subject: What is Edge Banding? [print this page] What is Edge Banding? What is Edge Banding?
Edge banding is an industrial product used for improving interiors and furniture. The flexible nature of its production means that the 'edging tape' comes in a variety of widths, thicknesses and materials. Although edge banding is most commonly used to finish off wood projects it can also be supplied in PVC, ABS (the ecological alternative to PVC) and melamine if you source the right supplier. Whichever material you finally decide on the general goal is to improve the final finish of a product whether you are manufacturing furniture or adding the final touches to a fitout.
Attaching Edge Banding
For home DIY enthusiasts there are three common methods to apply edging strips: some products come ready with a self-adhesive surface (similar to some brands of wallpaper), other products can be applied using a low amount of heat (from a clothing iron for example), and lastly some products require an application of glue/cement to both the surface and the edging strip.
Professionals would - more often than not - use machinery to speed up applications. Machinery such as a handheld edge banding machine is very convenient for smaller onsite jobs and usually come with built in temperature and speed regulators. On such a unit the hotmelt glue pot is built in and will require refilling from time to time. A bagpress or vacuumpress machine is a larger unit used for mass production and industrial applications to apply veneers to straight and curved surfaces. And lastly Edge Trimmers come in very handy for carving surplus edging from your surface. These handheld units are a fast way to neaten a project and get a smooth professional finish.
Typical accessories include edge bander veneering glues and Holding straps for rolls (which can get quite unwieldy to store otherwise.)
Tips for Edge Band Application
By its very nature edging strips are designed to be easy to cut and fit into varying shapes. Ideally you should start with larger pieces and trim the edging down just in case there are any deviations between measurement and application. It is also a good idea to ensure that both the edge banding strips and your surface are clean and dry. Dust, residue and moisture will reduce the lifespan of the edging.
If you are using a DIY heat activated edging material then it would be a good idea to buy a small travel iron to use rather than your everyday home iron. This is both easier to handle and will avoid any accidental transfer of glue to the hot iron surface. To be one hundred percent sure you can also use a strip of foil between the iron and the veneer to avoid this.
In cases where you wish to apply full veneers to medium to large volumes of surface it is a good idea to source your large veneer layon panels and your edging strips from the same supplier to ensure a uniform finish. Another advantage of contacting the manufacturer directly is that you will not only be afforded a larger number of choices but quite often a manufacturer will be able to supply custom sizes and advice on the appropriate selection of materials for your specific project.
