Ho to Apply Veneer Edge Banding
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Edge banding is very easy to work with. The only tools required are a clothes iron and an edge-trimming tool. Any cheap clothes iron will work but I've found that the smaller travel size versions are the easiest to work with. For goodness sake, you might consider buying one instead of "borrowing" the one that your spouse uses to iron your Sunday best. There's nothing quite like the look of confused disgust when there is hotmelt glue coming off the iron and spreading onto a clean pair of pants... especially when you're already late for work or church!
Avoid this common mistake: do not seal the edges of the panel with shellac or any other coating. The hot-melt adhesive on edge banding adheres best to a porous and slightly roughened surface.
Getting Started
Cut a piece of edge banding about 1" longer than the length of the panel that you are banding. You can use scissors to cut it or simply fold it in half and it will snap apart. If you're planning to use a dye or any high-penetration stain, you'll want to pay attention to splice lines in the edge banding. These zig-zag lines occur randomly throughout the roll and are mostly invisible if you are only applying a clear coat but some dye stains can make them more visible.
If you are applying the edge banding to two joining sides, its best to work with the least visible side first. For example, if you are placing the edge banding around the four side edges of a rectangular piece of plywood, then start by edge banding the back side edge. Then move on to the left and right sides, and finish up by applying the banding to the front side of the material. This will help to hide the corner joints in an easy and eye-pleasing way.
Heat It Up!
Turn on the clothes iron and set the temperature to the "high" or "cotton" setting. The ideal temperature is 390°F. Consider clamping the panel in a bench vise in the upright position so the clothes iron can be held horizontally. Start by placing the edge banding near one end of the panel and center it on the edge. The banding is slightly wider than the panel thickness so it is not critical that it is lined up perfectly with the edge. You can make minor adjustments to keep the banding straight as you go along.
Starting at one end of the banding and work towards the opposite end with the iron. Move the iron slowly along the banding while applying downward force. Keep your fingers away from the heat and exercise case to avoid getting stuck by splinters on the edges of the banding. The hot melt adhesive requires roughly 20 seconds of time under the hot iron. Some suppliers suggest pressing the edge banding in place for 20 seconds and then taking up the clothes iron and moving further down the edge and repeating the pressing. I don't think that is necessary or even ideal, so I press the iron down on the first section of banding and wait 10 seconds. Then I continue moving the iron along the edge slowly so that every inch of banding has been under the iron for about 20 seconds.
You should be able to see a small bead of adhesive expand out from the underside of the banding if the adhesive is activating. To get the best bond possible, go over the edge banding with a block of wood or MDF (held at a 45° angle) immediately after each side of the panel is ironed down. For the most part, the hot melt adhesive can be worked for about 45 seconds after it has been heated.
If the side edges of the banding lift slightly from the substrate, simply use the block of wood or MDF to press the edge back onto the substrate while the adhesive is still warm. You can also reheat the banding if needed.
End Trimming
Buyer's Guide to Finding the Best Veneer Edge Band
Those who have prior experience in buying veneer edge banding will know how strenuous this job can be. Choosing the right edge banding will save you from future maintenance issues. If you buy a poor-quality veneer edge banding, it can result in peeling problems.
Why Do You Need To Buy Veneer Edge Bandings?
Solid wood furniture has been in the market for a long time, but it is hard to find ‘genuine’ solid wood. Genuine solid wood furniture is costly and rare to find. Thus, this is where veneer edge bandings and veneered panels come into play. Take a look at the three main reasons for having veneer edge banding:
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Appearance
We don’t just want furniture that serves its purpose; appearance also matters. A table standing erect in your living room is not all that you need. It also requires a perfect appearance to bring out the grace of your living room. Veneer edge bandings provide these final touches of perfection to the appearance of your furniture with veneered panels. And, veneer bands can be simply cut with a sharp utility knife to get the perfect fit.
Durability
Furniture should be long-lasting and durable. Thus, to add to the durability of your furniture, you need to have veneer edge bandings. They protect your furniture from stains, water splashes, and other unfortunate events.
Strength
Durability comes with strength, and veneer edge bandings provide additional power to your furniture. The one extra layer on your table will do wonders for the lifecycle of your furniture. Though the banding can be intentionally cut with a utility knife, it is durable and will not split or crack.
Which Type of Veneer Edge Banding Should You Buy?
Edge bandings are classified into PVC, solid wood, and veneer. A veneer is then further classified into four major types: natural veneer edge banding, recon veneer edge banding, UV pre-finished edge banding, and rare veneer edge banding.
Natural veneer edge banding
It is a roll for sealing the edges of the plywood, particleboard, MDF, or wood board. As the name suggests, this veneer edge banding is made from natural veneer wood. Commonly, it is the first choice of everyone who wants to buy a veneer edge banding for veneered panels. They have varying thicknesses and are flexible to use.
Recon veneer edge banding
It is made from reconstituted veneer sheets and is at least 2.5 meters long. People mostly opt for this type because of the consistency of colors and grains in every sheet. These recon edge bandings are also famous for their low cost.
UV prefinished edge banding
These are finger joined wood veneer coils with a clear or stain UV lacquer coating finish. Thus, it provides durability and excellent surface characteristics. You can also get custom stain coating to get the exact colors and designs.
Rare veneer banding
It is an unusual type of edge banding that is used in special woodwork projects. Burl edge banding, cross-grain edge banding, and end grain edge banding; all are a part of this category.
What Are Some Different Wood Species?
Several different types of wood species are available in the market; each has distinct qualities and features. You should know which wood species you want for your furniture. The standard wood species that are available in veneer edge banding fall into four different categories:
American wood species
It includes white oak, walnut, cherry, red oak, maple, rosewood, pine, and many more. This species is known for its sustainability and quality. The edge bandings made from American wood species are considered to be more durable than others.
African wood species
It includes Bubinga, Zebrano, Sapeli, Anigre, Teak, Wenge, Okoume, Mahogany, Ayous, and many more. The veneer edge bandings made from African wood species are known for their design colors. Furthermore, these are also considered to be sustainable.
European wood species
It includes ash, oak, beech, and Figured sycamore. The advantage of using veneer edge banding made from European wood species is that it will be light and have excellent strength.
Asian wood species
It includes Bamboo, Chinese ash, Birch, oak, Basswood, Teak, Ebony, and Eucalyptus. The veneer edge bandings made from Asian wood species have primarily low cost and are flexible.
Installing Veneer Edge Banding
Once you get your new veneer edge banding, you’ll want to apply it to your furniture. To learn how, watch this tutorial from Bent’s Woodworking & More:
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Edge Strips.
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