How to repair a dresser? DIY?

Oh my, that is a tough one. I just finished repairing a dresser made with particle board that the top veneer had peeled off due to wet glasses being set on it. What I did was first use my chisel to chisel off any swollen particle board that was sticking up above the rest of the top. Then I sanded it smooth with the rest and used a clear coat spray to seal it. I gave that at least three coats allowing each to dry completely. Get it too wet and it will start to swell again.

Then I used a primer on the raw area of particle board and allowed that to dry. My was a dark wood finish with lighter graining throughout, so I painted the first coat the color of the lighter grain of wood and allowed that to dry. I then came back over with a artist brush and hand painted streaks into it , then using a large paint brush, I blended the darker color into the lighter color. I did this quickly and not in any type of fashion. After I was satisfied with the outcome, I finished it off with a gloss clear coat protector over the entire top. Look darn good too I might say! I just can not afford any new furniture now or in the near future so it was fix it or forget it.

I think the material under the finish is a type of fiber board. If you sand it the result will probably remain fuzzy regardless of how much you sand. It might be a better option to simply cover it or replace the entire top. There are thin veneers that you can buy that are made of various woods that you can glue to the existing top. You can then stain or paint them and they will be smooth.

Since it's a sleek modern design, I'd get the home improvement center to cut a piece of black formica to fit the top of the dresser. Glue it down and voila, it would match the black trim and pulls and be impervious to stains and spills. Good luck!! : }

Sand the paint all off and repaint it.