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how do i get a scratch out of formica?Is there a product?
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How do I get a scratch out of formica?Is there a product?
*Eric, I don't know of any way that will get rid of a scratch other than to touch it up with like colored caulk. If it isn't a deep scratch, sometimes you can dress it up with a similar colored magic marker or crayon. But the scratch will still be there.About 2 months ago I built a new kitchen and countertops for a customer. At the end of the job the customer thought that he could save a few dollars by hireing a handy man to install his sink and appliances rather than call the plumber and electrician. First thing the handy man did was take the microwave out of the box, set it on the new laminate counter I just got through building, then he slid it about 6 ft to where the opening for it was located. All along the path where the microwave was slid was a deep scratch in the formica. I guess the customer got what he paid for.As for the repair. The handyman got my bill for a new countertop installation, which was the only way to repair this scratch.
*Even if the scratch is somewhat deep, they do make touch-up fillers for laminates. You will need to go check with laminate suppliers. The fillers I have used are called Form-Fill and Seam-Fill and are made in colors to match all formica. The big box stores won't carry it, but the suppliers that sell laminate to them will have it. Here in Des Moines and in Omaha a company called Sunderland Brothers carry it. It runs approx. $5.00 a tube. Its not a caulk, but a plastic filler made for this purpose.Steven
*One little trick I used to use was to take a scrap of the laminate and put a scratch in it. Then take it to an art supply house and go to their "Pantone" marker section and try all the colours on the scratch untill the scratch pretty much dissapears. Doesn't fix the scratch but......
*Clean that scratch, seamfil has a hard time getting a bite in a shallow scratch. Best of luck.
*You don't mention the color or pattern. Is it Formica brand plastic laminate? Or could it be Pionite or Wilsonart? Check with manufacturer or local fabricator for a seamfil color match. Sometimes you can find a small autobody touchup lacquer that will come close.
*You can also try sealing wax,,the kind used to seal letters,if it is small and out of the way.
*Once, while building countertops, I had a little accident with the router when trimming the top.What happened, was that I was careless setting the depth of cut, and I somehow skimmed the first color layer off of the face of the countertop for about 1/4" down by the length of the top.Prismacolor markers, which are maybe like the pantone markers, I don't know, anyhow Prismacolor markers come in lots of colors, and the really great thing about them is that they have two ends - one fine and one thick. About 1/4" thick - just what I needed. The other really great thing about them is that they are blendable. Three or four markers fixed the problem and I was on my way. Was back on the job a few months later and I couldn't even find the problem area.
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how do i get a scratch out of formica?Is there a product?