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Flip Up Counter issue

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2 Frazzled

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Flip Up Counter issue
« on: August 05, 2016, 09:45:29 am »
We've had some wicked heat and humidity in the DC area this last month or so. It was apparently hot enough to melt the glue holding our flip up counter together. We have the same material on it that is on the main counter. This is quite heavy and that weight combined with the intense heat seems to have softened the glue and the counter top material slid down on the wood base... then restuck. The PC was stored in a storage facility parking lot in the sun with the vent open. It's never seemed horribly hot in there when we stop by but we didn't go during the intense heat days. We had her out a month ago and there wasn't any noticeable problem but you can definitely see it now. We left the counter in the down position in the hope that it will continue the slide and come all the way off but just in case it doesn't, does anyone have suggestions on how to free up that glue so we can slide it back together and glue it back down? We have about an inch gap right now.

Pics are attached.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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ragoodsp

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #1 on: August 05, 2016, 09:56:45 am »
That is a tough one.  3M has a super product specifically for adhesive removing (it is labeled exactly that)  that you can purchase at and automobile parts store.  It is like $12.00 for the aerosol can and it removes any and all adhesive I have ever sprayed it on.  The issue is you would have to depend on the spray actually soaking under the laminate for it to do its job, not sure you are going to be able to accomplish that task?  Hate to say it but it might be cheaper and easier to order another flip up from PC and hope that one does not get the sags as well.   Perhaps in the future you might consider leaving it up when you know hot weather is coming?
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Ron Goodspeed
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Barry-Sue

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #2 on: August 05, 2016, 10:25:58 am »
When I saw your post the first thing that came to mind was a hair dryer might create enough heat to make the glue pliable enough to move the cover back into place.  I have used a hair dryer several times to loosen epoxy and some types of construction glues.  Might be worth a try.

Barry
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TomHanlon

Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #3 on: August 05, 2016, 10:37:56 am »
Hair dryer or heat gun from underneath, or a knife and pry bar, or a wire saw (boy scout days) to cut the glue. Or wait for another very hot day, one coming next week.
« Last Edit: August 05, 2016, 10:40:51 am by TomHanlon »
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2016, 03:37:08 pm »
Can you place it in your oven at home to a very low setting?  Once removed with the adhesive still gooey, stick the two back together and let cool.  Then add a screw in each corner to prevent it from happening again.

I realize the counter-top material is not very thick so you'll need to be extremely careful how deep to drill your pilot holes.  Most drill presses have drill-stops making them the best tool of choice.  
« Last Edit: August 05, 2016, 03:41:55 pm by ron.dittmer »
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ron-n-toni

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2016, 05:39:36 pm »
Our 2016 2351 has a wood flip up that matches the cabinets. No problems so far. I'd bet that PC would sell you one if you would send a photo of your cabinets. If you wish to keep what you have, I'd take it to a good cabinet shop. Most work with Corian and other composite materials.
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keelhauler

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #6 on: August 06, 2016, 08:58:39 am »
Most likely they glued the Corian on to the wood with a contact cement.
The very best solvent for contact cement is MEK, which I believe is no longer available to consumers. Industrial only.
Most hardware & big box stores sell an MEK substitute which is less toxic.

Just wipe a little on the edge and push with putty knife and add more MEK. All of the sudden the entire piece will release.

No need to remove the old adhesive.

Buy a Waterproof contact cement (Weldwood Original). Brush on both surface, one or two coats. Wait till dry between coats. And dry to touch.

Now the trick, when you bring the two pieces together they will instantly stick so they need to be in the exact position before touching.

The easiest way to do this in get some brown butcher paper or paper bags. Cut into strips and lay down on glued surface so they are overlapping . They will not stick.
Then with piece exactly in the correct position pull a strip out and then the rest of the strips. You cannot move after the first two glued surface touch.
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John
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2 Frazzled

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2016, 10:13:53 am »
Thank you for the suggestions. We will give them a try from the easiest to the more complicated. We'll let you know what works. And in the future, we'll store it in the "up" position.

