Festool Conturo: Advice on accessories and edge banding

GregorHochschild

Joined

Jul 6,

Messages

69

• May 5,

• #1

Hi,

the conturo is on the way so I wanted to get advice on accessories and edge banding.

1) Do you recommend the Edge Bander Trimming Set? () What parts do you use? What parts are less important? Without the kit, any recommendations for a trimmer that does not cost $215? Or is the edge banding trimmer worth the cost compared to other products?

2) I am mainly going to use wood veneer edge banding. What does everyone prefer in terms of thickness? 1mm seems more durable but I think they are made out of layers, which I am not sure about. I used 1.5mm wood veneer edge banding before the layers really didn't hold up well.

3) Where do you order high quality wood veneer edge banding?

Happy about any other recommendation!

Thanks!

afish

Joined

May 25,

Messages

1,514

• May 5,

• #2

So I own both the conturo and the kit.  By far the 2 most used tools are the end trimmer and the carbide scraper.  I love both of those and consider them a must have but I do mostly PVC banding.  I wouldn't miss any of the other items if they disappeared.  I also recommend the bench mount for narrow parts. For real wood edge banding I would say a MFK is also a must or a very nice to have.   

afish

Joined

May 25,

Messages

1,514

• May 5,

• #3

I will add one other thing.  It will matter how you build your cabinets too.  If you are using stop dado construction the festool end trimmer wont work.  Dowels or dominos = yes

Crazyraceguy

Joined

Oct 16,

Messages

5,020

• May 5,

• #4

Most of the commercially available veneer edgebanding is made of layers. I assume they do that, with some somewhat flexy glue, so that it can be rolled up. I have seen/used it as thick as 3mm, still in layers. Other than that, you can cut it yourself and get any thickness you want.
I second the statement of MFK700, huge fan of those, but it's not going to hit your $215 number though. I have never seen a router of any brand which works horizontally that will.
The MFK is brilliant though, you can control it well enough to climb cut, which will save you sanity when trimming veneer or solid wood edges. PVC is far more forgiving, you can do pretty much anything there.

afish

Joined

May 25,

Messages

1,514

• May 5,

• #5

I think he was trying to save on the END TRIMMER made by festool.  There are some Chinese knock offs available but I have never used one so cant comment on how well they work compared to the festool.  If the MFK is out of your budget get the https://www.fastcap.com/product/little-lipper  Does just as good trimming horizontally it just lacks in the dust control compared to the MFK 

GregorHochschild

Joined

Jul 6,

Messages

69

• May 5,

• #6

Thanks! I already have the MFK and was asking about the end trimmer. Happy to spent the money if it’s worth it but wondering how it compares.

I think wood veneer edge banding that is 1mm or thicker has layers. 0.5 does not, I think.

Peter Kelly

Joined

Aug 22,

Messages

363

• May 5,

• #7

The Virutex end trimmer that will cut up to 3mm tape is less than 1/2 the price of the Festool. Works great, they've got some smaller ones too:https://www.virutextools.com/hand-end-trimmer-for-tapes-up-to-3-mm-rc321s-pid309

Crazyraceguy

Joined

Oct 16,

Messages

5,020

• May 5,

• #8

GregorHochschild said: Thanks! I already have the MFK and was asking about the end trimmer. Happy to spent the money if it’s worth it but wondering how it compares.

I think wood veneer edge banding that is 1mm or thicker has layers. 0.5 does not, I think.

Do yourself a favor and forget about .5mm edgebanding.....of any kind.

denovo

Joined

May 23,

Messages

93

• May 5,

• #9

Crazyraceguy said: Do yourself a favor and forget about .5mm edgebanding.....of any kind.

I second this!  1mm edgebanding seems to be the sweet spot

I haven't tried the Virutex but compared to other end trimmers the festool is worth the extra cost and the carbide scraper.  I've found so many uses for it I bought a second

GregorHochschild

Joined

Jul 6,

Messages

69

• May 5,

• #10

Many don't even list the thickness. Here is Oak Wood Veneer, which I used a lot for veneer sheets:
http://www.oakwoodveneer.com/oak-edgebanding-white-rift.html

Or Edge Supply, which I saw recommended somewhere:
https://www.edgesupplyusa.com/product-page/white-oak-wood-edgebanding-nonglued-5-8-1-1-8

Is this edge banding people would recommend? Any alternative and better sources?

For the Oak Wood Veneer, the option without glue is "Fleecebacked". Any thoughts on that?

denovo said:

Crazyraceguy said: Do yourself a favor and forget about .5mm edgebanding.....of any kind.

I second this!  1mm edgebanding seems to be the sweet spot

I haven't tried the Virutex but compared to other end trimmers the festool is worth the extra cost and the carbide scraper.  I've found so many uses for it I bought a second

Simply said, edge banding addresses an issue in the furniture manufacturing process.

