Bonding Aluminum sheets to plywood

[drodda]

What would you use to bond mill finished aluminum .040 to plywood? Also what bit would you use to cut this after it is bonded together?

[Gary Campbell]

Dave..
Sand the alum with 80 grit and use epoxy. Vac bag it if you have one. Because of the aluminum, a single O flute
Gary

[tuck]

Dave, you don't have to go through any of that trouble as it's already been done for you. It's called 'Nu-Alum' and is thin aluminum already bonded to 1/2" exterior grade plywood and while it's very paintable, already comes in many colors. I get it from Aluma-Panel, my local sign supply warehouse. Check it out!

http://www.alumapanel.com/products.cfm?step=1&lines_ID=290

[drodda]

Thanks,

Only problem is that I need to brush a mill finished panel. So I need it to be bare Aluminum.

Looks like the Alumapanels are all painted.

[waynelocke]

The anodized sheets that Nevamar and other laminate makers sell is speced to use contact cement. You can use it like plastic laminate.

I just used some for some accent strips and used some real expensive 3M double faced tape for the 1" strips.

[tuck]

Dave, does it HAVE to be a plywood substrate? Aluma-panel sells a product called "Poylmetal". Here's the link: http://www.alumapanel.com/view_product.cfm?step=1&lines_ID=292&name=Polymeta l%20Metal%20Finishes
Click on 'Metal Finishes' then 'Approx. Colors' and look at the brushed silver one side with brushed gold the other. The picture is a very poor representation of how it really looks. I actually have a sample and the finish is beautiful!