How to Fix a Wood Table Covered With Laminate

Wood is a long lasting and beautiful building material. From time to time we come up with ways to improve upon its looks or durability. One of these ways is by applying plastic laminates to the surface of the wood. With a little elbow grease and a few common supplies you can restore the original wood finish to a tabletop that has been covered in laminate. There is no quick fix, but the solution is fairly easy if you don't mind a little hard work. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Removing the Laminate

1

Peel as much laminate from the tabletop as you can with a small flat metal scraper. Wear gloves to avoid cuts from the sharp edges. Try to take off as large a piece as possible to avoid small shards.

2

Use acetone or nail polish remover to soften the glue under more stubborn sections. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation and wear rubber gloves to avoid skin irritation. Use a plastic bottle with a pointed nozzle to flood the area with acetone. Let it sit for 30 seconds to a minute, then resume scraping.

3

Soften any remaining glue--once laminate is removed--with acetone and scrape away. Be sure to have a trash-bag lined can or old paint bucket or other disposable container to dispose of scrapings. Once the top layer is mostly gone, a razor scraper may help to remove the finer film that is left behind.

Refinishing the Tabletop

4

Use a belt sander with 80-grit belts to sand down the tabletop to the wood. This will remove most of the finish. Be careful not to go too deep or you will damage the wood top. Use furniture stripper to get finish out of seams and other details. Apply with a soft bristle brush. Use quad 0 steel wool to remove the softened finish. Once all the varnish and stain is removed, sand the top with 150-grit paper in a random orbit sander.

5

Apply your choice of stain using a soft bristle brush. Brush with the grain in long smooth strokes for even coverage. Apply a second coat if needed. Follow manufacturer's directions for best results. Typically, instructions will call for excess stain to be wiped away with a lint free cloth but cloth baby diapers work well.

6

Allow stain to dry and apply two to three coats of clear finish to seal the tabletop. This comes in a variety of sheens from flat to high gloss, choose the one you like best. Be sure to read instructions fully before beginning application and work in a well-ventilated space, taking frequent breaks for fresh air.