Kent Weathersby writes:
We frequently are called to accomplish repairs for builders who
are closing on a house in the next 24 to 48 hours leaving no time
to accomplish rounding up dedicated supplies such as is
anticipated by your, and now ours, checklist.
When this occurs, we fall back on traditional on-scene
techniques modified for Formica and other phenolic substrate
materials. This occurred recently when a cabinet finisher had a
Skill saw kick back and damage the sink well.
The client wanted the repair done the next day and we wanted
to accommodate him. I took some pictures with my 4 meg cell
phone camera so they are of meager quality.
Damage site.
Preferred fill material. I chose the Mohawk (beige) Epoxy Stick (fast
cure)
because we have attained significant proficiency with it and its
predictable
results. Kampel SeamFill (http://www.kampelent.com/seamfil.htm)
is made for
such repairs but I view the product as limited on larger repairs such as
this one.
Site prepared by placing small punctures to anchor the Epoxy Stick
filler.
One damage site with loaded filler.
Use of wet cabinet scraper to "squeegee" epoxy stick while half cured.
Sanded filler having been sanded with Silicon oxide (wet or dry)
escalating grits 220 to 400 lubricated with denatured alcohol.
This solvent chemically reduces the epoxy providing a chemical
as well as mechanical leveling of the patch. I finished the sanding
with 600 w/d lubricated with ms so as not to go below level as
might occur with alcohol.
