Article: If you are installing laminate on a countertop or other surface with edges, begin with the edge pieces. If you cut them from the laminate yourself, apply the contact cement with a brush or roller to both surfaces. Allow it to set until it feels tacky, according to the manufacturer's directions. If you are using pre-glued end caps, all you need to do is heat a clothes iron, place the laminate against the edge, and iron back and forth. Let sit for one minute and gently tap it along its length with a rubber mallet or shoe heel. You can now skip to Trim the edge strip. When you are sure you have it placed properly, press it to the surface. Once the two surfaces come into contact, the contact cement is already bonded to 50% or more of its final strength. Push a dry roller back and forth across the laminate to adhere it completely and to remove air from between the laminate and the surface. Use a fine file to remove the excess material, applying pressure only on the up strokes. You may use a laminate trimmer or router instead, but if you do you should lubricate the edge with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) first. This minimizes the chance of breakage. Use a carbide drill bit when trimming laminate. Before continuing, protect your finished edges while you install the remainder of the laminate sheet. Allow it to set according to manufacturer's instructions. As a general rule, the contact cement should be left until it becomes tacky and dry to the touch, but no longer. 'Note: If your Formica came with an adhesive already attached, follow the manufacturer's instructions to activate it before installing. Often, these adhesives activate when moistened with water. Place lengths of 1/4-inch thick (.64 cm) or larger dowels every 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm) apart across the surface to prevent accidental misalignment. These should lay flat across the full width of the surface to hold the laminate up until it is aligned. When applying laminate to vertical surfaces, you will need to position them by hand. Align the laminate as accurately as you can, then continue to adjust it as you move from one end of the surface to the other. Shift the dowels out of the way once you've aligned each section, then press it down to adhere it to the surface. Push a roller across the sheet to eliminate air pockets and strengthen the contact bond. Use a flush trim carbide drill bit. Stop frequently to allow the router to cool, as the laminate will melt if exposed to high heat. Use a fine wood file to methodically file down the sharp edge of the laminate. File downward at an angle along the entire edge.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Apply contact cement to the edge strip and the surface it will attach to (if applicable). Align the edge strip to the surface carefully. Press the Formica with a roller. Trim the edge strip (if applicable). Cover the trimmed edges with painter's tape. Spread contact cement on the surface and the Formica with a paintbrush or roller. Align the surface carefully using dowels. Position the laminate sheet and press it one area at a time. Roll over the installed laminate. Trim and shape the edges with a laminate trimmer or other router. File down the sharp edge.
Article: If you want to keep the box private and discreet, then you probably don't want to do much with the outside unless you plan to hide it somewhere very safe. On the other hand, you might want to personalize your memory box so that it very clearly belongs to you. Think about the purpose of this box, and think about the sensitivity of the memories that you'll be putting into it. If you are making a memory box for someone else, then you'll want to decorate it with their needs in mind. Think about whether this person would want a colorful, heavily decorated memory box or a plain, discreet box. Consider that people might be less likely to snoop into the box if it looks boring and ordinary. On the other hand, personalized decoration can be a signal to stay away. People might open an ordinary-looking box thinking that something else is inside it. Tape or glue pictures or photographs that mean a lot to you. Perhaps you have a treasured note from a friend or relative. Perhaps there is a sticker, or a concert ticket, or a postcard that you want to see every time you open the box. If you use tape, then you can change out these "featured memories" for other meaningful items as you live your life and make new memories. Consider painting the surface: in solid colors, or with a more detailed picture. You can make the design simple, or you can make it a colorful swirl of personality. Get creative! This box is yours to design. Use glitter and rhinestones to add sparkle and flair to the outside of the box. Cover the box in chalkboard paint so that you can write on it with chalk. Glue ceramic tiles and/or mirror shards to the surface to make a mosaic. Try gluing or sewing fabric to the surface of the box. If you're into furry things, attach fake fur to the outside. Use a floral print, or flannel, or denim anything that says something about your personality! You can cut swaths of fabric from old clothes, curtains, blankets, and other textiles. Try writing your name or the "theme" of the memories directly onto the box in paint, pen, or marker. You can also cut out letters (from paper, cardboard, wood) and glue them on. Consider printing the words onto a sticker using a printer or a label-maker. If you want to make it clear that the box is private, make a tag that says "Property of [your name]. Do not open!" Make a memory box for a specific trip or time. For instance, you might make a memory box to preserve all of your photos, letters, and items from summer camp, or from the past year at school, or from a memorable trip that you took.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Decide whether to decorate the box. Stick something inside the lid. Personalize the outside of the box. Label the box.