by Matt Arriola

Does it drive you crazy when you go to order a thermofoil color from a vendor only to find out it has been discontinued and now requires a large custom order? Often these custom orders can be 3,000 or even 5,000 meters. Although we cannot guarantee to not discontinue an item, Dackor is the leading company on maintaining stock.

But aside from our 250 plus stock items that we maintain for our clients, Dackor has a great custom program to enable you to switch more and more colors over to our company.

You can go to www.Dackor.com/colors and look for a very close or close match first or contact your Account Managers at 407-654-5013 to do the searching for you. In addition you can visit https://www.dackor.com/custom and input your image right on our site.

What if you need to color match?
STEP 1: INQUIRE >  Fill out this form and we will let you know within 2 business days or less if we are capable of your required match quality.  Please note that if we have the tooling our MOQ is 600 linear yards for melamine matches (in distribution) or leathers or 1200 yards for all others. 

• FORM FOR COLOR MATCH

Please allow 2 business days for us to evaluate target.

STEP 2: MATCH?   Within 2 business days we will confirm match capabilities. You can then issue a PO for $500 color match deposit which is fully credited upon order. Matches take 4 to 6 weeks and you will receive a lab sample.


STEP 3: EVALUATE !    After you receive the match and approve simply issue a PO for the agreed quantity and await 10 to 12 weeks for the material to be available , FOB, Orlando. This can be expedited 4 to 6 weeks by air for an additional fee.  We will typically produce 2,000 to 3,000 yards at our discretion for back up inventory. After the initial PO and MOQ you may order from remaining stock as needed.
Color match request form
Inquire> | Match? | Evaluate!

Examples of Recently discontinued 3D Laminate colors in the marketplace.
Ebony Ash, Light Maple, Black Haircell, Antique Whitewash, Russian Maple, Soprano, Sugarloaf Maple, Matte Black, Matte Malachite, Matte White, Oxidized Pewter, Platino Granite Sand, Platino Granite Tanin, Pompeii Marble Espresso, Pompeii Marble Gray, Rift Oak Brown, Rift Oak Gray, Carbon Fibers Silver, Fibers Concrete, Cashmere, Fusion Maple, Imperial Smoke, Rift Oak Natural, Slate Gray, Smokehouse Oak, Stratus White, Tin Ceiling and Venus Silver.

When refacing your residential kitchen there are various options when utilizing Dackor materials. The first question is if you are looking to change the layout drastically. In most cases where you want to significantly replace the layout of the Kitchen you will go with new cabinetry. If, however, you are OK with the layout refacing can save you thousands. Once you have decided to reface there are various other decisions to make. Some decisions are:

-Should I replace the countertop?
-What style doors do I want? Slab, Shaker or Raised Panel
-Do I want soft close hinges on the doors? We recommend as its a small expense

If you are replacing your countertop, generally you want the countertops to be replaced before refacing so damage will be done do the doors or boxes. The most popular options for countertops are quartz and natural granite however some may also choose laminate countertops.

Once you have your countertops installed and the color chosen it is more easy to choose colors for the doors. 

How does cabinet refacing work using Dackor materials? Dackor recommends a professional refacer who has experience working with Dackor Peelstix for the cabinet boxes and someone who has lots of experience hanging the doors. 

How does the refacer do the job? 
The refacer will measure your doors to the nearest 1/8" and take notice of the type hardware they need to get, any unique aspects of the job such as the box condition and any unique installation challenges. After they take the measurements they usually get a deposit so that they can custom order the doors to match your specific Kitchen. Typically it can take 2 to 3 weeks to receive the doors in however sometimes it may be faster. 

When the installer comes to install the job, it typically takes them 2 to 3 day. They take off the old doors, clean and prepare the box to be refaced using Dackor Peelstix. They then install the new doors and you get a completely transformed Kitchen saving thousands and with the color of your choice.

The benefits of refacing in most cases are:
-Saves money on a dumpster
-No need for an electrician or plumber
-No need for tear out and therefore no drywall damage or tile damage
-Brand new doors and completely refaced box on the external of the cabinets
-Quick install with no dust or debris
-Ability to use your kitchen in the evenings even during the install process

Imagine having a brand new looking Kitchen, not throwing away perfectly good boxes and not having to deal with numerous trades all of which cost more and create more complications.

