Thread: Phenolic Resin (Lab Top) Audio Rack Shelves? Maybe even HPL?

I once made an audio rack out of salvaged maple butcher block for shelves and small aluminum I-beams vertical posts. Problem is the old maple started to split because of past improper storage.


I need to rebuild the rack with new wood or use a different material.


I was thinking of trying phenolic resin or epoxy resin shelves/tops, the same thing used in lab tables and countertops.



I might be able to source some used from the local university property disposition warehouse that is open to the public on the cheap, but would have to cut it down.


Question is, would this be a good material to use?


Uncutable safely?


Too weak to hold a lag bolt which is how my old rack was held together?


It will not sound good as it will suck too much energy out?


I see that a few high-end racks use it as trimming or some special composite mix of their own that seems to be similar.


I've also read that some high-end loudspeaker makers use it in their enclosures for it's anti-resonance qualities.


I do not see anyone doing exactly what I have in mind, maybe this is a DIY question, just beating the bush to see what flies out.



Top 5 Materials To Consider For Your Lab Countertops




Are there any HPL (High Pressure Laminate ) audio rack shelves in use?

interesting question.
as far as i know, nobody really knows.
it is more of a structural thing than material.
however, phenol raisin or epoxy by itself s nonsense....you would want to add fibers or powder.

spiked maple boards into another frame is a safe thing

Originally Posted by u-sound

interesting question.
as far as i know, nobody really knows.
it is more of a structural thing than material.
however, phenol raisin or epoxy by itself s nonsense....you would want to add fibers or powder.

spiked maple boards into another frame is a safe thing

I don't know if there is plywood under the resin tops like you would with concrete countertops. Good question about it's tension strength though.

You are right, another wood to wood replacement would be easiest, but plywood will not connect nor sound like more solid wood.

I'm researching CLT now, might be a happy compromise.

https://www.apawood.org/cross-laminated-timber

Originally Posted by Jack

Core Audio is using a product called Apple-Ply for shelves which is an HPL

https://www.statesind.com/product/appleply

I had samples of something similar in my office 20 years ago, the company vanished in the Great Recession. They used the most colorful and beautiful aniline dyes..................I may still have the samples on a chain.

Plywood isn't the answer here, I have used it many times in furniture making and love it though.

Originally Posted by jadedavid

P.S. some of the older laboratory counter tops contained asbestos.
Best to stay away from that.

That is an excellent reminder of what to keep in mind.

As far as materials go, I ran across several architectural and hovercraft project samples I've collected over the years. Several of the factory finished plastic honeycomb samples with fiberglass skins were light, very stiff and far more self dampening than expected.

One of the samples I'm sure is Monopan out of Canada via France, it's different from Plascore in that there is a plastic top skin + fiberglass, so it's double layered.