I can't tell if my cabinets are wood...help!

[Eaglemate]

I am new to my Argosy, and cannot tell if my 1975 cabinets are wood, laminate, or something else altogether.

I'd like to make them pop, but don't know where to start if I can't even identify the material

Anyone have suggestions what to do to it?

[DanielB]

Define "pop" please.. What is is specifically that you are trying to do?

[mnmhays]

Our 1973 Argosy cabinets are a veneered wood(wood-grain looking vinyl) I think this was the trend in the '70s...

[DanielB]

Dark looking wood and plastic must have been luxury items back in the 70s.
What does "pop" mean? Make the cabinets "pop"?

[Eaglemate]

DanielB, I don't really know what to do with them. I am looking for suggestions. If it's plastic, I guess there isn't much except replace them. Any other ideas. BTW, I have a funny story for ya. Years ago, I was at West Memphis airport test flying a Beech Baron after an oil leak. I was there with just one other guy. A jet pulled in, the doors opened like something out of a movie, smoke poured out, two chicks walked down the stairs, and there was AWWWWW, I FEEL GOOD. James Brown. We spent about an hour shooting the breeze. He was on his way to play Tunica. It's a story I'll never forget.

[DanielB]

James Brown.. awesome.
I don't know about cabinets.

[wheel interested]

Originally Posted by DanielB

James Brown.. awesome.
I don't know about cabinets.

James Brown played at prom (Chicago Lane Tech 1969) He could really move!

Can you paint or retexture or laminate your surfaces? Before you replace it seems you could freely experiment and use your creativity. I have seen someone even use fabric to good advantage to cover their fronts.

[DKB_SATX]

If your '75 Argosy24 has its original cabinetry, it's a plastic woodgrain laminate over the structure of the cabinetry. One attractive option (the one the previous owner of my Argosy used on some of the surfaces) is to remove the plastic laminate and re-cover the area with high quality wallpaper. This works better if you remove all the edge trim first, then re-install it after for a nice finished look. In mine, he used a textured fabric sort of wall covering, and I'm very happy with the results. The lower locker doors and the center bulkhead are still the original woodgrain, as well as the door of the refrigerator. It's a good balance for me.

[DanielB]

Originally Posted by wheel interested

freely experiment and use your creativity.

I have never seen this thought expressed on this forum. I need to start reading the women's threads..

[my3sonsdad]

Would a wood veneer like cherry or birch adhere to the existing panels (minus the laminate)?

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by my3sonsdad

Would a wood veneer like cherry or birch adhere the existing panels?

If I were going to try that, I think I'd peel/scrape off the original laminate and put the new onto the original substrate.

[mnmhays]

I am working with ours and overlaying some of the existing panels with a formica-type laminate. I found some white for the bathroom and cherry wood-grain for the living area for $5 a sheet at our local habitat re-store...

[DaveFL]

When you scrape laminate you end up with uneven glue residue, if you cover old laminate what will stick to it and new laminate?

[mnmhays]

Remove the residue as best as possible-laquer thinner (I did this with a counter-top I broke) and reapply with more contact cement.

[Splitrock]

I'd just throw out the vinyl covered plywood and put in new finished wood panels and cabinets.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Splitrock

I'd just throw out the vinyl covered plywood and put in new finished wood panels and cabinets.

It's all about how soon you want to go camping.

[Splitrock]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

It's all about how soon you want to go camping.

Ha! Good point . . . :-)

[TG Twinkie]

Check out my blog. You can see what I've done to make the cabinets look better. I am currently working on the berthing area and will post some pics soon.