Replacing desk inlay

[RJH]

I have a fairly large (1.4m x 0.8m) wooden desk - ex-MoD, collapsible but quite sturdy. The inlay is cracked throughout, and I'd like to replace it.

Any recommendations on a source for the inlay? Leather would probably be too thick and expensive, and not possible in one piece. The existing looks to be a thin sheet of vinyl - has the appearance of bakelite.

Also any tips for removing the old and sticking the new - although videos showing the same process with leather inlay desks suggests that it shouldn't be too tricky, just time consuming. Biggest challenge for me would be cutting the precisely to size, I think.

[Brian Reay]

Formica?

Not that easy to find these days- or it wasn't the last time I needed some.

Cutting can be 'interesting', I just cut over size and trim to size by filing. You can cut with fine saw.

Contact adhesive will secure it- Evostick is what I've always used but there are probably more modern alternatives.

[Tjoepstil]

I wouldn't be so sure

But if you want a really tough finish, the stuff used to cover music equipment flight cases is pretty good

cut a paper or cardboard template first

[spuorgelgoog]

Real linoleum is quite trendy at the moment.

Owain

[RJH]

Problem there (as I see it) is that it'd need more than one piece. They're 32" (70cm) maximum widths, I think.

Ah yes, good thinking, thanks, that's more like it.

Yes, will do, ta.

[Peter Parry]

If it is the standard issue light brown surface it will break up come out quite easily if warmed (not incinerated) and lifted out with a stiff scraper. It is about 3-4mm thick.

[RJH]

That could work, and be fashionable to boot - but I think it'll be too thick. I need to take a section off at some point - but it looks eggshell thin.

[alan_m]

Fake/Faux leather? Example

1.37m wide sold by the metre to a length of 25m @ £11 per metre

[Huge]

I covered my speakers in black leathercloth some 40 years ago and they still look OK.

[tabbypurr]

Lino is too soft. The cheap option would be vinyl tiles, but do remove the adhesive on them, it's no use for anything. They're about 2mm thick. They're vastly easier to cut right than a single expensive piece of anything.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

The way wqe used to cover loudspaker cabs was to use PVA and a power press with a bit of ply as a pressure plate. Then we tidied up the edges with copydex or in extreme cases evostik.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Neat stuff!

[Jon Fairbairn]

Polyflor do some vinyl that might do

? I used some offcuts from my kitchen floor to make inlays for kick plate drawer fronts and it worked well. There?s also Marmoleum furniture linoleum specifically intended for this purpose.