We love having the composite type counter on the flip up as we do a lot of cooking and dish washing inside and we would have probably destroyed the wooden one by now.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #8 on: August 07, 2016, 10:45:11 pm »
Quote from: 2 Frazzled on August 07, 2016, 10:13:53 am
We love having the composite type counter on the flip up as we do a lot of cooking and dish washing inside and we would have probably destroyed the wooden one by now.
Our wood flip-up counter is now 9 years old.  My wife does a lot of cooking and me lots of dish washing.  The wood surface is always wet from the time the chef starts to the time the clean-up crew finishes.  I had thought the wood surface would not hold up well at all, but it still could pass as brand new.  As far as placing a hot pot directly on it, we have never done that because we fear the heat could damage it.  So we place a silicone trivet on it first.
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2 Frazzled

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2016, 06:15:34 am »
Ron, I'm not sure the number of years is a good comparison. We were full time in the Phoenix for over two years, or over 700 days with that counter in use most days. Even while temporarily grounded, we're camping at least 30 days this year. That's a lot of stuff going across that surface. That said, the standard wood very well may have stood up fine, we just like having the other counter material. It seems easier to maintain. At least it did right up until our evil weather melted the glue. We are hopeful we can get it fixed before we roll back out on in full time mode again.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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RKS

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2016, 07:45:34 am »
On our 2350 which had a wooden shelf the finish cracked and separated on the end grain where the 3 pieces of wood were joined. I contacted Kermit about what was used for the finish and if I recall correctly it is a high gloss lacquer that is a two part material. I ended up using a polyurethane, it wasn't a perfect repair but simpler than a total refinish which I felt might be required with the two part material.
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Ron Dittmer

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #11 on: August 08, 2016, 08:35:18 am »
Quote from: 2 Frazzled on August 08, 2016, 06:15:34 am
Ron, I'm not sure the number of years is a good comparison. We were full time in the Phoenix for over two years, or over 700 days with that counter in use most days. Even while temporarily grounded, we're camping at least 30 days this year. That's a lot of stuff going across that surface. That said, the standard wood very well may have stood up fine, we just like having the other counter material. It seems easier to maintain. At least it did right up until our evil weather melted the glue. We are hopeful we can get it fixed before we roll back out on in full time mode again.
I hear you 2 Frazzled.  I did not realize you full-time in your PC.  I had a typical working family in-mind who use the rig as vacation time permits.  Full-timing amps up the wear and tear by leaps and bounds.  I wouldn't know how the flip-up wooden counter would hold up under those conditions.

It would seem to me, the hardest part of your repair will be to separate the two pieces.  Have you considered my proposal to put it in your oven at home set to the lowest setting?  If trying it, surely keep a very close eye on it.  I really don't see any other way of heating it up evenly to get all the adhesive soft at the same time.
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Gail Staton

Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #12 on: August 08, 2016, 09:50:00 am »
Maybe a hair dryer would work.   I doubt it would do any damage but I have no experience in this area.

I wish you the best in your quest for a fix and getting back to full timing.

Gail
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2 Frazzled

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2016, 08:13:35 am »
Quote from: ron.dittmer on August 08, 2016, 08:35:18 am
Have you considered my proposal to put it in your oven at home set to the lowest setting? 

Yes, we plan to try the hair dryer and oven before hitting the chemicals. Our first attempt will be to take it down, prop it in an upside down position in the rig, and hope the evil heat we're supposed to be getting this week will make her slide the other way. If that doesn't work, on to the other suggested fixes.

We'll post results in case someone else has this happen. If anyone out there does have the composite counter top on your flip up and your rig is somewhere hot, the suggestion to keep it in the upright position while stored sounds like an excellent one... and one we will follow in the future.
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John, Holly, and sometimes Chloe.
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keelhauler

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Re: Flip Up Counter issue
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2016, 10:36:41 am »
My opinion is heat will not work at all. I know MEK works almost instantly on any contact cement.
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