Variations in Dimensional Stability Between Edge-Joined Materials

[Searcher7]

I just finished a repair project that required me to edge join plywood to vinyl covered particle board.

I used wood filler in the seam and intend to use Bondo to repair the particle board edges where small chips are missing.

Now since the idea is to paint the cabinet white and then apply artwork to it's sides, what will basically be a giant art sticker will have to cover the seam where the plywood and particle board meet.

So I was concerned that differences in dimensional stability between the the plywood and particle board might be an issue and was hoping for opinions and recommendations on how I should prepare the sides of the cabinet before the artwork is applied.

Originally, the artwork was screen printed onto the vinyl covered particle board as shown in this picture:

now the bottom portions of my cabinet are plywood.

Thanks.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

[Swingman]

vinyl covered particle board.

board edges where small chips are missing.

it's sides, what will basically be a giant art sticker will have to cover the seam where the plywood and particle board meet.

plywood and particle board might be an issue and was hoping for opinions and recommendations on how I should prepare the sides of the cabinet before the artwork is applied.

board as shown in this picture:

> But now the bottom portions of my cabinet are plywood.

IME, and regardless of the difference in the materials you mention, if the join is flush to begin with, and exposed faces and edges are painted/topcoated in the same manner, the repaired parts will remain flush as long as neither part gets wet in the future.

Rarely do see either of these products vary in thickness at all after the edges and surfaces have been sealed.

[Larry Jaques]

covered particle board.

board edges where small chips are missing.

sides, what will basically be a giant art sticker will have to cover the seam where the plywood and particle board meet.

plywood and particle board might be an issue and was hoping for opinions and recommendations on how I should prepare the sides of the cabinet before the artwork is applied.

Because of the flexibility of the polyester bondo, I suggested that as the seam filler. Sand flat w/ 150 grit, prime, sand smooth w/ 320, apply sticker.

board as shown in this picture:

And less prone to moisture damage. That looked like nice hardwood ply, too.

-- It is easier to fool people than it is to convince people that they have been fooled. --Mark Twain

[Searcher7]

vinyl covered particle board.

particle board edges where small chips are missing.

it's sides, what will basically be a giant art sticker will have to cover the seam where the plywood and particle board meet.

plywood and particle board might be an issue and was hoping for opinions and recommendations on how I should prepare the sides of the cabinet before the artwork is applied.

board as shown in this picture:

and apply artwork?

I have something called Thompson's Water Seal:

that is probably not appropriate for this project because the particle board is covered in thin vinyl.

Thanks.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

[Larry Jaques]

and apply artwork?

board is covered in thin vinyl.

Waterseal contains silicone. Don't even touch the can before trying to put a finish on anything, Darren. It's evil shit, IMHO.

Most primers are called primer/sealer, so that would probably be enough for you. Several of the guys around here like Zinsser BIN. I probably would have liked it better if I'd thinned it prior to use. It's a pigmented shellac-based product.

Home improvement stores carry a product called sanding sealer (nitrocellulose lacquer or waterbased acrylic) and it is meant to be used under paint. It's usually cheaper than paint, plus it can be found in most stores.

-- The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. -- Madeleine L'Engle

[Searcher7]

paint, and apply artwork?

board is covered in thin vinyl.

Thanks a lot.

OK. I made a decision.

It would appear that this vinyl would have to come off the particle board. That way I can sand at the seam where it meets the plywood replacement piece. Then I can seal/prime the entire cabinet as one piece before painting and adding artwork.

Would a heat gun work?

The vinyl actually lifted up where I cut of the damaged portion and replaced with plywood, but it seems to be fused onto the rest of the cabinet pretty good.

Thanks.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

[Larry Jaques]

--big snip--

way I can sand at the seam where it meets the plywood replacement piece. Then I can seal/prime the entire cabinet as one piece before painting and adding artwork.

Yes, but try a regular hair dryer first. It should loosen the adhesive and you can pull it up. Carefully slice through just the vinyl with a razor blade at the point you want to pull it up to and mask the top part so it doesn't get heated. A weighted piece of plywood would work. Use mineral spirits to clean off any residual adhesive. Try acetone or lacquer thinner if it's stubborn.

The hair dryer is less likely to melt the adhesive off the vinyl. If that doesn't work, use a heat gun at a good distance. The temp of air coming from one is several times hotter than the flash point of the vinyl.

with plywood, but it seems to be fused onto the rest of the cabinet pretty good.

Yeah, it might have hardened a bit, too.

-- The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. -- Madeleine L'Engle

[Searcher7]

That way I can sand at the seam where it meets the plywood replacement piece. Then I can seal/prime the entire cabinet as one piece before painting and adding artwork.

with plywood, but it seems to be fused onto the rest of the cabinet pretty good.

Thanks a lot.

Baldy here doesn't have a hair dryer. :-)

When I first tried my heat gun it over loaded the circuit, so I switched it to low and using a putty knife with consistent pressure it's tedious but seems to be working and coming off clean.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

[Larry Jaques]

WHAT? You should have one for drying the scalp wax, if nothing else. ;)

low and using a putty knife with consistent pressure it's tedious but seems to be working and coming off clean.

I used one on 26 painted cabinet doors in my old house (something I would -never- do again) and learned the trick during the second one. Pre-warm ahead of yourself and then when the goo gels and your putty knife starts sliding, move down and keep the heat ahead of the knife. You've probably gleaned that by now.

With stickers, though, it's different. You have to get it hot enough to release the adhesive from the wood but not the vinyl. 'Heat, cool, and pull' is the method which worked for pulling decals off auto paint for me. I haven't done game cabs, but the concept should work.

-- While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness. -- Gilda Radner

[Searcher7]

Don't use wax. I have a built-in shine. :)

to low and using a putty knife with consistent pressure it's tedious but seems to be working and coming off clean.

Actually I alternated between heating ahead of the knife and just trying to pull. Both sides took about 3-1/2 hours.

I noticed that the cabinet was smooth where I used the heat and a little rough where I just pulled and the vinyl took with it tiny grains. So I assume that pulling took the most adhesive with it. But there is no stickiness to the cabinet either way.

After sanding I just have to figure out what kind of primer to put on.

I do have BEHR Interior #75 White Enamel Undercoater Primer and Sealer that can be used under Satin, Semi Gloss and High Gloss Enamel Topcoats.

When done, the cabinet will be painted white before applying new vinyl sideart.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.

[Larry Jaques]

Ear wax, eh? (Ewwwwwwww!)

pull. Both sides took about 3-1/2 hours.

Ouch!

where I just pulled and the vinyl took with it tiny grains. So I assume that pulling took the most adhesive with it. But there is no stickiness to the cabinet either way.

That's good.

A nice sticky alkyd.

be used under Satin, Semi Gloss and High Gloss Enamel Topcoats.

Good enough, I reckon.

I'm guessing that you removed the entire sheet of vinyl art and am surprised that you didn't just remove the bottom section and repaint with a nice, glossy white to match the vinyl. Are these yours, or is this a job for someone who requested the replaced artwork?

-- While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness. -- Gilda Radner

[Searcher7]

pull. Both sides took about 3-1/2 hours.

rough where I just pulled and the vinyl took with it tiny grains. So I assume that pulling took the most adhesive with it. But there is no stickiness to the cabinet either way.

can be used under Satin, Semi Gloss and High Gloss Enamel Topcoats.

After over three decades of scratches this machine needs all new side art. And the entire cabinet needs to be painted in order for the repair to be seamless.

After the sides look like one piece I can paint and ad new side art.

Darren Harris Staten Island, New York.