Found a trick for fixing chipped melamine edges without replacing the panel

I was building a set of bookcases for a client in Denver last Tuesday and chipped the melamine edge on a cut I made. It was about a 2 inch long chip near the front face and replacing the whole panel would have cost me an extra $45 and a trip back to the shop. I grabbed some fine sawdust from my sander bag and mixed it with a little clear epoxy to fill the chip, then sanded it smooth after it dried. You can barely see it now even under bright light. Has anyone else tried a similar fix for melamine?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylan_bell1mo ago

Fine sawdust from my sander bag" mixed with epoxy isn't going to hold up long term. I'd bet money that chip comes back out after a few months of temperature changes in Denver.

sagew501mo ago

Mixed sawdust and epoxy can work fine if you seal it right and don't mess with the ratio. I've had a few patches hold for years through Colorado winters without issue.