Although many jobs can have complications, you can rest easy knowing that you are using a quality product that will create more value in your home and put a smile on your face when you see the final results!

This article is to explain more about the different thicknesses we produce and for what application they are good for.

THICKNESS REFERENCE:
0.15mm = 6 mil , semi rigid
0.2mm = 8 mil, this thickness and above are rigid
0.25mm= 10 mil
0.3mm= 12 mil
0.4mm= 16 mil
0.45mm=18 mil
0.5mm= 20 mil
0.7mm=28mil

MEMBRANE PRESSING / VACUUM PRESSING: For Solids and Woodgrains,  Dackor's 12 mil is most common as it can be membrane pressed by all however some company's even have the expertise to profile wrap as well. When you press, it uses heat and suction to form over the mdf components. This means that the material is pressed into the substrate. By going thicker you are able to hide more imperfections. In addition, by going thicker, deeper embosses can be incorporated for more realistic surfaces. Quality producers know that Dackor has a plethora of thicker materials as well and we do this to enable our customers to have higher quality parts and also to create more realistic woodgrain textures.

PROFILE WRAPPING: When profile wrapping, companies do not experience suction of the material into the mdf so thinner products can be used. The most common sizes are 6 mil and 8 mil. When we produce 6mil we do so with a semi rigid vinyl. This reduces cost but also enables the product to wrap well. Some companies love semi rigid due to its ease of wrapping however semi rigids often are not as strong or durable to scratches and wear. For that reason we offer rigid 8 mil product to enable the material to be thin enough to wrap yet more durable to scratch and more rigid to process. 

SEMI RIGID VERSUS RIGID: The best way to describe the difference is that semi rigid feels more like a thin shower curtain that is more flimsy in your hand. This is caused by adding more plasticizers to enable the product to stretch. This also lowers the cost of the product. Rigid, however, uses a very low amount of plasticizers and enables the product to be more rigid. The product still goes on a roll however its really more like a thinner version of membrane press laminate.

FLAT LAMINATION: Companies can flat laminate 12 mil and thicker vinyls however this is typically done with a PUR line or 2 part epoxy. For most flat lamination lines you would utilize a 6 mil or 8 mil. This is personal preference. It should be noted the strengths and weaknesses are that the 6 mil applies more quick and cost less however being thinner it may show more imperfections in the substrate whereas the 8 mil is more rigid. Please note that the heat utilized in processing will be different as well based upon the formulation of rigid versus semi rigid as well as the thickness. If the product is more thick it may take more heat to absorb into the material.  

MITER FOLDING: When folding the vinyl becomes a hinge. This means that you are routering a v groove in the back of the part and only kissing the vinyl. When you fold the part you get a crisp edge. One advantage of a rigid vinyl is that when you fold it thermosets better and is less likely to pucker on the edge. So there are some strengths to miter folding a rigid over a semi rigid. 

CONCLUSION: Please note that there are so many variables in lamination. There is time, heat, duration, pressure, glue used, board, humidity , user and more. This means that like all professional laminations you really need to test produce product to be sure of the thickness and formulation to be sure more ease of processing.

A couple years ago we told you about how Dackor manufactures a product called Peelstix.
 
Peelstix is a flexible laminate that can be trimmed with knives and can be fabricated in a shop or on site with no dust or smells. By having the adhesive already on the product it can also save time. White is a very popular color and these are just a few of what we offer that are doing very well: Solid Frosty White 12, Smooth Satin White, Solid Designer White, Solid Bright White, Saffron Mahogany, Leather Brown, Summer Breeze, Egg Shell Black Claw, Ravenwood, Solid Cashmere Black, Wilsonart Fusion Maple and  Carbon Fibers. 

Well Peelstix has really taken off and is a favorite of Multifamily Housing, Refacers, Universities, Hospitals and More.

So, what has been getting refaced you might ask?
Multifamily Housing has really embraced Peelstix to update Kitchen Cabinets and Cabinet Doors along with the face frames to give the new apartment resident that updated look. Moreover, the bathroom vanities have gotten facelifts too! 

