Replies

1. 
   oldhand | Nov 30, 2010 07:22pm | #1

   relam...

   If it is starting to unbond often you can peel it off with flat bar, chisel, putty knife hammer and diligence. If you do manage to knock a few minor divots out of the old p-board you can fix them with bondo and sanding.

   Acetone is one recommended debonder for some contact cements.

   As previously mentioned you can glue a new layer over the old if the original isn't loose. I would give the old layer a real scuff sanding before though.

2. 
   DanH | Nov 30, 2010 07:57pm | #2

   You might have some luck with a hot iron -- maybe/maybe not.

   Otherwise maybe a router with an old/cheap dado bit.  Attach a shim the thickness of the laminate to one side of the router base and hang the other side on the laminate.  Carefully adjust the bit to get the right bite.  And take breaks about every 15 minutes to let your arms unlax and let the router cool.

3. 
   semar | Nov 30, 2010 07:57pm | #3

   laminate removal

   Is this for your own home or are you doing it for a customer?

   Own home: timeconsuming, I used a heatgun and lots of patience, afterwards asked myself was it worth saving the particle board.?

   For customer: carefully remove the whole countertop and replace with marine plywood. More costefficient than repairing the inevitable damage and still ending up with particle board

1. 
   patsf | Dec 01, 2010 09:10am | #4

   removel

     Thanks to all for the advise.  I think I will try the heat gun approach and see how that goes.  Time is not a problem, they are my  kitchen countertops.  

1. 
   calvin | Dec 01, 2010 01:08pm | #5

   patsf

   Once you get a corner/edge to lift, put some lacquer thinner in a squirt bottle (like dish soap comes in) and squirt that between the lam and pb.  With thin flat pry bars like shown below, you should make  quick work of lifthing the whole thing off.  Never tried the heat gun, but have used an iron (with a towel under) to reactivate and reglue a bubble in the lam.

   Even a wonder bar (which might crack the lam or poke a hole in it) will work to gradually lift the lam-like a wedge would do.

   
4. 
   glenaspen | Dec 01, 2010 05:44pm | #6

   If it's a solvent based contact cement and if you can remove the countertop and take it to a safer work area, lacquer thinner will release the bond pretty quickly as you work it between the p-lam and substrate, using a putty knife and a squeeze bottle. If you can't remove the countertop there are a bunch of concerns with using lacquer thinner (or acetone, etc). These chemicals are highly flammable, have brain cell eating vapors, and will break down any lacquer they hit (cabinets, self edge, etc.). If you decide to use lacquer thinner inside a house, heed these warnings.

1. 
   calvin | Dec 01, 2010 05:47pm | #7

   heed these warnings.

   Thank you.

2. 
   semar | Dec 03, 2010 07:59pm | #8

   laminate removal

   Double the warning

   READ THE WARNING LABELS

   My painter killed himself removing woodpanelling with laquer thinner in a basement suite. The fumes were ignited from a gasfired heater. Destroyed the basement, left a wife with 3 children homeless.