Carpentry and Woodworking - Whats the difference between a veneer and laminate for cupboards
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05-29-00, 05:36 AM
We moved into a thirty odd year old house. I want to lighten up the kitchen cupboards, but am told that you can't do much with laminates. I was also told it is a veneer, can you tell me what the difference is and if I can stain and finish both laminates or veneers.
05-29-00, 12:57 PM
We may be confusing our terms.
Laminates and veneers have the same general meaning "Made in Layers"
Normally the word veneer is used when talking about woods.
Laminates can mean, and is used to talk about, a whole range of products, formica, plastic, wood, metal, etc.
You didn't tell us what you thought your cabinets where made from.
If wood or some manmade products it may be stained. Go to the appropriate sections of this forum for information on cabinets, staining, stripping, refinishing, etc.
A simple test is give what you have in mind on one small out of the way area to see if the surface is sealed.
In general formica, plastic finishes and hard surfaced finishes can not be stained but most can be painted.
Laminates and veneers have the same general meaning "Made in Layers"
Normally the word veneer is used when talking about woods.
Laminates can mean, and is used to talk about, a whole range of products, formica, plastic, wood, metal, etc.
You didn't tell us what you thought your cabinets where made from.
If wood or some manmade products it may be stained. Go to the appropriate sections of this forum for information on cabinets, staining, stripping, refinishing, etc.
A simple test is give what you have in mind on one small out of the way area to see if the surface is sealed.
In general formica, plastic finishes and hard surfaced finishes can not be stained but most can be painted.
05-30-00, 07:46 AM
More food for thought:
If your cabinets are in fact made of wood, the doors may be solid wood or just have a wood veneer ( a thin layer of hardwood glued over a core of soft wood or particleboard). If the doors are solid wood, you would refinish them much the same way you would a piece of furniture. If they are only veneered, you would need to use extra caution in refinishing since it is easy to sand through the veneer and spoil the look of the door.
Many cabinets have a very thin layer of "wood look" plastic film over a masonite or particleboard backer. About the only option to lighten these is to paint because the film cannot be sanded, stripped or stained. Let us know more information from your end so we can try to help further.
If your cabinets are in fact made of wood, the doors may be solid wood or just have a wood veneer ( a thin layer of hardwood glued over a core of soft wood or particleboard). If the doors are solid wood, you would refinish them much the same way you would a piece of furniture. If they are only veneered, you would need to use extra caution in refinishing since it is easy to sand through the veneer and spoil the look of the door.
Many cabinets have a very thin layer of "wood look" plastic film over a masonite or particleboard backer. About the only option to lighten these is to paint because the film cannot be sanded, stripped or stained. Let us know more information from your end so we can try to help further.
06-01-00, 05:39 AM
Gentlemen
The doors are made of particle board underneath the thin layer of I am told veneer. I want to wood bleach them and then stain them to look like pickled white. Is this going to be achievable. P.S. I have no experience in this field at all.
The doors are made of particle board underneath the thin layer of I am told veneer. I want to wood bleach them and then stain them to look like pickled white. Is this going to be achievable. P.S. I have no experience in this field at all.
06-08-00, 07:55 AM
Something as thin as wood veneer doesn't hold up well to much "messin'". I think anything as "harsh" as wood bleach will destroy something as delicate as a wood veneer. The only way to approach this sensibly would be to experiment on the inside of a door or possibly the backside of a drawer front (if the drawer fronts are removeable).
Are these flat doors with a shaped edge, or are they a raised panel look?
If they are flat doors, you may be able to re-veneer them using some of the paper backed veneers glued on with contact cement. I have used this method to cover particleboard in custom cabinetry with great results. But the conditions need to be right for it to be an option.
Are these flat doors with a shaped edge, or are they a raised panel look?
If they are flat doors, you may be able to re-veneer them using some of the paper backed veneers glued on with contact cement. I have used this method to cover particleboard in custom cabinetry with great results. But the conditions need to be right for it to be an option.