Milky or Cloudy Veneer treatment

[rickprice]

So I bought an "excellent" quality dashboard from a weel-known breakers, which turned out to be milky as hell. Photos didn't do it justice, as they say.

Plan was, as of 8pm last night, to rip off the veneer and start again. But before I did so, I wondered whether there is anything to be done for this appearance? So I consulted the great genie in the sky, the WundaWeb.

Turns out that several websites claim that heating it up fixes it - at least on furniture. I had to try it so, before bed, turned the wifes hairdryer to a decent use. Looked quite good after half of it done, so I went to bed and thought it'd look sh**e in the morning. Below is the morning after:




I've seen uglier girls the morning after, so this afternoon I went a bit further and put the iron on it - as recommended by the web...

Before:



During (just in case you don't believe me)...



And after (please forgive trick shadow - it all looks like the bottom bit):



Middle section:





You could do this with a hairdryer, in situ, in the car. I held the hairdryer on hot, about 1cm away from the veneer, and held my breath.

Leaving the iron on for about a minute each section was braver, though. Steam optional but does help.


Just thought I'd share - neat fix. Just don't drop the bloody thing on the floor afterwards as this idiot did!

Rich

[MADMAX2]

whats a hairdryer? iron?

[M@H]

Nice one I wonder if you did it with the hairdryer in situ you'd risk the wood delaminating from the steel backing because the whole panel is not quite flat when installed in the car..?

[rickprice]

No idea on that one - it does get rather hot, though. Can't hold it afterwards for a few seconds..

i did mine out of the car (obviously).

Rich

[rickprice]

I would point out that this one looks to be a refurbished one - it is very well stuck down. I have no idea whether the heat and a layer of tired glue would mix well.

[M@H]

Indeed - it was just a thought for anyone else giving it a go

[EGB]

Good one Richard. After trying paint stripper, thinners etc I was about to try the heat treatment by heating the plate from the back with a blow lamp.