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The issue is that when hardwood boards are cut, they contain a rough edge that, if left exposed, may cause severe issues for your furniture.

Raw edges are not only unsightly, but they also allow moisture to seep in, causing the wood to warp and, as a result, significantly reducing the wood’s life span.

It is also very detrimental to one’s looks.

Edge banding is the thin strips that cover the ends of raw wood boards.

Edge banding protects your furniture’s hardwood panels from moisture, minimizing the impacts of ambient humidity and liquid spills.

Just like the purpose of furniture covers such as pet furniture covers, edge banding serves as a protective guard that secures the edges of your furniture and prevents detrimental accidents.

If you are curious to know more about edge banding, in this article, we will thoroughly discuss the different types of edge banding and their purpose.

1. The Purpose of Edge Banding

2. Types of Edge Banding

3. How To Put an Edge Banding?

4. Takeaways

2. Types of Edge Banding

2-1. Wood Veneer Edgebanding

Another popular edge banding material is wood veneer.

Wood veneer edgebanding is made by finger-jointing separate pieces of veneer into a seamless master roll.

Veneer means “thin pieces of wood”.

Common types include walnut, mahogany, maple, ash, and oak, but there are many more, including natural and colored veneers!

The attractiveness, durability, and strength of wood veneer are amongst the strong advantages of getting a wood veneer for your furniture.

It has a clean solid-wood appearance and is pre-sanded to readily absorb staining and finishes to match your wood.

However, wood veneer products are not heat resistant. Avoid placing it near a heater. It does not perform well in extreme environments.

2-2. PVC

PVC is the most often used edge banding material.

Because of its outstanding processing properties, it is the most frequently utilized in the production of edge bands for the furniture sector.

PVC edge banding is particularly popular for modular furniture since it is very robust, easy to repair, and has an exceptionally long life.

It does not require any kind of finishing procedure. It is also simple, though time-consuming, to fix.

However, PVCs cannot be recycled. You can’t refinish it after it’s tarnished.

Want more information on Thin PVC Edge Banding? Feel free to contact us.

When it comes to PVC, we often prefer 3mm edging since it goes on cleaner, faster, and with greater adherence.

Another benefit is that you get a beautiful soft-looking finish and a graceful radius.

In general, we try to avoid 5mm edging since the edges have the tendency to be sharp.

2-3. PP (Polypropylene)

Polypropylene is used to make PP edgebanding. Polypropylene is one of several thermoplastic polymers available on the market.

Among plastic edge banding options, PP edge banding is the most environmentally friendly, flexible, and heat resistant. Comparing it to plastic furniture covers, polypropylene can endure extreme conditions.

PP edgebanding is an excellent option for narrow radius applications and areas where furniture is subjected to high temperatures and heat.

PP is a semi-crystalline plastic that is widely utilized in the packaging sector.

It is ideal for small radius applications, is chlorine-free, and is widely utilized as an alternative to conventional PVC and ABS materials in the furniture sector.

2-4. ABS

ABS is a high-quality thermoplastic that is very resistant to common knocks and scratches, making it ideal for high-traffic furniture.

It can tolerate water, is very heat resistant, and is unaffected by household cleaning agents, making it ideal for family kitchens.

It’s also an excellent choice for usage in offices, toilets, all interior furnishings, store fitting, coffin making, and even exhibition displays.

Because of its excellent heat resistance, it may be used on kitchen cabinets close to hot ovens or stoves without causing damage or distortion.

ABS is a versatile edging material with almost limitless application possibilities.

You may mold this material to suit your design style, whether straight edge boards, curves, or unique forms. It’s also simple to work with on-edge banding devices.

ABS is less dense and lighter in composition than PVC, yet it still offers a very robust surface to protect your board edges.

It has some of the same advantages as PVC, but it is also completely recyclable and biodegradable.

2-5. Laser Edgebanding or Zero-Joint Edgebanding

A pre-applied, co-extruded polymer functional layer attaches to the board without the need for glue in zero-joint edgebanding.

The functioning layer dissolves and fuses the edge band to the board when activated by a laser, hot air, or NIR edge bander.

In contrast to glue adhesive techniques, zero-joint applications only need the joining of two items: the edge band and the board.

Regardless of its simplicity, zero-joint edge banding is a sophisticated adhesion technique that provides many significant advantages.

Zero-joint edgebanding enables the wood and the edge band to look like one solid surface, adding to the polished aspect of meticulously designed spaces inside the house.

Zero-joint edgebanding creates a monolithic look by making the board and edge band seem to be one solid surface.

Zero-joint edgebanding not only eliminates the need for glue pot maintenance but also eliminates splatter or glue problems within edge banders.

Working with glue slows the production process, necessitating pre-heating and closing down, and may result in operator burns, all of which can be avoided using zero-joint edgebanding.

The company is the world’s best PVC Edge Banding for MDF supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.