Need advice on damage repair

[kantonburg]

After 4 years I have a wood piece that I need to repair. The orange liquid toilet treatment fell over on a trip and leaked out on the press board that divides the top and bottom of the bathroom sink.


My thoughts are cut that piece out and replace it with a solid piece of wood stained a close match.


I wanted to see if anyone has done anything similar and if there is anything I'd run into before I start cutting.


I'm hoping that the thin piece of plywood is not attached in some convoluted way that causes more damage when I try to cut that piece out.

[SeaDog]

Trying to replace a small area by cutting it out can be a real problem. Sometimes its better/easier and faster to disassemble a cabinet and replace an entire side.

[cboss]

Cut a piece of lauan to replace the entire side. You might be able to glue it on or maybe use a few staples. Stain it to match.

[Detroitdeb]

Try just sanding it down .

[kantonburg]

Originally Posted by SeaDog

Trying to replace a small area by cutting it out can be a real problem. Sometimes its better/easier and faster to disassemble a cabinet and replace an entire side.

I'll look into that. I'm going to remove the bottom panel to get a better look once it cools down in the next few days.

Originally Posted by cboss

Cut a piece of lauan to replace the entire side. You might be able to glue it on or maybe use a few staples. Stain it to match.

I should have taken a picture of the entire cabinet. The piece posted is the divider (front) piece when you open the door.

Originally Posted by Detroitdeb

Try just sanding it down .

I should have mentioned, because it may not be easy to see in the picture. The press board is swollen and has become very brittle.

[Flybob]

I would replace the entire side. The pressed board is very swollen and it is very likely that the salts from the orange liquid are embedded in the wood and as such will continue to attract moisture and swell. Covering it may or may not work as future swelling could cause the laminate piece to separate in that area. On a preemptive note, I keep all liquid containers in out TT in zip lock bags to try to prevent this.

[Detroitdeb]

Just sand it with a power sander n repaint . No one will see it . Cheaper way of fixing it .

[TheWolfPaq82]

Originally Posted by Detroitdeb

Just sand it with a power sander n repaint . No one will see it . Cheaper way of fixing it .

You'll destroy the press board and end up rebuilding the entire cabinet. You can't sand swollen press board.

[Detroitdeb]

Have you ever try to sand press board before?

[changing it up a bit]

Detroit Deb, I have just removed my bathroom and replaced the vanity, and med cabinet with real furniture made of solid material. You will find that the way the cabinet is built is the face frames are put in place, and the panels are then shot in place. The material that is used is junk and is not worth saving. If you are not skilled in this area get a woodworker to help you out to remove the entire panel and replace with a solid piece of material. If you have questions on how to do this private message me and I can give you what you are up against.
I just spent 1 month in Elkhart area and have toured many of the factories. They are all built very similar. What is different is the finish work. It is sad that a 50,000 coach is built similar to a 1,000,000 dollar coach. It is what it is so make it your own, and repair it right with good material as you go.

[Detroitdeb]

Originally Posted by changing it up a bit

Detroit Deb, I have just removed my bathroom and replaced the vanity, and med cabinet with real furniture made of solid material. You will find that the way the cabinet is built is the face frames are put in place, and the panels are then shot in place. The material that is used is junk and is not worth saving. If you are not skilled in this area get a woodworker to help you out to remove the entire panel and replace with a solid piece of material. If you have questions on how to do this private message me and I can give you what you are up against.

I just spent 1 month in Elkhart area and have toured many of the factories. They are all built very similar. What is different is the finish work. It is sad that a 50,000 coach is built similar to a 1,000,000 dollar coach. It is what it is so make it your own, and repair it right with good material as you go.

Glad you got it fix