Damaged bench top

[The Fugative]

I recently placed a hot pot on our white bench top which caused a bubble about the size of a 0.50p coin.

I think it's a formica (spelling?) top and I'm wondering how I can fix this without replacing the whole bench top.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[stanleyman]

You may have or can get some spare edging strip. If so, using a hole cutter in a drill carefully drill through and remove the damaged surface. Carefully cut a circular piece of the edging strip and glue in place. Alternatively drill further through and replace with a piece of spare worktop drilled out with a larger cutter and sanded to fit tight. This may not be the full depth, glue and seal with white silicone. The repair will still be noticable but at least it will be flat and usable until you replace it.

[jake-the-peg]

The other possibility is to try and pucture the bubble with a sharp blade inject some glue in there and weight it down.

But I don't think formica is an easy thing to fix

[Clanad]

Alternately, it's possible that just the top laminate colored surface has bubbled loose from the next layer. If this is the case (try pushing on the bubble; if it springs back and forth, it's likely just the the top layer) secure a very sharp crafter's knife and carefully cut an arc along one edge of the bubble. Using some "magic glue"... the one in the small tube that you're never able to reuse... and squeeze in a fair amount and push up and down several times to spread the glue inside the bubble. Let it set just a minute or so and then press the bubble down. You can hold it for several minutes or you can place a very heavy weight on it. I've used this method for repair with varying success. One good thing about it is, that if it doesn't succeed, you can always revert to stanleyman's excellent suggestion... Good luck!

[Clanad]

Hmmm, jake, you weren't there when I started... great minds an all that...

[The Fugative]

Thanks Stanleyman, thats exactly what I was planning on trying. Now I have cinfirmation my idea 'should' work.

Cheers.