Shopsmith Forums

The RV that I am about to renovate has a few problems, one of which is the interior wood paneling. The paneling appears to be 1/4" plywood (maybe less) with what appears to be a photo veneer that has become delaminated in places.

My task is going to be to complete the removal of that veneer and then refinish the paneling.

If you had to remove the veneer that has not been loosened by the heat and age, how would you do it.

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The veneer is very brittle and can not be pulled off; it just crumbles while at the same time, where the adhesive has not yet failed, it is very tightly bonded to the wood.

Maybe a heat gun designed for paint stripping.

mountainbreeze wrote:Maybe a heat gun designed for paint stripping.

That may be the solution. The veneer that you see came loose naturally while the trailer was parked in a field in southern Arizona. I assume it was the dry heat that caused this.

It'll be a couple weeks before I can get into the trailer. I can hardly wait.

mountainbreeze wrote:Maybe a heat gun designed for paint stripping.

I second that. A cheapo HFT heat gun and a wire brush. If that didn't work I would try one of the steamers used to loosen wallpaper adhesive.

frank81 wrote:I second that. A cheapo HFT heat gun and a wire brush. If that didn't work I would try one of the steamers used to loosen wallpaper adhesive.

Steaming scares me. Could the steam delaminate the wood? My wife suggested a steamer. Her response to my concern was, "Too much of anything is bad". "Just don't do it too much".

dusty wrote:Steaming scares me. Could the steam delaminate the wood? My wife suggested a steamer. Her response to my concern was, "Too much of anything is bad". "Just don't do it too much".

Bad is bad regardless of the 'quantity'! JMHO;)



Yes too much bad is 'badder'.


I would try the heat applied from the already loose edge(between the veneer and the wood base).


Good luck! This may not be easy!!!



P.S. Does this have to be done with the paneling still 'hung' in the trailer? If not, bake them in the sun for a week!


P.P.S. Wallpaper 'steamers' work because the flour based 'glue' is water soluble and the steam penetrates the paper. The heat from the steam contributes nothing to the process other than a method to transfer the water vapor to the glue/paper interface. That paneling glue is not likely water soluble nor is the plastic veneer likely to be porous.

It will be 1/8" paneling and the skin is likely a plastic film. Heat will very likely soften the adhesive but your problem may be that the film has been dried out to the point that it doesn't have the strength to peel. You may have to scrape it off. I'm hoping you can peel it because scraping would be a job.
Good luck.

Paul M

shipwright wrote:It will be 1/8" paneling and the skin is likely a plastic film. Heat will very likely soften the adhesive but your problem may be that the film has been dried out to the point that it doesn't have the strength to peel. You may have to scrape it off. I'm hoping you can peel it because scraping would be a job.
Good luck.

Paul M

Without doing anything more, I have reason to believe you are right. The peeled veneer is like dried egg shell. Just touch it and it cracks into many pieces.

Dusty, I think the idea of the heat gun is probably the best BUT remember the wood underneath is extremely dry be very prudent when you use the gun not to burn the material. Next suggestion is do not start the work unless you have a fire extinguisher very very close to hand. I don't want to read about you in the obituaries.

Would it be easier to remove and replace the paneling or glue and nail new paneling on top of the old?