Re-gluing veneer

[Don Foley]

While this is not a woodworking question as in building a project, it is wood related. 

I have some formica veneer counter tops in my RV that are lifting.  Can these be reglued and if so, what product should be used?  I'm familiar with using contact cement to glue veneer in place but these are lifting and are not seperate pieces (cabinet and veneer top) yet. 

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks, Don

[lssg79]

Most of the time you can use a hot iron to reattach lifting pieces of laminate or veneer. Get the iron hot and run it up and down the delaminated area and you should be good to go. Just make sure you use an iron that you are allowed to use.

[Ken Darga]

Don, 

If it's only the ends, in a few places that are separating, 

I'd use contact cement to secure it.

If it's a large area, that's separating, then I'd remove the old and apply a new Formica top surface.

If the entire top, is in bad shape, then I'd replace the entire top.

[Don Foley]

Thanks, I'll give the hot iron a try first, followed by additional contact cement if that doesn't work.  If neither work, then its laminate removal time.

 

Don

[Ken Darga]

Don, 

When using an electric iron, start with the temp at the lowest settings---

then gradually increasing the heat---slowly warming the surface to soften the adhesive.

  As the glue starts to soften and the laminate loosens, use a ''long'' blade metal scraper---

akin to an ''offset painters scraper'',

to assist in the separation of the laminate sheet from the wood.

(I've used a long handle flat blade scraper, for removing tile, and it worked fine.  I now use an electric oscillating scraping tool, that is easier and much faster---rarely have to apply much heat).   The scraper blades, side-to-side motion scraps the surface.  Apply a razor sharp edge, to the cutting edge, for smoother cutting operation.

  Milwaukee tools makes a ''flat bladed chisel''---

that inserts into a reciprocating (''sawzall'') saw---

that should work fine, too.

  NOTE:  when using a chisel, observe the cutting edge/angle---position the bevel ''down'', so as not to dig into the wood base material---you just want to shave off the laminate from the base material.

  I'm sure you'll experience some of the  wood coming up.  If the base material is plywood, then it'll be a little more tedious---try not to tear-up the plywood.

  If splintering occurs, you'll need to use a suitable material, to fill the voids and depressions,

before applying and gluing down the new laminate sheet.

 TIP: take it slow---as you go.  

[Ken Darga]

Milwaukee scraper blade

---blade in action

[Rick]

If you do heat the laminate, be sure to roll it until it cools down.

If you can tilt the countertop somehow, then acetone works great to dissolve the adhesive under the laminate

Don Foley said:

Thanks, I'll give the hot iron a try first, followed by additional contact cement if that doesn't work.  If neither work, then its laminate removal time.

[Ken Darga]

That sawzall with scraper/chisel is like a ''mini demolition'' hammer.