Refacing cabinets after removing old reface job

[JC]

I am getting ready to reface my kitchen cabinets. However, unlike most reface jobs, mine has a special challenge: These cabinets were already refaced 20 years ago and the laminate is starting to fall off because the glue has dried out. Much of the laminate won't be a problem to remove; some of it will be trickier because the delamination isn't consistent.

But here's what I need to know: What do I need to do with these cabinet frames after I peel off all the existing laminate to get them ready for new laminate? There is a fair amount of dried glue that remains on the cabinet frames in the areas where the laminate has fallen off.

Can I just sand this as is? Do I need to use mineral spirits or something else equally toxic and hazardous or worse to strip the glue off? I really want to do this right so prep is important.

Thank you.

[Leon]

The thinner the laminate material the more important that the surface should be FLAT. Sanding will probably yield a surface that is not flat especially if the adhesive is soft and hard in spits. I suggest using a cabinet scraper first to get a the glue off followed by a light sanding overall.