Repairing Swelling in Painted Particle Wood

Particle wood consists of tiny wood particles, such as sawdust, wood chips and sawmill shavings. These wood particles are pressed together using resin, heat and pressure. A sheet of melamine usually covers particle wood, which can then be painted. The melamine protects particle wood from moisture, which could cause the wood to expand and swell, especially at the edges. Particle wood is commonly used to make kitchen counter tops, shelves, decks and doors.

Putty knife
Contact cement remover or lacquer thinner
Turkey baster or syringe
Sandpaper
Cyanoacrylate glue
Contact cement
Rolling pin or towel

Instructions

- 1
  Peel the swollen edge of the painted particle wood back gently with a thin, flat tool like a putty knife. Do this at the edge of the panel closest to the swollen area.
- 2
  Insert a contact cement remover or a lacquer thinner into a turkey baster or a syringe, then apply it to the melamine sheet so you can peel it back even more. Continue until you reach the area where the swelling is located.
- 3
  Sand the swollen area to make it even with the surrounding particle wood when the contact cement remover or lacquer thinner dries.
- 4
  Apply cyanoacrylate glue to the sanded area to flatten the loose wood fibers and hold them together. Let the glue dry overnight.
- 5
  Smear contact cement all over the back of the melamine sheet and the surface of the particle wood. Press the two together in a rolling motion with a rolling pin or a towel. Let the contact cement dry thoroughly.

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