91 WB40, repair inlay countertop trim

[Dave Stokes]

From someone who's been there done that, the metal trim can removed pretty easily. A $20 heat gun on its highest setting waved back and forth from a distance of about 10" or so will slowly heat the trim and loosen the contact cement or whatever adhesive was used. BB used an adhesive backed product in '98. Slowly lift the trim away using a twisting motion with a small putty knife. once the heat is far enough away from the lifted piece you can start slowing pulling it by hand. Once removed you can use an adhesive remover on the Corian and the trim. If you didn't dent it or crease it you can reuse it. use weldwood contact adhesive on the back of the trim and in the recess on the counter. once the adhesive had dried you can slowly reattach the trim. no clamps needed. once the two touch they're glued. If you mess up and start crooked you can heat the trim back up a little and adjust. However, it becomes much more permanent once pressure is applied. The heat gun and patience will remove every piece of laminate from the walls, doors, cabinets...

[Ernest Ekberg]

Behind all the laminate is birch plywood

[Dave Stokes]

Originally Posted by Ernest Ekberg

Behind all the laminate is birch plywood

I know! Hey Ernie, Do you have a new photo album of all your work?

[Ernest Ekberg]

The groups.io has all 10,000 photos listed by coaches

[RhodeKille]

Originally Posted by Ernest Ekberg

Behind all the laminate is birch plywood

Anyone ever strip the Nevamar (or whatever that facing is) from the cabinets and end up with decent looking birch that could be stained or something?

[Ernest Ekberg]

IF- you could ever sand enough of the contact cement that has penetrated the plywood- maybe. Sanding that would be a gummy mess as the heat generated would reactivate the adhesive.

[Stretch44875]

Finally got around to repairing trim. Went pretty well. Ground end of file to make a scraper for recess, used it to remove glue from counter top and trim. Was able to reuse trim. Welwood contact cement, and adhesive remover for any mess. Hopefully good for another 30 years!