So when my mom moved, I inherited her 1960s MCM coffee table. The end pieces are veneered particle board.
Now the veneer is in good shape - no chunks missing, no big lifts or anything - but it’s rough and covered in tiny not-quite-bubbles.
I’d like to find some way of just smoothing it all down, and I expect it to look natural again, but I’m being cautious. Anyone dealt with this before?
If the veneer is what’s bubbling, you need to get it glued back down before a light sanding. A thin cyanoacrylate (super-glue) can work well for this, especially if you make tiny slices with a utility knife in each bubble before applying the glue. The thin stuff will wick into the bubbles, and then you can press em down with a caul (flat piece of wood) covered with plastic to keep it from being glued to the veneer, and some clamps for pressure. Let it dry overnight, don’t use accelerator. Lightly sand and refinish.
Have a photo? Is the veneer itself peeling or is it’s finish? How thick is the veneer layer?