Scratching in Melamine or MDF laminate.

mgreen

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OK so I have a question. When a melamine panel is scratched but not really damaged down to the wood what do you do to eliminate it or reduce the visual impact. I know woodworkers often use wax to fill scratches, is there anything out there that will work well on a standard cabinet?

I have a cabinet with some scratching on one side and I do not want to completely recover or paint the cabinet if the rest of it looks good. All I really see right now is a slighlty white blemish in the scratch on the laminate which does not probably go through the black laminate itself. Kind of like a scratch in teh clear coat of a car I guess?
 
Hi, well I can't really offer any advise on this as I just started on a cabinet myself that also has a laminate coating (in some spots pieces are missing and is down to the wood).

But I am also insterested in seeing what others have to say about this as well as the only thing I am currently thinking of at least for mine is: body filler, sand the whole side and spray the complete panel. Now if this is acceptable, I am not certain (or how well paint will stick to the laminate).
 
black sharpie

or

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http://www.rustoleum.com/CBGProduct.asp?pid=118
 
Ok doing some more searching I found that there is a paint out there, goes under a few names: Plastic enamel, Melamine paint or Melamine Finish.

Now, all I have been able to locate at the moment is that it only comes in white and I am not sure if it can be tinted. But this paint will stick to Melamine and provide a similar type of finish.

Did find this website that has some tips on using it: http://joneakes.com/jons-fixit-database/951-Melamine-Paint-Plastic-Enamel-and-getting-paint-smooth

Now, not sure if this is a possible answer, probably not if it can't be tinted. Still not sure what you could do about light scratches.

edit: found this also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf3voZ4J1gg
 
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I don't think paint will stick to bare melamine at all. I think the best option is to fill and wrap with vinyl.

Is that the same material used on Donkey Kong cabinets?

I sanded primed and painted one before selling it, so I can't really say how it held up after.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.
 
the next time i run across a cab with that kind of damage im gonna sand the melamine with 800 or 1000 grit and clearcoat it.
 
I have run into this issue several times. Sometimes just loading/unloading the 4x8 sheets of melamine will result in the type of scratches you describe from the weight of the material and the sharpness of the edges. It is just unavoidable sometimes sliding the sheets in a truck.

There is a specialty wax stick made for this that comes in black. Kinda like a big crayon. It works fairly well and is the best thing I have found thus far. I'll check on the product name for you.
 
please do OU!!! I want some too! lol check me out rhymin and shit. The WORST is when you slip off a cleat and staple clear through a game side. what a shitty feeling that is! I've done it twice. I had to tape around the blowout, bondo, sand, bondo, sand.. then i hit it with laquer.. took the tape off and hit it for a little overspray. waited about 5 hours, then i used rubbing compound. totally worked too, couldn't see it.
 
please do OU!!! I want some too! lol check me out rhymin and shit. The WORST is when you slip off a cleat and staple clear through a game side.

Or you mistakenly grab the wrong size of staple (as in too long).....blow right through everything! I've done that.

Edward
 
Got a couple of sticks on order for under 10$ including shipping. I will take some pre and post shots and let you all know how it turned out. I was also thinking of using a crayon and melting some wax on one of the scratches to see if there is a noticable difference. If I find the time to do it I will post the information for this too.
 
Got a couple of sticks on order for under 10$ including shipping. I will take some pre and post shots and let you all know how it turned out. I was also thinking of using a crayon and melting some wax on one of the scratches to see if there is a noticable difference. If I find the time to do it I will post the information for this too.

Definitely post the results please...I'm sure there's more than a couple watching to see how it turns out.
 
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