The plan is;;;
Simply put I'm going to slap some "Wilsonart" brand laminate on the countertop to cover over the ugly, yellowish original stuff. I ordered a sheet 5 foot wide by 8 foot long which will enable me to cover the entire "L" shaped counter without a seam. It will take a little less than half of the sheet. Lots left over to cover other surfaces.The sink is loose still from last winters faucet change and will lift right out. (Original removal was a bitch because during construction the entire counter top is assembled and then attached to the base in the boat. This places the faucet so close to the cabinet wall that it is near impossible to remove.) The teak "fiddles" are screwed from below and have been out before for varnishing so that will be easy also. Moving on, the mahogany veneer edge band trim will be removed with a heat gun and sharp putty knife, easier than it sounds. The old laminate is solidly attached to the plywood base so prep will only consist of a soap and water wash, probably brillo or such, then a chemical wash; paint thinner, lacquer thinner, and acetone. This should take care of any and all water or chemicaly disolvable contaminants. Then a scuff down with about an 80 grit sandpaper for some "tooth".Now comes the tricky part. I hinged my ice box top which put several screws through the original surface and want to pick up those through the new surface. I'll make up inserts from screws, pointed at the top and set them into the holes slightly proud of the surface. Then I lay the rough cut sheet over the counter and inserts, tap over each one to mark, then drill through against a wood backup with a very sharp drill bit.Then it's a matter of rolling out a good SOLVENT based contact cement on both surfaces. When dry, with thin dowells as separators I get ONE shot at positioning the sheet exactly over the inserts. Then I get to trim the edges, a simple matter where a router will fit in , but anywhere else it's hand work and I'll have to figure that part out as I go, probably careful work with a hand file. Then I drill the holes for the screws that hold the fiddles from below. My angle head drill is a help here. Then iron on new mahogany edge banding and varnish it, a little bit more assembly and it's time to move on to the next project. Simple, right?