Kitchen Cabinet Veneer Delaminating -Please Help

[jbasen]

My wife and I bought a "Spec House" about 6 years ago.  Typically in spec houses there are shortcuts taken to keep the cost down as much as possible but overall we have been very happy with the quality of the construction.  However, we have started to run into a problem with the kitchen cabinets.  The cabinets have knotty alder doors with veneered boxes. 

The problem I am having is that I am starting to see the veneer on end cabinets delaminating from the boxes.  I've attached a close up photo to show the issue.  I figure that I have one shot to fix this so I wanted to ask the pros how they would address the issue before I force some glue in, clamp it, not have it hold, and have covered the interior surfaces with dried glue making another try at fixing it impossible.

Any help that can be offered would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bohdan]

The veneer edging was most likely attached with a heat sensitive glue. You may be able to reactivated the bond by heating the edging with a normal electric iron. Do some tests in a preferable inconspicuous location as to how much heat you can apply, the best setting on the iron etc. You don't need a lot of heat so start fairly cool and work your way up in temperature until bonding occurs before you damage the surface. Any glue that oozes out will scrape off easily once it cools.

 

[bertv]

You could also augment that process by squirting small amounts of glue in the cavities, eg with a syringe. Using some butchers paper as a cushion between the iron and the veneer helps.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=5467]Bert Vanderveen[/member] and [member=36526]Bohdan[/member]

I'm not sure if it matters but this isn't the veneer edging but the veneer on the flat face of an end cabinet.  I've attached a second photo showing the same cabinet I took the previous close up picture of.  If you look closely you can see the spot where, on the side of the cabinet, the veneer is delaminating from the box.  It is the same spot I took the previous close up picture. 

If this really is a situation where heat activated glue is giving way, can you recommend a brand of heat activated glue that I could squirt in to supplement the glue that is there?  Please note I am in the US.  I saw that you are in Australia and the Netherlands.

Thanks again for your help

 

[bobfog]

If it were me I'd use some Titebond Cold Press Veneer glue, put some in the gap and clamp the gap closed. I'd also put something between the clamp and the veneer to stop them bonding together if there's any squeeze out, a bit of polished perspex would be ideal.
http://www.titebond.com/product.aspx?id=fdb9c5cb-15b3-49b3-b709-5794cc3ae102

Depending on how brittle the veneer felt and how much tension is in it I'd also consider steaming it with a steam iron to make it a little more flexible as to avoid it cracking when clamped.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=60286]bobfog[/member]

I'm not sure if this makes a difference.  I've been in touch with the people who originally made the kitchen cabinets.  They have told me that they veneers were originally attached to the boxes using "spray contact glue".  Does that change which glue you would recommend using to try and reattach the veneer?  The veneers are still quite flexible so there won't be an issue clamping them back into place.  Given the replies I think it is really an issue of choosing the right glue given what was used or can heat be used to reactivate the contact cement?

Thanks again for everyone's help

 

[tjbnwi]

CA.

Tom

 

[jbasen]

Thanks [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]

 

[tjbnwi]

Thanks [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member]

You're welcome, just don't get your fingers stuck to the veneer.

Tom

 

[Bohdan]

If the original glue was spray contact it may be releasing because there was not enough glue sprayed in that spot or because there was not enough pressure applied there. As you can't tell which I would go with the CA suggestion.

 

[jbasen]

Thanks again [member=36526]Bohdan[/member]

 

[Peter_C]

If the original glue was spray contact it may be releasing because there was not enough glue sprayed in that spot or because there was not enough pressure applied there. As you can't tell which I would go with the CA suggestion.

The cause could also be moisture. Looks like it is over a stove? Make sure to use your hood fan when cooking.

 

[jbasen]

If the original glue was spray contact it may be releasing because there was not enough glue sprayed in that spot or because there was not enough pressure applied there. As you can't tell which I would go with the CA suggestion.

The cause could also be moisture. Looks like it is over a stove? Make sure to use your hood fan when cooking.

Thanks [member=50292]Peter_C[/member]

However it is happening on all the end cabinets around the kitchen and has nothing to do with being close to the stove. I also live in a mountainous area that is considered high desert.  Needless to say the humidity here is very low.  I appreciate the suggestion but I don't think misture is the root of the problem.  I only wish it was something was doing and could change.

 

[jbasen]

Does anyone know of a CA glue that comes in a syringe so that I can make sure I get good coverage in the back of these areas that have delaminated?  I've been doing internet searches and have found plenty of empty syringes that are designed for you to add your own glue but none that are pre-filled with CA glue.  I'm just concerned that if I add my own CA glue to a syringe I'm going to have issues with exposing the CA glue to air and causing it to solidify in the syringe before I can use it,  I have 13 delamination spots to glue in the kitchen.

Thanks again for everyone's help

 

[Lou in DE]

I keep Super Glue in these small one-time use packages - 12/pkg - might work for you - there is also a "Gel" version that might
work better for vertical applications - good price too:
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Glue-Or...bxgy_60_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1257570Z72QFYJ4HN2D6

 

[Bohdan]

  I'm just concerned that if I add my own CA glue to a syringe I'm going to have issues with exposing the CA glue to air and causing it to solidify in the syringe before I can use it
/quote]

CA glue hardens when air is removed, you need to have air in the syringe to prevent it hardening in the syringe.

 

[jbasen]

I keep Super Glue in these small one-time use packages - 12/pkg - might work for you - there is also a "Gel" version that might
work better for vertical applications - good price too:
http://www.amazon.com/Super-Glue-Or...bxgy_60_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=1257570Z72QFYJ4HN2D6

Thanks [member=48620]Lou in DE[/member]

 

[jbasen]

  I'm just concerned that if I add my own CA glue to a syringe I'm going to have issues with exposing the CA glue to air and causing it to solidify in the syringe before I can use it
/quote]

CA glue hardens when air is removed, you need to have air in the syringe to prevent it hardening in the syringe.

Interesting.  I thought it was exposure to moisture that caused CA glue to harden.  For example, the residual moisture on your skin causes the CA glue to bond instantly with it. [scared]

 

[tiralie]

Does anyone know of a CA glue that comes in a syringe so that I can make sure I get good coverage in the back of these areas that have delaminated? 

You can buy single use tubes of Crazy Glue (CA glue) which will work for this purpose. Be very careful with your application, if you have too much you will have squeeze out and it will cloud the finish and you will have to retouch the finish. You may want to try brushing a thin coat into the bubbled up area. For areas in the middle of panels you will need to make a small slice with an razor blade in the middle of the bubble along the grain. When applying the glue push down on one side to get the glue under the bubble and then the same on the other. You will need to temporarily clamp your work piece. A CA deactivator will loosen the glue but usually dissolves the finish.
I have done this many times when commercial veneers delaminate while applying stain.

I have 13 delamination spots to glue in the kitchen.

You will either need 13 single use tubes or 13 syringes. No other way around it. Once glued with CA, it doesn't come up.

 

[tiralie]

I thought it was exposure to moisture that caused CA glue to harden.  For example, the residual moisture on your skin causes the CA glue to bond instantly with it. [scared]

This is correct.