A trick with a hairdryer saved a tricky veneer repair for me

I was fixing a 1950s sideboard with a bubbled-up veneer patch, maybe 4 inches square. The old hide glue underneath was rock hard and wouldn't soften with my usual methods. On a whim, I held a regular hairdryer on high heat about 6 inches away for a solid 2 minutes, focusing on the spot. The heat reactivated the glue just enough that I could press it flat with a block and clamp it overnight. It dried perfectly smooth! Has anyone else used a simple heat source like this for stubborn old glue?

3 comments

3 Comments

simons281mo ago

Saved a tricky veneer repair" seems a bit dramatic for just flattening a bubble. It's a 4 inch patch on a 70 year old sideboard, not restoring the Sistine Chapel. A hairdryer fix is basically the home version of a heat gun, which anyone who messes with old furniture has tried. It's a decent quick trick, but let's not act like you discovered fire.

robinp721mo ago

Honestly see this all the time now. People act like every small fix is some huge win, makes you wonder what they'd call a real project.

willow40725d ago

Friend of mine spent three hours last week fixing a loose drawer handle and posted about it like he'd just solved world hunger. Took him longer to take the photos than to actually tighten the screw.