Posted by Mr Arcade on 17, 2000 at 8:47 AM:
OK, if you are looking for a great looking control panel that can take some abuse...and you are on a tight budget...here is a possible answer...
Call your local lumber company...or possibly cabinet maker...ask if they sell "sink cut outs". This is the part of the countertop that is cut out to install a kitchen sink.
One of the local lumber companies near me will sell these cutouts for $3. That is a nice piece of sturdy particle board that already has a sturdy laminate professionally applied. The real luck is in finding the color you want. I got lucky and found a nice black with grey flecks. They had 2 stacks both around 4 feet tall. Several pieces of dark green...many light colors that wouldn't do...but it is worth a look for $3.
I used to apply countertop laminate myself...this saves me a lot of work.
I hope some of you get lucky!
Mr Arcade