Need glue advice: Repairing a delaminated kitchen cabinet

[rbstern]

We have white plastic laminate (aka "thermofoil") kitchen cabinets. For the most part, they've held up well in the 26 years we've owned the place. However, the cabinet doors over the counter where our coffee maker sits have partly delaminated, presumably from the steam emitted by the coffee maker. But the delam only happened in the center of the doors, so the lamination is still firmly in place all the way around the edge. We'd prefer to replace the two doors, but getting exact matches so many years later is a crap shoot. We figure we'd try a repair first.

We decided to slit the laminate atop one of the decorative grooves near the top of the door, where it wouldn't be visible, and pour glue down into the space between the thermofoil and the MDF. We made the slit on one of the doors, and tested a small spot near the top with some white Elmers, watered down to paper mache consistency. It held fairly well, but not quite as well as I would like. I'd like to find a strong glue that can be easily poured (oil or water-like consistency), but will be tenacious when dry. We need to pour a substantial amount of glue into the delamination and make sure it readily moves to all of the delaminated surface, which is most of the doorfront. It has to be runny enough to do that. We'll help it spread with a wallpaper seam roller applied to the outside of the thermofoil.

Any suggestions on a type of glue that will run like oil or water, and give us a few minutes working time?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I've had good luck with both Gorilla Glue brand wood glue, and Tightbond brand wood glue.

 

[s219]

You want to use Roo Glue "Clear" for something like this:

RooClear(R) | Roo Glue | Strong Bond. No Fail. : Roo Glue(R)

It's made for cabinetry laminates of all types.

 

[oosik]

I repaired three rather cheap cabinet doors with Roo Glue. These were workshop grade cabinets. It will be important that you repair the door(s) you currently have. Even if you can find exact duplicate style doors - they will not have the 26 years of exposure that your current ones do.

Roo Glue does a great job.

 

[Zippo1]

In case the repair doesn't work I ordered a couple of cabinet doors to replace some badly delaminated, 20 year old kitchen cabinet doors from this outfit:

Cabinet Doors, Drawer Fronts, Face Frames, & Cabinet Accessories - Raw Doors

I was able to find a very close match and they were shipped quickly. I have no affiliation with that company.

 

[PILOON]

Just a thought, but perhaps the glue might be heat sensitive in which case a warm, but not too hot, iron might just do the trick. Worth a try.
Not too hot as that could blister the laminate.

Or again heat an area inside the door as a test.

 

[rbstern]

How "runny" is Roo Glue?

 

[oosik]

The Roo Glue I used was about twice as runny as super glue. About like warm - not hot - maple syrup.

 

[s219]

How "runny" is Roo Glue?

I'd say if you mixed Elmers white with water, 50/50, you'd approximate the runny behavior of Roo.

I first got acquainted with Roo when mounting ski bindings -- it's what a lot of ski shops use to squirt in the holes in the ski before driving the screws in. It seals off the screw hole, stays flexible, and lasts a long time. Since then I have used it to do all sorts of laminations with great results.

 

[rbstern]

Thanks, all, for the helpful guidance!