graham
Well-Known Member
The dinette table on our boat has wood grain effect formica or similar which is very faded but no scratches or paint and glue on it so I wonder if its possible to restore it in someway?
Restoring a formica type table top?
- Thread starter graham
- Start date
dnickj
Well-Known Member
why not stick a new sheet of laminate over the top??
ParaHandy
Well-Known Member
i don't know of any way that you can restore formica. I lifted my old top and replaced it. the material was sold in 8' sheets and was quite expensive.
C
Chrusty1
Guest
Nope! 'tis done in for sure. If I recall correctly, that Formica pattern was a photographic type of process, and the fading is probably caused by UV coming through the window?
You can remove it once the edge strips are out of the way, by rubbing a very hot iron,(the type your missus uses to iron your shirts with) over the surface, starting at the edge, work the iron too and fro, at the same time inserting something thin and quite flexible between formica and wood top. an old wood saw with the toe given an edge will do it). It will come off, but it will take a bit of time, once off, remove remaining glue with acetone. Then you can fit a nice new wood veneer top to your table! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
You can remove it once the edge strips are out of the way, by rubbing a very hot iron,(the type your missus uses to iron your shirts with) over the surface, starting at the edge, work the iron too and fro, at the same time inserting something thin and quite flexible between formica and wood top. an old wood saw with the toe given an edge will do it). It will come off, but it will take a bit of time, once off, remove remaining glue with acetone. Then you can fit a nice new wood veneer top to your table! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Spuddy
Well-Known Member
Problem with sticking a new bit on top is that there's the upstand round the edge. So....could plane that down flush and stick down a new bit to overlap. Ah ha, but then problem is fitting new lipping which will need new radiused bits at corners - maybe available from somebody like Howells.
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Sand the formica with 60 grit, buy some iron on teak veneer off e bay, iron on said teak veneer, after cutting to size, remembering it shrinks, sideways! or buy non iron on teak veneer off e bay, cut to size and epoxy (with slow hardener) it on top of the formica, using weights, (old anodes work well) on some thickish timber to spread the load, allow the epoxy to come up the sides/join a bit, scrape off any excess, carefully, then sand off any excess after the epoxy has set hard, varnish and you have a beautiful table. I did exactly this on some very large areas in my wheelhouse and saloon, including my table. Looks wonderful.
30boat
N/A
On my Fulmar I just sanded the formica and painted over with two pack polyurethane.I didn't like the pattern and much prefer the wite finish.It was done 6 years ago and it's still looking fine.
graham
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the advice people. I like the sound of veneering it now I know its not restorable. A new laminate would probably be quicker/easier and maybe more practical. Have to mull it over for a while.
Cheers
Cheers