Tips on Removing Plastic Laminate From a Table or Desk

Start Clean

• Before removing the laminate, clean the piece to remove anything that could transfer onto the desk or table. Old ink or crayon marks could seep into the piece if it is wood. Use caution with water. If the base is metal, it could rust. If it is wood, water could create marks, soften the finish or cause the wood to warp. Use a gentle, nonflammable cleaner suitable for the material to remove any residue.

Apply Heat

• Heat guns look similar to a hairdryer, but they reach much hotter temperatures. Heat softens the plastic, making it pliable. It also softens the adhesive used to join the laminate to the furniture. Use great care with a heat gun. Holding it too close can scorch the wood underneath. Never direct the heat toward your hands or other skin to prevent serious burns. Likewise, never touch any part of the gun except the handle and adjustment knobs or buttons, warns Power Tool Institute. Wearing gloves is a good idea. Direct the gun toward one corner or edge of the laminate until it begins to shrink and soften.

Remove Laminate

• Push the blade of a wide putty knife under the softened edge. Lift the knife slightly to raise the laminate in one small area at a time, working back farther under the sheet. As the plastic becomes softer, peeling it up requires less effort. The plastic will harden again once the heat is moved to the next area, so slip an object like a rod or block under it to keep the laminate from sticking back. If the item is very large, cut the raised laminate with a sharp knife, and remove it to keep the area more manageable. Don't break it. Broken laminate creates a knife-like sharp edge. If lifting the laminate requires a lot of effort, it is not hot enough.

Remove Residue

• Heat and scrape up residual glue with a putty knife, or use an adhesive solvent. You may find that the surface under the laminate is not suitable for refinishing or painting. Often, it is plywood or particle board, even if the rest of the piece is solid wood. Furniture-grade plywood is available in ultra-thin sheets, especially for this type of application. It is composed of thin plywood covered in natural, full-grained wood veneer, which you can stain or paint as you desire. Cut it to fit, and glue it to the surface with a roll-on adhesive. Covering rough edges with veneer strips makes the plywood top appear solid, suggests Fine Woodworking.