Separating Bonded Surfaces

If it was me, I'd buy a new door and fit it myself.

I may have to go this route but since all the condo. doors have to look the same and the condo was built in 1975, it would likely have to be custom built, probably an expensive option. That being the case, I thought I would try to explore other options (if any) first.

Take a hair drier to on of the corners and see if heat will help to release the bond. If this starts to work you can get heat gun from local hardware store. The heat gun will get it hotter make working it off faster.

The laminate bubbled or rippled do to moisture causing the wood to swell. Once corrected make sure to seal it good.

Have you seen the tool they advertize on T V it viberates really fast and cuts thru even brick but will also remove things like tile glued to a floor without damaging the floor. It looks like it would work reall good for you needs. Going to get one for myself when I run across one in the stores.

Hello Hardly a Handyman

The wood laminate will generally be the same thickness sheet all across the entire area.

Equipment List:

1. 2x Sawhorses
2. Screwdriver for door hinge screws
3. Extension power cord
4. Portable electric skil type saw, with tungsten carbide-faced teeth
5. Wood chisels
6. Straightedge
7. Marking pencil
8. Hammer, carpenter's type
9. Earmuffs
10. Facemask
11. Mouth and nose filter for dust
12. Electric Belt type sander

Method:

1. Remove the door, lay across the two sawhorses, outer laminated face upwards.
2. Set the circular saw cutting depth "just a tad" less than the depth of the wood laminate.
3. Use the straightedge to draw parallel lines at 1 inch intervals across the door laminate. This to be done in both directions, so you have divided the laminate to be removed into 1 inch squares.
4. Place on the earmuffs, facemask, goggles and filter.
   
5. Run the saw along the marked lines.
6. Use the 1 inch wood chisel, and remove all the laminate, in small pieces.
7. Using the belt sander, remove the surplus epoxy adhesive.
8. Place a finer belt on the sander, sand to a smooth finish.
9. Repaint or re-clad the door as desired.

The above sounds time-consuming, but is the most practical and effective method of laminate and epoxy removal, without damaging the original door.

Advise your progress, with

Kind Regards....

My carpenter replaced the old laminate of a cabinet door by Using hot iron (meant for Ironing Clothes). He went on ironing the laminate and it came out easliy. May be you can try this.

Find a woodworking shop that has a drum sanding machine. The process will take about 5 minutes. The shop may complain that the epoxy will gum up his sanding drums, so be prepared to spend an extra $25.00 to renew his sandpaper, if required. Also, make sure that his sander will accept the width of your door. The one I used will do a 37" wide door.

If you are VERY careful with a hand held propane torch, you can soften the epoxy enough to pry the laminate back. If you are careful enough you will be able to peel part of the laminate off and then blacken the rest of the door and call your insurance agent to report the fire damage. Then have a new door paid for by the insurance company. Hire local tradesman. Have him write exorbitant labor bill and split it with him. Use the money gained to throw a pool party for the condo.

Happens all the time.

ammonium nitrate and fuel oil will have a similar effect...

Since obviously your door does not currently even resemble all the others, I seriously doubt any neighbors will have the nerve to complain about a slight mis-match from a new good-looking door. Those kinds of requirements are generally unenforceable anyway - since replacements 30 to 40 years later will seldom be exactly available. How long ago did this layer get so poorly bonded? Maybe you can shame the original contractor into a re-do?