Thread: ReGlueing Hardwood Kitchen benchtop

Could have been glued with anything from PVA to phenol formaldehyde , the proper way to fix a solid wood top is too remove it recut and machine it, then glue it.

I would have no faith in the type of glue that has been used in the laminating of the pieces in the making of your bench top. Laminated Jarrah bench tops ( Gluelum) were manufactured and marketed by Bunnings some 8 to 10 years ago but have been taken of the market since their manufacturing facility was taken over by Gunns, These bench tops were laminated in Jarrah pieces ex 50mm stock and the adhesive was I think a Resorcinol provided by Ciba Geigi or something similar that is used for laminating of structural timber members, therefore I could not see the top delaminating if it was ex Bunnings.
It sounds like the top was made up by someone using some inferior adhesive for that purpose, as if it was made proply it should not have delaminated.
My recommendation is to remachine the pieces to remove any traces of the old adhesive from surface that have delaminated and regluing using a 2 pack epoxy such as West System and using dowels or biscuits for realignment purposes.
When fixing the tops down donot forget to provide sloted holes to allow the top to move in width ( shrinkage) as this may have been the problem in the 1st place. What ever you do do not use PVA. and you will have to resand the top and finish in a 2 pack epoxy finish paticular being in a moist situation.
Best of luck.
Mac

Originally Posted by Gordon1

I'm just not sure what a professional cabinet maker in the mid 1980"s would have used.

Hi Gordon, I reckon the glues most likly used in those days for lamination would have been Resorsonal (NOT THE RIGHT SPELLING) a 2 part mix or Selleys 308 a 3 part mix.

Cheers

Steve