to know

• Clamps: characteristics, applications and procedures for use.
• The density of woods and composite materials.
• Procedures for clamping pieces together.

Range of variables

• Tools and equipment include: dead blow hammer, pneumatic pressure bar.
• Clamps include: hand, pneumatic, vacuum.

Adhesive lists compared

Where	Adhesives listed
C-8.01, C-8.02, C-9.01	wood glues, contact cement, epoxies
C-9.02	wood glue, contact cement, epoxies, casein glue, polyurethanes

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Source: Red Seal Occupational Standard – Cabinetmaker, Task C-9 (pp. 76–80).