How would you finish this??

[reptileink]

I am going to be repairing the damaged wood with new MDF, and new t-molding, but I am unsure what to do with the cabinet. I really don't think this thing will hold up to trying to remove the laminate.

Was thinking of just scuffing it up real good and laying down some paint. Then, not full side art, but a couple bigger-sized graphics on each side.

 

[javeryh]

It is hard to tell from the pic but I'd just use some bondo to clean up all the dents and fix the bottom part that looks a little banged up.  If the laminate won't come off I'd sand the crap out of it to get a nice smooth surface and re-laminate.  Paint over laminate is going to look bad.

[RayB]

I would ignore the back completely.

[reptileink]

I would ignore the back completely.

yeah, I was thinking the same thing, but if it's already banged up, I'd rather fix it. I just feel that the banged up section is already weak, and any more bumps could just make it worse. Besides, I think that smaller back panel is just held in by "L" brackets, so it should be an easy fix.

Laminate huh? Really don't want to go down that route($$$$)

[Ginsu Victim]

I would ignore the back completely.

I agree.

[reptileink]

but I should at least paint the back, right??

[Ginsu Victim]

Meh.....who's gonna see it?

[reptileink]

so you would re-finish a whole cabinet, and leave the back the original color???

I guess you are right about nobody seeing it, but it seems kind of hack to me.....would save a little time though...

Maybe I'll just spray it.

[javeryh]

I shouldn't respond to these kinds of questions... I'm way too anal and need everything to look perfect - seen or unseen.  It's a problem...

[Turnarcades]

If you're gonna tidy it up, do it all or not at all. Else sell it back on and get something fresher.

[Dannymh]

You can pain over the laminate if you want, it's the back so it doesn't matter as much but try a few patches with paint stripper see if it melts the laminate (but be very careful.

other wise sand it back as smooth as you can (or get it a little porous and put 2 - 3 coats of primer on there which should give you a good finish

[drventure]

I think you could rough it it, then use some of that spray bondo that's been mentioned around here, sand that, and then paint or relaminate just fine.

[solidteezme]

If you're gonna tidy it up, do it all or not at all. Else sell it back on and get something fresher.

+1

Sand the laminate down with a power sander, belt sander on low settings would be ideal. Then use a good quility primer undercoat, which you can really get some coats on, my scratchbuild had four coats onto sanded mdf, so you may require more.

(if you plan on doing a black or dark coloured cab, add a bit of that to your primer because it will make it easier to cover when you paint your top coats)

After you've primed, check over the cab for scratches or chips or marks (because the primer will show these up) then fill them up with your preffered filler (make sure you can paint straight onto it), then lightly sand the primer as a key for the paint to stick to, then clean any dust off with methalated spirits (make sure to only use a little) leave the meths to dry, then paint.

Solid,

[BadMouth]

Spray or roll on truck bedliner might cover a lot since it's textured.
I think it could look cool with chrome molding & some diamond plate accents. 
Artwork could be on a separate placard mounted to the side.

[reptileink]

Spray or roll on truck bedliner might cover a lot since it's textured.
I think it could look cool with chrome molding & some diamond plate accents. 
Artwork could be on a separate placard mounted to the side.

I was actually thinking about using some stone texture spray paint, but that stuff is pretty brittle.

Has anyone had any luck, or even used the new Behr paint and primer combined?? Supposed to cover in 2 coats.

Don't worry, I am not planning on cheaping out on the paint process, but if it works well, what's better than that? lol.

I contacted a buddy yesterday who does a lot of woodworking, he's going to come over and help me fix the bottom left side. He's got all the tools, and did a lot of laminate work on some houses he flipped, so that will help.