How to Remove Glue from Particle Board

Particle board is made of mechanically compressed saw dust and wood shavings. These boards are available in sheets of ranging sizes depending on your needs. Using particle boards is a cheap alternative to hardwood and is used in furniture making and domestic construction of cabinets, countertops etc. In most cases, if the board is properly finished it will pass as wood in appearance at first glance, but particle boards are highly susceptible to humidity and swell up when exposed to moisture.

Step 1 - Remove Any Wet Glue

If it’s a glue spill, immediately take action. Once the glue soaks into the particle board, it is impossible to remove it. So use paper towels to remove any wet glue. Don’t forget to wear your gloves.

Step 2 - Use Organic Solvent/ General Purpose Thinner

Do not use lacquer to dissolve glue. Particle board comes with a factory finish that protects it from moisture, which the lacquer thinner will eat away at. Therefore if the glue is on the surface use alcohol. Apply denatured alcohol to the glued area and wait for it to dissolve. You might have to redo the procedure a couple of times. If the glue is really tough, then you might have to use general-purpose thinners or acetone.

Step 3 - Clear Away Dissolved glue

Clear away with rags every time you repeat the previous step. By repeating the process a couple of times you will be able to remove tough hardened glue. A glue stripper can also be used. Once you have cleared away the solvents, use a mild soap water-dipped rag to clean the area.

Step 4 - Work with Already Dried Up Glue

Most particle wood counters in kitchens are usually covered with a coating, when you remove it you are left with a layer of glue. For this you will have to follow the above mentioned steps and work harder on the finish or apply a new layer of contact paper.

Step 5 - Sand the Remaining Glue

Once all the dissolved glue is removed you will need to sand the remaining pieces off. This you can do with sanding paper or a small sanding machine. But before sanding you remove any chunks left with a putty knife. Be careful while sanding particle boards; always use a fine-grit sandpaper as to not damage the board.

Step 6 - Protect Your Particle Board and Finishing Up

There are a wide variety of particle board finishing varnishes available in the market, purchase one and apply it to the area that has been treated for glue removal. This is very important as particle boards react to humidity and quickly swell up. Therefore to protect your boards, once you have dissolved, stripped, and cleaned it’s important to seal them up. You can finish by using a wax finish or applying contact paper. This will give the particle board a more refined look.