Edge bands are a thin strip of wood veneer which may be applied around the edges of plywood, MDF board, particle board and any other man-made boards. The process of covering raw edges on wooden panels with a thin strip of wood, plastic, or resinous material is called edge banding.
Edge banding is the term used to describe a process whereby the edges of wooden furniture are reinforced or covered by applying a strip of edge tape (thin strip) over the surface. Edge banding refers both to the process called edge-banding, and the strips of materials used to make aesthetic finishes around the unfinished edges of plywood, particleboard, or MDF.
Edge banding or edge-banding is the name both of a process and an associated narrow strip of material used for creating sturdy, aesthetically pleasing trim edges in finished carpentry. Edge banding is used to cover exposed sides of materials like plywood, particle board, or MDF, increasing longevity and giving a appearance of solider or higher-value materials.
Veneer edge banding is used more often than not to give a board a look like it is made from solid wood (but for a fraction of the cost). Iron-on edge banding is the easiest way to hide plywood edges, and makes cheap plywood appear as solid wood. Plywood edge banding comes in many different wood types, so you can purchase the banding to match your desired appearance and color.
Edge banding machines are used mostly for reinforcing edges on panels made from plywood, particleboard, or MDF, making plywood panels stronger and less susceptible to damage. The edge bander machine can also be used for decorative purposes, like making patterns using pieces of shaved wood or various types of metal. The machine cuts out edges from the wood, and then uses glues to stick colored strips or other materials over the edges.
Businesses that have high-volume needs for edge bands use edge bands for applying the glue for the edge banding materials onto a working surfaces substrate. The process of edge banding helps cover those rough edges, which may help protect consumers from wear, and it also protects many plywood from excessive, unnecessary wear.
If you are using plywood or MDF panels for a furniture project, it is highly recommended to apply edge bands in order to increase overall durability of the product. In case of using a wood veneer for the edges on these products, the best option is using pre-glued wood veneer edge bands that have hot-melt glue, which you can apply with an iron and cut. Adhesive-backed edge banding is back-attached using a hot-melt adhesive, which forms a strong bond to edges made from plywood or particleboard.
If side edges of banding are coming up a bit above the baseboard, just use blocks of wood or MDF to push edges back down to the baseboard while the hot-melt glue is still warm. Start from one end and warm up the veneer until The heat-activated glue sticks to the edge of the plywood. Go back and forth along the edge several times as the glue dries. Just run your preheated iron over it again to loosen up the glue so that you can pull off the strips. Use a handy knife to cut off any extra banding lengths on the ends. Adjust your power planers bed so the blade overhangs the base edges from the thickness of banding.
Run an electric hand planer down this edge for the length of plywood. Cut one-inch oversize at each end, and loosely line up the timber veneer with the panel edges. The flat sides sit flush with the plywood edges, so that you have a sharp, clean cut straight through to the corners. Sanding in at an angle fuses the edges closer to the flat panel of plywood, rounding them nicely.
Do a quick pass around the corners using either sandpaper or this handy Edge Sander. To avoid rounding edges when you are sanding, wrap a quarter-sheet of 120-grit sandpaper around a small block 3/4-in. Or, if you would rather have micro-beveled edges, you can use a sharp bench plane or sandpaper wrapped around the block of wood. You can cut thin strips of real wood to be glued on the front of the plywood edges. Veneer edge strips typically have heat-sensitive adhesive backing. Veneer edge banding strips are produced by joining fine slices of timber joined together into one strip using finger joints, to create one continuous roll of master veneer.
Veneer edge banding is produced by finger-jointing individual pieces of veneer together in a seamless master roll. Because of its thinner nature, acrylic edge banding might not offer the same degree of dimension stability that a wooden veneer or a strip of solid wood would, when attached to the doors and faces of cabinets. Edge banding is mostly done to hide the sides of your plywood so that you can achieve a finished look for your cabinets, but also protects your interior plywood from possible warping.
Edge banding is the thin strip (wonder strip does wonders) that goes over the ends of the unfinished wooden boards in order to cover them, giving them a nice finished look. Basically, the edge band is the thin strip of impermeable PVC, Acrylic, or whatever the material is used, which is cut to the dimensions of a wooden panel. Round edges and curves are an excellent example of something that can be used with a commercial band.
The process involves attaching edge bands to a substrate, trimming any overhanging edges to flush with the substrate, scraping off any excess material, and polishing off your finished edges. Gluing is the most labor-intensive of the three methods, but results in stronger edges and a more professional look. This technique gives projects with varnish a smoother finish, as there is no grain between the plywood and the edges. Applying banding around edges also gives pieces a much smoother finish, adding beauty and utility to an object. Use scissors (for veneers made of card stock) or veneer saws (for veneers made from two-ply wood and untreated) to cut the bands yourself out of the sheet wood used for other parts of the veneer panels.