Strange groups of parallel bubble lines
#1
07-24-17, 07:42 PM
Strange groups of parallel bubble lines
So I've had an entertainment unit in my bedroom properly painted black for over 4 years now with no aftermath blemishes or gaping imperfections to speak of, when all of a sudden these random groups of horizontal, parallel bubble lines recently appeared, stacked one on top of another in a vertically-oriented grouping on the farther right side of the front of my unit( close to where my TV is mounted and there are currently four groups of them of varying sizes )and nowhere else.
Every other visible spot on my painted unit is exactly as it was when I finished it years ago, smooth and proper, yet for some reason this little issue seemingly popped up out of thin air and I'm absolutely baffled as to how it could've happened. So now I'm just wondering if this sudden issue could have been prevented, could it be fixed, and is there even the slightest chance that it could get any worse?
Once again, the far right side of the front of my unit seems to be where the entirety of the problem is localized, for whatever reason.
Every other visible spot on my painted unit is exactly as it was when I finished it years ago, smooth and proper, yet for some reason this little issue seemingly popped up out of thin air and I'm absolutely baffled as to how it could've happened. So now I'm just wondering if this sudden issue could have been prevented, could it be fixed, and is there even the slightest chance that it could get any worse?
Once again, the far right side of the front of my unit seems to be where the entirety of the problem is localized, for whatever reason.
#2
07-24-17, 07:53 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Pretty hard to visualize. A picture or two would certainly help.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
Pretty hard to visualize. A picture or two would certainly help.
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/el...-pictures.html
#4
07-25-17, 08:39 AM
Group Moderator
What's on the other side of the boards where this is happening?
Definitely going to need pictures - close up and further back.
Definitely going to need pictures - close up and further back.
#5
07-28-17, 07:36 PM
Sorry I couldn't reply sooner, I've been out and about lately. Here are the best pictures I could take:
All I ever applied to this surface was flat black paint and certainly nothing else that could have ever caused bubbling to occur of this nature, to my knowledge. This is also a solid oak entertainment unit with nothing that I can see on the backside of it that could be causing this little cosmetic hiccup. I've also never accidentally exposed this surface to any form of moisture or any other substance that one would assume could lead to something like this.
From the photos, it should be obvious that there's a localized pattern in the form of this vertical column. Could it possibly be occurring internally somewhere?
All I ever applied to this surface was flat black paint and certainly nothing else that could have ever caused bubbling to occur of this nature, to my knowledge. This is also a solid oak entertainment unit with nothing that I can see on the backside of it that could be causing this little cosmetic hiccup. I've also never accidentally exposed this surface to any form of moisture or any other substance that one would assume could lead to something like this.
From the photos, it should be obvious that there's a localized pattern in the form of this vertical column. Could it possibly be occurring internally somewhere?
#6
07-28-17, 07:57 PM
Group Moderator
That is very strange. That is what I would expect to see if you had recently painted it and the paint ate into the veneer.... but not painted four years ago.
Is that a unit that came all together..... not something you put together ?
Is that a unit that came all together..... not something you put together ?
#9
07-31-17, 11:09 AM
Member
Back panels on entertainment centers are usually not solid wood, but thin wafer board with a painted picture of wood on it. So it does look like the this veneer is delaminating. Yours may be different as I see you have your TV mounted to it. I also see some other brackets on the right. What component was hung in that area?
#10
07-31-17, 11:02 PM
The back panel of this particular entertainment unit appears to be much thicker and sturdier than most which is why, as was mentioned, I'm able to mount my TV to it(as well as four small glass shelves in each of the four corners, if I so choose). That being said, given the apparent higher quality of this back panel, would it still be possible for this veneer/laminate to be loosening up as opposed to the paint job going south? If so, is there anything that could possibly be done to reverse or at least treat this issue?
Also, this entertainment unit originally came in only two completed parts: the base section and the top section where the TV is mounted(however it was purchased secondhand).
Also, this entertainment unit originally came in only two completed parts: the base section and the top section where the TV is mounted(however it was purchased secondhand).
#11
08-01-17, 02:57 AM
I'm fairly certain it's peeling veneer and not peeling paint. Unless there is a trick to reglue and lay the bubbles back down, the only thing I know would be to either live with it or cut out the bubbles and fill the depression with a wood filler or even joint compound. The biggest drawback of using filler is it's almost impossible to replicate the wood grain.
#12
08-01-17, 08:41 AM
Group Moderator
You might be able to inject glue under each wrinkle with a syringe and needle and then press the surface back down to the substrate but you're going to leave the needle hole and potentially another wrinkle if you apply too much glue.
#13
08-01-17, 09:10 AM
Accurate - You're seeing "strain" (solid material deforming) in response to stress (force).
Understandable - The board is buckling (very slowly) under the weight of the TV.
A glue joint or material seam has failed in the back-piece.
What was once a vertical is bending into a an angle
The laminate is compressing, and you're seeing compression wrinkles.
I would get a few pieces of 1/2" x 1/2" wood, stain them to match the cabinet;
pair them front and back, and bolt them together for added support.
Countersunk screw on the fancy side, wide washer and nut on the back.
Understandable - The board is buckling (very slowly) under the weight of the TV.
A glue joint or material seam has failed in the back-piece.
What was once a vertical is bending into a an angle
The laminate is compressing, and you're seeing compression wrinkles.
I would get a few pieces of 1/2" x 1/2" wood, stain them to match the cabinet;
pair them front and back, and bolt them together for added support.
Countersunk screw on the fancy side, wide washer and nut on the back.
Last edited by Hal_S; 08-01-17 at 09:41 AM.
#14
08-03-17, 11:56 PM
Now that I'm aware of the perpetrator of this little issue and the reasoning behind it's appearance, I'll make it my first priority to remove my TV from the mounted bracket it's been resting on for the last few years in order to eliminate all strain off the back-piece and I'll also consider crafting those supports sometime in the future.
Thank you for all of the quick and helpful responses, everyone. There's only one last thing I'm curious about: now that I know these are compression bubbles caused by weight stress, is there any possible way to treat this surface affliction at this point? Perhaps some way to bend the wood back into shape? What kind of tool might possibly be used to accomplish this, given any are needed at all?
Thank you for all of the quick and helpful responses, everyone. There's only one last thing I'm curious about: now that I know these are compression bubbles caused by weight stress, is there any possible way to treat this surface affliction at this point? Perhaps some way to bend the wood back into shape? What kind of tool might possibly be used to accomplish this, given any are needed at all?
