Fixing cracked chipboard?

[sweetheart]

DIY for once.

I have bought a cabinet from a charity shop. It didn't cost much but when they moved a small ( about an inch) section on the top got ripped ( it had a plinth on top and they took it off and I think thats what ripped it. Anyway, its chipboard I think ( covered in a laminate or something like kitchen cabinets) . I was wondering how would be best to fix this bit as its on the top and whilst at the back is on the showing side where I have it.

It seems to have been depressed and although I have the laminate bit that came off, I cant get it back in . I just wondered if anyone could suggest how to repair it? Might it be possible to cut the bit out altogether or something and glue or paint over with some sort of beading ?

I don't know. I am open to suggestions.

[The Natural Philosopher]

car body filler, sand flat and spray the whole side with car paint.

[John Rumm]

Melamine covered chip is very difficult to repair so you can't see the join. Depends a bit on the colour and pattern. You may need to trim the bit you have down a bit to get it back in place. Glue it on with a proper impact adhesive like evo-stick. Then fill with a polyester resin two part filler[1] - making the application as smooth as possible. Sand with some wet'n'dry paper to get a smooth finish without scratching up the surrounding finish, and finally touch in with an acrylic paint to match as best you can.

[1] car body filler is cheap, but grey. Ronseal do a wood filler version in a white, and pine colours that may be a better bet.

[sweetheart]

Thank you for the suggestions. I should have mentioned its a glass cabinet with mirror back. Quite nice really. I can see how your suggestions may work. I think I refer wood filler to car filler . I could varnish over ( I think its walnut coloured - dark wood anyway).

It had a plinth thing on the top ( which is why it got damaged I think - the plinth thing seems to have got ripped away. I wasn't planning on re fixing the plinth thing. I did wonder if I could put one of those molded attractive wood things around the top edge ( they look a bit like skirting board but are much smaller and seem to be used as decorative edging things instead of the plinth though after I have sorted out the bit on the back /side edge.

Is it OK just to glue a molding on or do I have to tack it on?

[John Rumm]

The wood filler and car body filler are same stuff bar the colour.

If this is a wood veneered chip, then your options are a bit wider. Darker colours and wood finishes make repair a bit easier.

Getting some similar veneer, cutting out a section where the damage is, and then patching with a piece cut to match can often work well.

You can glue small mouldings without any problem. Sometimes a couple of lost head pins can be driven in to hold it while the glue dries.

Can you do us a photo of it showing the damaged bit? might be easier to offer suggestions if we can see what we are dealing with.

[Steve Walker]

Worked beautifully for me when we bought our eldest son a car bed that was reduced due to damage on one corner. Although I happened to have a pot of red enamel that almost perfectly matched and just brush painted the repair and an inch or so onto the good section - it's totally invisible unless you look very carefully.

SteveW

[Ian Jackson]

In message , sweetheart writes

Superglue works well for splits/rips in chipboard.

Buy a multi-pack from a Pound/99p shop, so you have plenty.

Flood the split area with the superglue (so it gets soaked up), the clamp or apply pressure.

Leave until the glue has 'gone off', the sand, paint etc.

As others have suggested, car filler (if necessary, mixed with some resin so it penetrates well into the chipboard) can be used to fill holes and missing bits of chipboard.