Formica on a countertop

Chris Flynn · March 12, 2010, 10:45 AM

Lo Down said

I assume you mean this?
Donald Durham Company -- Makers of Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty (tm).

I was thinking some lacquer would just reactivate the adhesive and a flat scraper could be used to squeegee the old glue off and leave almost almost perfectly clean surface. The solvent would have plenty of time to flash off, so I don't think that would do any harm.

That's it, Jeez I must of had Rocklers on the brain, Ha... Durham's... man gettin old is starting to suck
And Like daris, I would be careful with laquer thinner in a house.... , at the cost of Laquer thinner these days you could almost just replace the subastrate... I usually use 1 in particle board that I get at the saw mill. they carry the stuff in several different thicknesses for case work...

Chris Flynn · March 12, 2010, 03:52 PM

reading this thread cracks me up... It is all the old guys that have been in this trade forever that remember when flooring guys also did counter tops... Does anyone know where that all started? I think I do but I want some one to confirm it...

Lo Down · March 12, 2010, 04:23 PM

Chris Flynn said

reading this thread cracks me up... It is all the old guys that have been in this trade forever that remember when flooring guys also did counter tops... Does anyone know where that all started? I think I do but I want some one to confirm it...

You mean from using linoleum? ......... I'm not that old, but I've seen it.

Daris Mulkin · March 12, 2010, 06:19 PM

When I started I worked in a furniture store in southern Minnesota the farming area. We did it all. Formica, lino, vinyl, carpet, ceramic, and the one I hated the most is put on Congo wall.
Then if that didn't keep us busy we delivered the furniture and set it in place, cleaned carpet with Blue Luster, and also repaired appliances, kept the store clean, and set up the displays, plus anything else the boss could think up. Oh and painted the outside of the store-2 buildings- that were shaped like in the western movies.
I did all this for $60 a week.
Sorry if a little off topic.

Daris

Peter Kodner · March 12, 2010, 11:34 PM

Daris, wasn't a new Ford Model T about $700 then?

Lo Down · March 12, 2010, 11:51 PM

Peter Kodner said

Daris, wasn't a new Ford Model T about $700 then?

Silly goof.......... they didn't have cars back then.

Jon Scanlan · March 13, 2010, 12:48 AM

Lo Down said

You mean from using linoleum? ......... I'm not that old, but I've seen it.

Well I am Lo

We did lino tops with the basin just sunk into it There was also commercial vinyls done the same way. I think it was when Formica came out the lino side stopped. (I think)

Chris Flynn · March 13, 2010, 05:44 AM

Daris Mulkin said

When I started I worked in a furniture store in southern Minnesota the farming area. We did it all. Formica, lino, vinyl, carpet, ceramic, and the one I hated the most is put on Congo wall.
Then if that didn't keep us busy we delivered the furniture and set it in place, cleaned carpet with Blue Luster, and also repaired appliances, kept the store clean, and set up the displays, plus anything else the boss could think up. Oh and painted the outside of the store-2 buildings- that were shaped like in the western movies.
I did all this for $60 a week.
Sorry if a little off topic.

Daris

Maybe a little off topic Daris, but there is a wealth of information in those two paragraphs... and you always had a job, and you always had something to do... what did a gal of gas cost then? or a loaf of bread? Just a thing or two to think about...

Daris Mulkin · March 13, 2010, 06:27 AM

Peter Kodner said

Daris, wasn't a new Ford Model T about $700 then?

I don't know about the model T, but a 1938 Chevrolet was $800 with a radio mind you. The reason I know that, it was in an advertisement in a newspaper from my home town that we found under some loose lay lino we took up.

Daris

Barry Carlton · March 13, 2010, 08:37 AM

Jon Scanlan said

Well I am Lo We did lino tops with the basin just sunk into it There was also commercial vinyls done the same way. I think it was when Formica came out the lino side stopped. (I think)

It's making a small resurgence here. I do probably about 10 lino counter tops a year.

And many grocery stores still have the old Seagate or Brigantine on the checkout counters.

rgfloor · March 13, 2010, 11:03 AM

Daris Mulkin said

I don't know about the model T, but a 1938 Chevrolet was $800 with a radio mind you. The reason I know that, it was in an advertisement in a newspaper from my home town that we found under some loose lay lino we took up.

Daris

Wow, Daris started in 1938!!

If he just came back from the Navy he was probably 23 or 24, let's see that makes him............OK, I gotta take my shoes off ta count that high!!

GOT IT.........95 or 96!!!!!!

Jon Scanlan · March 13, 2010, 01:50 PM

Daris Mulkin said

The reason I know that, it was in an advertisement in a newspaper from my home town that we found under some loose lay lino we took up.

Daris

And those days have gone as well. All that old looselay with the old tar backed Congoleum well and truly gone. I remember seeing newspapers with the old fridges with the motor on the bottom half. I bet Barry doesn't remember that old Congo as he is a young fella?

rgfloor · March 13, 2010, 02:04 PM

Jon Scanlan said

And those days have gone as well. All that old looselay with the old tar backed Congoleum well and truly gone. I remember seeing newspapers with the old fridges with the motor on the bottom half. I bet Barry doesn't remember that old Congo as he is a young fella?

The store I worked at sold the old felt Congo rugs for 19.95 and we delivered and rolled them out. 1971-72 mountains of PA.

Barry Carlton · March 13, 2010, 02:53 PM

Jon Scanlan said

And those days have gone as well. All that old looselay with the old tar backed Congoleum well and truly gone. I remember seeing newspapers with the old fridges with the motor on the bottom half. I bet Barry doesn't remember that old Congo as he is a young fella?

Barely. I was probably about 10 or so and my dad and uncle put some in my grandmothers house that she rented. I remember them being in the type of mood that no one wanted to be around. (they were not flooring people at all just a couple of clueless DIY's [this I know now]).They cut it outside in the sun on the grass. But it lasted till grandma died and still maybe there for all I know. Corner of Clovis Ave. and 10th in Clovis CA. We watched the Clovis Rodeo go right down Clovis Ave. every year. Good Memories...thanx Jon.

Daris Mulkin · March 13, 2010, 05:30 PM

Rg you better go back and read my post again. Or can't your old eyes read such fine print anymore. I said it was in a 1938 newpaper we found under some old lino. Like Jon says the old tar paper backed ones.

Daris