Have a nice Knoll credenza, but it has a few nicks and scratches. Trying to guage how difficult it would be to replace the veneer and possibly move to a lighter wood such as maple.

Is it as simple as it would seem...Rip off the old veneer, get some glue, apply the replacement, and hit the edges with a planar?

Where would one buy nice sheets of wood veneer?

4/12/2007 11:43:18 PM

Is there particle board underneath?

4/12/2007 11:55:34 PM

I believe so. Is it going to come apart if I try to remove the veneer? Don't want to mess up my cabnit.

[Edited on April 13, 2007 at 12:07 AM. Reason : l]

4/13/2007 12:05:22 AM

I don't know. I was just thinking that it might--depending on how compact the particle board is, whether it has absorbed any moisture, and how strong the original adhesive was and how well it bonded.

I really think it could go either way. The veneer could pop right off or it might seem like it's welded on there--I think it could be tricky. I mean, if you get a lot of it off, you're committed, you know?

Do you love this piece of furniture?

[Edited on April 13, 2007 at 12:17 AM. Reason : .]

4/13/2007 12:15:55 AM

I don't have it in me to love a piece of furniture.

It's a walnut veneer and it is not separating from the furniture anywhere. The particle board has not been exposed to moisture and it is not delaminating anywhere. The only reason I know it is particle board is that there are a few holes drilled on the inside for wiring to go through.

It doesn't have any sentimental value, but it is a pretty valuable piece. It's really not bad in it's current state. Just a few scratches that will probably touch up well with a furniture crayon. I guess I'll just do that for the time being.

[Edited on April 13, 2007 at 10:56 AM. Reason : s]

4/13/2007 10:55:04 AM

if it's particle board, you will destroy it trying to remove the veneer. The veneers are put on during the manufacturing process of the panel and are generally pretty well adhered.

If you want to try it, find a spot underneath a panel or out of sight and run a hot iron over it. If they used typical heat set glue, it should come right off. If they used industrial contact cement or epoxy resin (which is MUCH more likely) it will just get really hot and might ripple a little.

If the first happens, you can remove it, go buy iron-on veneer and put it back on the same way.

You just need an iron, a veneer trimmer, a utility knife and a block sander. Keep in mind you'll have to apply either polyacrylic or varnish on the veneer after the fact to seal it, and you'll want to be wearing a respirator for that.

4/13/2007 1:27:38 PM

^Bingo

The glue they use to attach the veneer to the Particle board gets absorbed into it like a sponge. The adhesive it stronger than the particle board, or the veneer. So when you go to pull it off, one of those things will break before the Adhesive gives up.

You MAY be able to steam it off or something like that to weaken the glue, but is it really worth all that?

4/13/2007 2:48:06 PM

There is some really good info in this thread that I can use on some other modern furniture I own even if I don't use it on this particular piece. Thanks.

What about veneer on top of veneer for simple items like end tables, coffee tables, side tables, etc.?

4/13/2007 3:09:05 PM

Yea you can generally apply veneers over other veneer, just sand it really well to get off whatever sealer is on it, then apply the new stuff. Just be careful on the edges, or it can end up looking like there's two layers.

4/13/2007 6:35:42 PM