fixing "goof holes" in "faux wood" paneling

[dicktill]

Hi all,

I'm making some modifications to my camper cabinets & panels. The material (they) used is plywood with some sort of thin vinyl "faux wood" design covering. Whenever something is screwed to this material it pulls up the vinyl and I need to repair some of these where items have been moved or removed. I think any sort of sanding operation is out of the question as this will scratch the vinyl. Any ideas?

Thanks, Dick

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[monstrol]

Bondo, level with razor blade, use fluid acrylics found at blick art supplies, hobby lobby,ect..
burnt sienna, raw sienna, raw umber, burnt umber, are the go to colors for furniture touch up. Black and white help too. You may not need all those.  Just get the colors that match the paneling.

 

[dicktill]

Thanks monstrol! I guess you automatically win the "best idea award".  : )

Bondo hadn't occurred to me, but I imagine that it would be much harder than wood fillers once it cures. But is wood filler not suitable, especially since it is pre-colored? Would it make any sense to try to color the Bondo before applying it?

I am still worried about trimming off the protruding vinyl in that I'm afraid I'll tend to peel more of it off. I guess I need to work toward the center of the hole. Does it make any sense to try to push the protruding material inward with a small ball before applying the Bondo?

Any other advice out there?

Thanks, Dick

 

[Steve-Rice]

Hang a picture over the holes!  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Seriously though, I believe Fastcap makes little round peel and stick wood colored dots which may be a very simple solution for you. They come in different wood species,  so you may be able to find a good color match.

 

[dicktill]

Thanks Steve, I'll try the FastCap peel and stick dots if the other method doesn't work. But I still have to flatten the raised area carefully, and haven't tried doing that yet.

 

[tiralie]

Any ideas?

These are probably Thermafoil or vinyl coated panels. You will have to make the hole worse before it gets better. I would cut out, not sand the raised part of the hole so it is even with the surface, then I would carefully score around the raised part of the hole. Then I would mask the hole with some removable paint block tape and carefully remove the top layer of vinyl around the hole and then fill. Once filled, remove the tape and paint to match. If you have to sand be careful not remove too much of the color from the panel around the hole.
I agree some wood colored Bondo or some epoxy putty that matches the field color and then hand painting the grain back in is your best bet for a seamless fix.
Good luck.
Tim

 

[dicktill]

Thank Tim (as always!)

BTW, the camper came from your neck of the woods: it is a Roadtrek/Chevy camper van made in Kitchener Ont. Wish I could find a source for the vinyl covered plywood here in the US. Of course Roadtrek will sell me a panel for a $150+! (that was the price a few years ago)

Regards, Dick

 

[tiralie]

Search for kitchen cabinet/doors manufacturers and thermafoil they may be able to match.
Tim