How to Make Kitchen Shelf from Scraps - Part 2 of 2 - Melamine Strip Repair

Fig.1 No strip

By Gary Boutin

Supplies and Tools:
Melamine edging kit  
Clothing iron
Razor knife

Mrs. Black wanted a new kitchen shelf but it was missing the melamine edge. She wanted her kitchen to have the finished look.

This post shows the twelve steps on how to repair a missing melamine shelf edge using a regular clothes iron. 

Step 1: Above Fig.1 shows the shelf with the missing white edge melamine strip. 
Step 2: Fig.2 shows the purchase of the melamine edging kit from The Home DepotⓇ. 

Fig.2 Melamine strip

Step 3: Fig.3 shows the top of the shelf itself, the shelf needs to be clean of any sawdust, the edge must be straight, not cut up with broken edges like this one.

Fig.3: Broken 
and damage edge

Step 4: Remove from the packaging the roll of melamine edging and unroll it so it has a chance to become straight. Fig.4 shows the roll pulled out to be measured.

Fig.4 Remove roll 
from packaging

Step 5: Fig.5 shows the melamine strip is being cut to the size of the shelf.

Fig.5 Measure and cut strip

Step 6: Fig.6 shows the melamine strip is on top of the shelf.

Fig.6 Place strip 
on shelf edge

Step 7: Fig.7 shows the use of an iron to glue the strip to the wood shelf. Use the clothe iron set at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or the cotton setting. If you are not sure read the back of the packaging, it is very clear and explains how to use your clothe iron. There are specific iron made for this but they can cost over $60 for this tool.

Fig.7 Use Iron to 
activate adhesive

Step 8: Fig.8 shows that after several passes with the iron the melamine edge was glued to the edge of the shelf.

Fig.8 Strip ready

Step 9: Fig.9 shows the use a razor knife or a edging tool to get a clean cut on the edge of the new edge. This product was 3/8 of an inch over the shelf. Below is the razor knife used to remove the edge.

Fig.9 Use razor blade 
as an edging tool

Step 10: Fig.10 shows the top of the picture is the extra 3/8 inch edge that needs to be cut off.

Fig.10 trim not straight

Step 11: Fig.11 shows that the 3/8 inch extra edge that was removed.

Fig.11 3/8 inch 
removed from shelf

Step 12: Fig.12 shows the shelf is finished, not as clean as a factory shelf, but with a trimmer tool this step might have been easier to do.

Fig.12 Job Finished

How to Make Kitchen Shelf from Scraps:

• Part 1 of 2 - Cuting the Shelf
• Part 2 of 2 - Melamine Strip Repair

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