Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/29/2005

Question
I have an old roll top desk sitting in the basement.  It is in good shape except for a few spots where the wood looks like it is pealing up.  How can that be repaired?  
Thank you in advance.  Kathy

Answer
Hi Kathy
Nice to hear from you.
The peeling wood is called veneer and it should be fixed now or it will get worse or break off.
Repairing veneer is fairly simple, but you must have the things on hand to make the repair before you start.
The things you will need are lots of clamps and scrap wood and glue.
First Kathy look over the areas to be glued and figure how many clamps will be needed.
You can do the gluing and clamping in stages perhaps and that would be best.
Then you force the glue under the veneer by whatever means you can. I have a very thin long old knife I like to use.
The glue must get under absolutely every area underneath the loose veneer.
Then clamp using the scrap wood as protection from the clamps, but also to seal the area down under the clamps.
For instance if the glued area is 4inches wide, use a 5 inch board under the clamp.
If there is any danger of the glue squeezing out and getting under the board (which heaven forbid would stick the board to your desk LOL) then use a piece of waxed paper to prevent the board sticking (so its glue first, then a layer of waxed paper, then a board then the clapming)
You will find there may be areas that just cannot be clamped. In that case you will use weight to keep the board down. I keep a couple of cement blocks handy for just such use.
Kathy if any of this needs clarifaction, just get back to me...thats why I'm here.
Kindest Regards
Eileen