Mid Century Laminate??

[Sienna]

Hello,
I am new here and very new to woodwork! An enthusiastic amateur! I have a passion for Mid Century modern furniture and design and thought I might try my hand at 'up-cycling' a few cheap pieces I have picked up.

So my question today is about a little sideboard that I'm working on. I has a thick laminate on the top and sides, that I would say is probably not original(??). I want to paint these areas and Im wondering if Im better off trying to remove it and paint straight onto the wood below (could it be chipboard?) or prime and paint the laminate??

Im also very happy to receive any other advice about this project! Im still not sure exactly what to do with the doors, it looks like veneer, but as im sanding it Im thinking I may just be able to oil them and leave them unpainted? Also unsure if I should stain and/or varnish??

Thanks!!

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[RoyG]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you use the words "thick laminate" on the top and sides.

When I initially read your post, before looking at the photographs, I thought that when you said "thick laminate" that you meant something like Laminex, Formica, or similar. But then, looking at the photos, it looks like the top and sides of the cabinet have a wood grain finish, so your "thick laminate" could also be a timber veneer with timber edging to cover the underlying MDF or particle board, or it might still be laminex or formica with a faux wood grain appearance.

If the "thick laminate" on the top and sides is simply timber veneer glued onto the underlying MDF or particle board, then after sanding you can paint or varnish straight over the veneer. You might need to do some investigating to work out what the existing finish is (Lacquer, Varnish, one of the Catalised Finishes, etc) to work to exactly what surface preparation will be needed, and exactly what types of finish will be compatible with what you've got. Be careful when sanding the veneer, as it is usually very thin (typically around 0.5 mm thick, unless the veneer was hand made), and it is real easy to sand through the thin veneers that are normally supplied on veneered MDF boards.

If the "thick laminate" is in fact Laminex, Formica, or similar, then it can be painted, but you need special Laminate Paint and primers to ensure that it sticks well to the laminate, and there's a specific surface preparation to be followed, which is detailed on the cans of Laminate Paint, and Laminate Primer. You may be able to use just the Laminate Paint Primer on the laminate, and then use whatever other ordinary paint you desire over the whole lot, but check with the paint experts re what paints can go over the Laminate Paints and Laminate Primers. Laminate paints are usually used on kitchen benches to re-new a worn laminate work bench. Don't try to remove the existing laminate, as it won't typically come away cleanly at the glue line, and will instead usually tear away some of the surface of the underlying MDF or particle board making for a big job to get a clean smooth surface for painting.

Hope that helps,

RoyG

[Sienna]

Hi RoyG
Thanks so much for your response. I'm pretty sure it is a laminate and not a veneer, but I'm no expert 😛 it has a very plastic finish, the wood grain is a flat image, no texture at all. I think leaving it and painting it is the go. There is a very small chip in one of the corners and I read somewhere that you can use car body bog to fill chips like this so I may give that a go!
😀

[Christos]

This sort of reminds me of a cabinet that my mothers aunty had. It would have been about the early seventies but can not recall exactly as I was a youngster.

It had sliding doors and really shinny surface, it was a woody grainy type appearance but it was not wood. It would most likely have been some type of Laminex to give the appearance of wood. I remember the black edges similar to what you have.

I know that car body bog can be used for other applications than just for a car and sanded down to the desired profile.

[Master Splinter]

A better solution than car bog is epoxy - and you can just use a $3 no-name pack from the $2 Store, and not have a $15 tin of bog sitting round till it hardens by itself!

[Sienna]

Ah, good tip! Thanks, I will only need a little bit and am definitely after a cheap (easy) option!

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Sorry to say this, but I think that you may be about to blow away the value in what you have. Now, I am no expert in what you have - I do know something about Australian antiques, but this is different. However, my grandmother loved this kind of stuff and my mid-twenties son also loves it. It is becoming really popular and can be quite valuable. BUT, if you paint it you have blown the value away.

It is probably Laminex, probably over plywood for that age, and the doors are very thin timber veneers. Keep it as original as you can and you will keep its value. A very light clean on the timber veneers followed by wax. If you really must then perhaps some Danish oil (appropriate for the age). The Laminex will look better with a good wax - perhaps even something like Renaissance poly Wax.

Less is definitely more.

[artme]

Top and sides are wood grain laminex.

Doors and draw front are timber veneer on particleboard. Rest is solid timber.

Style is generally known as Scandanavian, Danish, Swedish modern. Take your pick!!

I agree with Xanthorrhoeas. Keep the thing original.

Much of this earlier veneered particleboard furniture was rather well made and has stood the test of time.
They are considered modern design classics.

[double.d]

Looks like an old 1.2mm Gloss Wood grain laminate to me. It is a classic piece and the timber will come up good with a polish. I would guess that under that laminate there is a timber veneer which someone has covered over to hide something. If it were me I would remove the laminate sand or clean the glue off and re laminate it with timber veneer and finish it the same as the legs and doors.

[Sienna]

Thanks All. Yes, I am very familiar with the style, I would say Im a bit of a collector (Here is a little pic of my lounge room, and I just picked up another lovely Danish Teak day bed that Im going to reupholster and restore)

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The cabinet I am considering painting is not a collectible it is a very basic, chipboard style;

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but that's why I thought it would be a perfect candidate for a slightly more creative approach Im about to go and bet the laminate primer now, I'll keep updated on my progress.

Let me know what you think, I'll see if I can convince you I've made the right choice

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Good luck. I can see it is chippy inside so it must be a much later version than my grandmother's stuff.

[artme]

Great looking collection of that style!!!

If I remember correctly there was a piece on Antiques Roadshow that had a quite high value placed on it.

Derek Cohen made a chair that was a copy of one of a Danish designers pieces.

Keep collecting!! You will probably get plenty for very little.