patching formica edge banding

I probably asked this before, but I can't remember the answer, and can't find it in Google.

Can anyone recommend a specific brand of stuff to putty over some chip-outs in the edge banding of some older formica countertops? House is 1960, but I think these date from mid-70s. Just looking for something to disguise them a little, to tide me over till the kitchen can get redone several years from now. I'm not gonna put new counters on cabinets previous owner fubar'd with bad faux finish and multiple layers of contact paper inside. (When the more urgent stuff gets done, I may spring for new flooring/cabinets/counters, but it is usable as-is. It would sure look a lot better if I could bandaid the wounds, though.)

aem sends...

Reply to
ameijers
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According to ameijers :

There's a whole host of things you could do this with, depending on how much trouble you want to go to, how tough you need it, and how you're going to blend it in.

If the chipouts aren't too severe, touch-up paint may hide it just enough to not be an eyesore.

If it's a solid color, you may be able to find some suitable melamine paint, which is quite tough, and will match pretty well.

I have some white melamine paint I use for minor touchups (eg: "seconds" countertop used in a craft room).

Otherwise, model airplane paint is probably the most economical way to do it, and it'll be reasonably tough.

If paint alone isn't enough:

Some wood fillers _may_ work, but you'd have to experiment.

I'm partial to using epoxy for this sort of repair. Since we use epoxy for various things, we have good quality stuff on hand (eg: West Systems) which I'd thicken up with silica filler (West Systems is pretty runny). You could probably get away with 5 minute epoxy without the filler if you make up a "dam" (popcicle stick) lined with, say, plastic from zip lock bags to keep it from dribbling off. You may need to sand or file the result.

Provided that the result is properly painted, you could use fine sawdust as filler.

[With West, you'd mix filler:epoxy about 3:1. 5 minute would need less filler, but you have to work fast.]

Then paint.

Lee Valley (and I assume others) carry a two part compound called "Raycrete". Specifically intended as a repair material for gouges/voids in wood etc. Eg: reconstituting rot-damaged exterior trim. This is really good stuff, but the minimum size is a lot bigger than you need, and this stuff ain't cheap.

West Systems has a small "repair/sample" kit. Intended as a sample, or for very small repairs - about $10. Silica filler (eg: from suppliers for automotive body or marine shops) is really cheap stuff, but minimum quantities are about 500ml.

Oh, heck, Bondo or a tube of automotive glazing compound would also do the job, and be about the easiest to find.

Reply to
Chris Lewis

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