Workers Of Wood

Anyone ever try doing that to lay down new laminate? One of the local kids that went to school with mine asked if I would redo his countertops since he can't get anyone in town to come out and do it. I said okay but it's looking like I'll regret that. So far we haven't been able to find any screws holding the top to the bottoms. He managed to peel off a small section between his stove and fridge and there weren't any under the laminate either. We found a blob of glue between the upright in one section and the top so we're starting to think that the top might be glued on. That means the only way I can replace it is to cut out holes though the top so that I can take an oscillating tool and split the joint. Or try to lay new laminate down on top of the existing particle board. So far the only mechanical method I found that worked on a plywood piece that I stripped the laminate off of in my shop was to plane the glue off. I don't know if that will work yet on particle board. Any other suggestions?

When they used the old contact cement that was solvent based, we used lacquer thinner to soften it enough to scrape it down to the wood and apply a new coat of the same. Another way was to stick down a layer of 1/4" or 3/8" plywood then laminate over that. Best way is to remove old top. Can you just cut across the top in sections to remove?
Herb

I can with an oscillating tool. I'd have to have a door open to use solvents and it's only in the mid 30s today. He just got in touch with me and he thinks it was nail gunned down, If that's true then I should be able to bang it up with a mallet. I'll find out in a while. I'm headed up to test a separate counter from the rest that's only a straight 5 foot section.

He is probably right. The solvent method would be the last resort . I have even just laid new laminate on top of the old. Ruffed it up with a belt sander and applied new cement on top. If you cut it you could drill a hole as large as your saber saw and stick the blade thru. Dam I hate remodel......
Herb

Renos almost always have surprises attached to the job. He pulled the old top off and it's not as bad as we thought. It was partly glued down but they added strips of 3/4 ply under the top to lift it enough so that the doors wouldn't hit the edging they added. The edging is 3/4 by 1 1/2 solid oak. The top he pulled off either left some of the build up behind or parted it company from the cases so I can at least get to what's left with an oscillating tool to separate what's left so I can install a new top. This time I'll screw some strips to the sides of the cases so that I can screw to the under side of the top like you're supposed to do.

I did make an effort to scrape some of the old glue off the particle board. Where I was able to plane it off plywood I couldn't off particle board. Too porous I guess. I had to go the solvent method a few years ago with my daughters top. It definitely is the last resort. Getting to be too labor intensive for me.