Our Accent Planks and Natura Stone are a favorite of Multifamily Housing as well. Account Planks, also a peel and stick product ideal for wall decoration. These planks decorate Accent Walls for an upscale look. Our Hand Painted Frosty White maintains a traditional woodgrain look with a beautiful Matte White Finish.
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The Rome Marble White, which could compete with the Greek marbles needs to be physically seen and not just from a computer monitor. Not to mention it is one of our Rhino Hz extra durable grades available.

Natura Stone, the natural stack stone veneer is also a peel and stick.
Yes, it’s real stone cut to a 1/16" to 1/8" thickness variance to give a stacked stone look. It comes in 4 beautiful colors of Copper, Sapphire, Emerald and Sesame. With minimal prep it will sophisticate any space by adding dimension and texture. This stone is great for accent walls, backsplashes, or any interior vertical application.


Colors above also know as other industry names you may have heard are:
Ebony Ash, Light Maple, Black Haircell, Antique Whitewash, Russian Maple, Soprano, Sugarloaf Maple, Matte Black, Matte Malachite, Matte White, Oxidized Pewter, Platino Granite Sand, Platino Granite Tanin, Pompeii Marble Espresso, Pompeii Marble Gray, Rift Oak Brown, Rift Oak Gray, Carbon Fibers Silver, Fibers Concrete, Cashmere, Fusion Maple, Imperial Smoke, Rift Oak Natural, Slate Gray, Smokehouse Oak, Stratus White, Tin Ceiling and Venus Silver.

Many cabinet door and component producers have asked where they may recycle PVC. As long as your product does not have glue you can visit: scrappvc.com 

Officers
Richard Silberfeld, President
Ray Brown, VP Sales

Corp. Office Address
97 Sawtooth Cove
Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Warehouse Address
1510 5th Industrial Court
Bay Shore, NY 11706

Telephone
Office: 631-969-1050
Fax: 631-969-1051
Alt. Office: 516-356-5120
Alt. Fax: 631-331-1885

Web Address
www.universalcomposites.com
www.scrappvc.com

E-mail Address
contact@universalcomposites.com

Ideal for thermofoil / membrane press vinyls.

Membrane presses such as made by Wemhoner and Burkle or even as an add on for Almex, Italpresse or Orma utlize rubber or silicone membranes to both transfer heat and to apply positive pressure on the components being pressed.

Types of membranes
There are various types of membranes such as rubber and silicone. Rubber membranes are less cost but are harder and do not get into the routered out profiles as well. Silicone membranes are softer and able to press into the profiles better however can be brown to tearing and blowing out. With silicone membranes you can different shore types which means different hardnesses as well as different thicknesses. Some manufacturers utilize different color membranes to signify different hardnesses however that is only to tell them apart.

It should be noticed that membranes can come textured on one side and smooth on the other or rough both sides, smooth both sides. Manufacturers sometimes apply the textured side towards the components because they find that  it releases the sticking and enables the vinyl to move and not get trapped under the membranes pressure. Doing this can sometimes transfer the texture to the components surface giving the component an unintended fabric like appearance. 

Why membranes are blowing
Membranes do have a certain life to them based upon constant stretching. Usually this is measured in cycles however you might shorten the life by how you use the membrane. Below are various ways you might shorten the life of a membrane. 

1. Sharp corners: Some companies press cabinet sides or components with too sharp corners. This can drastically reduce the life of your membrane. An alternative solution is to flat laminate panels via  2 part epoxy using a glue spreader or a PUR lamination line. The second solution is to design your components with a more eased edge to lengthen the use of your membane. 

2. Component spacing: The next thing that can damage a membrane is leaving too much distance between the parts. You can use a jig or long dummy components and this will keep the vinyl from over stretching or sliding across the table as well as the membrane from pulling too hard on the corner. Another issue can be having the components too close to each other but this is a less common issue.

3. Membrane tension: It is important to have the right tension of the membrane installed on your press and this is based upon the hardness of your membrane and type of press you have. This will require some trial and error.

4. Press settings: When I work with companies to dial this in I usually figure out how they are using their press now and what settings that press has. The membrane should have an adequate temp and not be too hot or too cold. Based upon the settings there may be ways to let the heat and vacuum stage to do a bit of the work. This seems like a small thing but based upon hundreds of cycles the settings can work your membrane a bit less.

I hope that you have found this article helpful and be sure to share with me your tips by commenting and if you are having issues simply email me your press settings.