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03-19-2007, 07:20 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1978 31' Sovereign
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 33
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Any suggestions on refinishing veneer cabinets
My wife and I want to somehow change the finish of the cabinets in our '78 31' sovereign. We have the dark veneer lined cabinets and we'd really like to lighten it up. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what to do since there is so much cabinetry. I was thinking of trying to get some newer veneer but have never done that. Also was thinking of just painting the cabinets since they are all in good shape.
Anyway, if anyone has any suggestions or has done this, I'd appreciate your comments.
thanks,
Tony
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Tony and Gale
1978 31' Sovereign International
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03-19-2007, 09:11 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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Cabinets on a 78 are vinyl (laminate) covered not veneer. You could use another wood grade vinyl decal material if you could find one. I bought a roll of it from 3M many years ago to redo the fake wood on a 66 Ford station wagon. The vinyl covering on the walls has a tendancy to shrink after many years and come loose. Cabinets in mine are still sticking for now. You might try vinyl wall paper with a good glue.
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03-19-2007, 10:20 AM
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#3
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Rivet Monster
1975 31' Sovereign
1980 31' Excella II
Sprung Leak
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 7,172
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Most of the cabinetry is laminate, like what is used on a kitchen counter. You are talking a massive amount of work to redo that aspect of it. The simplest would be to paint it. You will need to use a degreaser and something to rough up the surface prior to painting. Then you will need a good high grade primer prior to the color coat. I have seen it done before and it looked very nice...
Aaron
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....so many Airstreams....so little time...
WBCCI #XXXX AIR #2495
Why are we in this basket...and where are we going
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03-20-2007, 02:45 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1973 Argosy 26
Norristown
, Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 645
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refinishing cabinetry.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dwightdi
Cabinets on a 78 are vinyl (laminate) covered not veneer. You could use another wood grade vinyl decal material if you could find one. I bought a roll of it from 3M many years ago to redo the fake wood on a 66 Ford station wagon. The vinyl covering on the walls has a tendancy to shrink after many years and come loose. Cabinets in mine are still sticking for now. You might try vinyl wall paper with a good glue.
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Hi Dwight; This is exactly my problem as well. We have a 1973 26' Argosy with very dark interior cabinetry which my wife does not like. I have done considerable research on re coating of this thin vinyl covering. I was told that most paints especially enamels will soften that vinyl. Also, that sanding it may damage the integrity of the thin vinyl. Good cleaning was recommended following with a very light primer coat of 3M #05907 adhesive promoter which is very expensive at $29.98 per pint spray can. I have used the product on other plastic components and it worked very well, but the price is very prohibitive for re doing the cabinetry. I have some more research to do in that aspect, because 4 millimeter thickness exterior ply is very hard to find. Finding it with one side finished is even more difficult. 1/4" ply does not quite fit well into the retainer clips. If I find 4 MM one side finished light color ply I will opt for replacement using a Epifanes Varnish over light shade of stain before installing everything back in place. I wonder if anyone knows of source of replacement of paneling for that purpose. My Arg will soon be ready for the interior and that dilemma has me stuck in place. Thanks, "Boatdoc"
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03-20-2007, 08:53 AM
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#5
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INSANITY CENTRAL
1986 32' Excella
Airstream Funeral Coach
Citrus Heights
, California
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,108
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3,4,6,9 mm okoume plywood
Plantation grown african mahogany is available from Chesapeake Light Craft in Annapolis. Boats Plans Boat Kits Kayaks Canoes Sailboats Rowing Boats - Chesapeake Light Craft LLC. I'm part way thru building one of their Chesapeake 14 kits.The 3 and 4 mm are light colored, you could also stain to your delight. These folks are great to work with also.Down side is shipping cost.Besides kayaks they also have other small craft including a marvelous wherry. There are other places to get okoume on the west coast. It's a solid ply NO voids, wonderful to work with. best of luck. Tim
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www.popasmoke.com
Proud Appellation American
Vine View Heights is now closed.
YETI ( 65 Quart )
IGLOO (Ice Cube, 50 Quart )
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03-20-2007, 09:55 AM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
1972 23' Safari
Placitas
, New Mexico
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 305
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Paint it
I've posted my experiences with painting the interior a bunch of times so I kind of regard myself as sort of an evangelist for doing it. Wipe everything down to get rid of surface gunk. Then use Sherwin-williams bonding primer which can be tinted to nearly your final color if you're using a light color. In phase one of my remodeling I even painted some of the tambours until I decided they were such a pain in the a$$ to use that I had a finish carpenter make new fronts for the cabinets. You can see in this picture the bulkheads painted light. I tried all kinds of stuff to try to light up the fake wood but nothing works but painting.
__________________
Airylle 1972 Safari featured for 5 nanoseconds in the movie Wild Hogs
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03-20-2007, 12:15 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1977 31' Sovereign
1963 26' Overlander
1989 34' Excella
Johnsburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,944
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If you want to keep the wood look and don't might the expense and time, Home Depot and others sell a 1/32 veneer in a variety of woods with a heat activated adhesive on it. You simply cut a piece to fit and then use a clothes iron (set on wool temperature) to stick it down. Stain it and varnish it just like real wood. I repaired 63 my water damaged veneered dresser top with it after I removed the damaged veneer.
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03-20-2007, 01:59 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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One more option that my PO did was a gel stain. With the bruch strokes it does a reasonable job in simulating wood grain and is available in many shades. I don't have any real good photos, I can go out and shoot more if interested. The bulkheads and upper cabinets were gel stained.
Dave
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