Do I sand painted surfaces before veneering?

Question:

I have a pair of speakers painted black. There is one coat of sealer and two coats of black, oil-based enamel on each MDF box. Is rough sanding followed by finer sanding enough or do I have to strip off the paint?

Thanks for the help, Bill

Answer:

Your situation is ideal for 3M Pressure Sensitive ( peel and stick) veneer. If you go this route you can just scuff sand the surfaces and apply the veneer without having to strip the paint. You could also choose to use Bubble Free Veneer (BFV) and apply your own contact cement. In either case, you don’t have to remove the paint from the existing surface as long as the painted surface is sound and not flaking or chipping.

Oakwood Veneer Tech Support