How do i stop chip board crumbling ?

Hi Moseley! The glue that is the "binder' in the chipboard has degraded, I would suggest you cut back in increments until you get to the point you find that the chipboard is not crumbling.

I would replace the damaged portion with say melamine board from the lumber store.

cut out bottoms glue in new ones

You Could Try using a Varnish or Gaffer tape for a Quick Fix.

I agree with John, try urethane or a varnish to seal (glue) the board back together. Or try gluing shelving paper to the damaged sides. But once the binding glue deteriorates it's very hard to get it back.

Sorry --- replace.

I would just replace the piece.

If your drawer unit has a bottom, cut off the bad chipboard. Add sturdy legs or rollers from the home improvement store. If you have been wanting a change, paint the whole unit in a pretty Rustoleum paint, therefore blending the new legs with the old unit, and giving some protection from water damage. Best wishes 😇

Here is an article that might be helpful - https://diy.stackexchange.com/questions/12730/how-to-seal-stabilize-crumbling-particle-board-counter-top - good luck

I would replace the damaged part, it most likely will continue to deteriorate. Avoid putting back in the chip board so you won't have that problem again. I would also seal the wood you put in, just in case it takes on water again.

Once that chip board gets wet, it needs to be thrown away, I think that product should be outlawed.

Stephen Justin is on the right track.

Imagine that you are a surgeon removing a cancerous tumor. You want to minimize the loss of healthy tissue but be dang certain that you got all of the malignant tissue, right? So you cut until you don't see any more tumor, & then the tiniest bit extra.

When excising crumbling chip board, you need to cut until you can press on the raw edge from any direction without any crumbling, splitting or cracking & then just the tiniest bit more.

Apply a sealant to your raw edge.

To patch the hole:

•temporarily staple some fabric (the piece needs to be bigger than the hole) to the inside of the chipboard

•using a tailors chalk or wax pencil, trace the edge of the hole on the fabric

•trim your fabric to the marked line; this is now your template for your patch

•choose a wood product roughly the same thickness as your chipboard, but sturdier

•working with 1 side of the original chipboard up, lay sticky shelf liner (contact paper, wallpaper, whatever you have) under the original board as it lays

•gently set you patch into the hole & rest on the sticky surface

•fill the gap between the chipboard & patch with wood glue; let dry completely; any spots that are too loose can be filled with shim trimmings or cut pieces from bamboo skewers/wooden matches

•once dry, apply the sticky shelf paper to the opposite side

Your patch & chipboard should now be sealed against water damage & gently reenforced. If your furniture has room & you want it to take more weight, you can add a layer of luan to either side of the chip board before wrapping on the shelf paper

Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer. All your responses are appreciated. I can now complete my project.