What Is An Edgebander - Useful Tips & Advice
What Is An Edgebander - Useful Tips & Advice
Edge banding, especially in commercial environments, is done using the edgebander, which applies a hot-melt adhesive to the board's edge. This hot melt glue is a form of thermoplastic adhesive that firmly attaches the edging strips in place.
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An edge bander is a machine used to create decorative edges on panels and boards automatically. The machine cuts the wood's edge and then uses adhesive to attach colorful edge strips or other materials.
It can also be used for decorative purposes, such as making patterns with cut pieces of wood or different types of metal.
The edge bander machine is handy when working in bulk and/or when repeating multiple patterns in one furniture piece. It is mainly used to reinforce the edges of plywood panels, particle boards, or MDF, making it more durable and less susceptible to damage.
What Is Edge Banding?
Edge banding is the term used to describe the process in which the edges of wood furniture are reinforced or covered by applying a band of edging tapes (thin strips) to the surface.
Simply put, edge banding solves the problem of unattractive and raw edges on furniture. It also reduces the effects of liquid spills, atmospheric humidity, and moisture in general. This helps protect the wooden panels in your furniture from getting destroyed.
How Does An Edge Banding Machine Work?
Most edge bander machines work by feeding an edge stipping through a machine until it is tight against the processed particle board. Then a roller or hot air gun applies heat to activate the glue and hold the strip in place. A clamp then presses and holds the banding firmly against the board's edge as it moves through a roller press for several seconds to ensure that there is sufficient glue on all parts of the banding material.
A second roller or hot air gun applies more heat which melts any remaining adhesive, allowing you to cut off any excess banding material easily, and the board is ready to be used.
There are at least four other methods of applying edge banding.
- Hot air/laser
- Iron-on
- Laser edging
- Edge banding tape
Where To Apply Edge Banding
Most solid wood products don't include any edge banding. However, if you are using plywood or MDF panels in your furniture projects, then it is highly recommended that you apply edge banding to improve the overall durability of the product.
Case sides and drawer fronts which are made of solid wood and have high-pressure laminate tops, also need edge banding.
Common Materials Used For Edgebanding
There are different materials used for edgebanding. The most recent modern type is what's called "high-pressure decorative laminates," which are made up of a combination of paper, glue, and resin. Other materials used include:
PVC
This material has excellent adhesive strength. It's easy to use and even easier to work with. It is the most popular edge banding material due to its low cost and extra durability. It also doesn't require a complex finishing process. The main downside to PVC edgebanding material is it's non-biodegradable, and you can't recycle it.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) edge bands are a great and environmentally friendly alternative to PVC edge banding. It has high impact resistance, is lower in density, has good adhesion properties, is recyclable, and is safe to incinerate.
NOTE: We recommend using a 3mm edging when using PVC because it is easy and faster to apply and with better adhesion. It also creates a smooth and nice premium-looking finish on rough edges. A .5mm edging is challenging to use, especially for beginners –it makes the corners to be too sharp.
Wood Veneer
Wood veneer is the preferred edge banding material for drawer fronts, plywood cabinet sides, and MDF wardrobe doors. The pre-sanded nature of wood veneer is attractive, strong, durable, and designed to absorb stains and finishes. It provides a clean solid-wood look that seamlessly matches with most wood furniture.
Veneer edge banding strips are produced by joining thin slices of wood joined together in a roll using finger jointing to form a continuous master veneer roll. Common types of tree species that make veneer include maple, mahogany, walnut, oak, ash, and birch. The veneer edging strips usually features a heat-sensitive glue backing. Plus, it's made in a range of thicknesses for different applications.
NOTE: Wood veneer is not heat resistant and doesn't do well in high-traffic areas. Do not apply edge banding made of wood veneer near a heater.
Related: Cabinet Edge Bander With Extension Table
Solid Wood
Solid wood is still the preferred choice for edge banding in many applications. The material offers a natural look and feel that matches well with almost any kind of furniture piece, especially if it has one solid color or tone throughout.
Woodworking professionals love solid wood edge strips since they are durable, affordable, easy to fix, refinish, and recyclable. When compared to wood veneer edge band tape, solid wood is more resistant to chipping. Solid wood glue is also more reliable and less prone to peeling.
Solid wood edge banding is a favorite for tops. It's available in a range of thicknesses to provide additional dimensional support to plywood and MDF.
Acrylic/PMMA
PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate) is an acrylic resin and one of the most durable options for edge banding. It's a tough, shatter-resistant material that can be as thin as .075mm to as thick as 12mm. This makes it perfect for use in heavy-duty applications such as flooring or countertops.
NOTE: PMMA is heat resistant, so that it can be used near high-temperature appliances like microwaves or ovens. But because of its thin nature, acrylic edge banding may not provide the same level of dimensional stability as wood veneer or solid wood strips when attached to your cabinet doors and drawer fronts.
Laser Edgebanding / Zero Joint Edgebanding
This modern form of edge banding offers the possibility of a permanently functional and invisible joint on the finished component thanks to a 100 % adhesive-free, functional layer. The seamless bond creates a permanent, functional invisible joint. The laser process can be used on a wide range of materials, including wood and engineered wood substrates.
How To Choose The Right Edge Bander
Edge banding machines are divided into two types; fully automatic and semi-automatic edge banding machines.
Semi-automatic edge banding machines can do many things, including preheating, scraping, coating, trimming, and polishing. It's mainly suitable for edge banding medium density fiberboard and joinery.
Fully automatic edge banders provide essential functions, including pre-grinding, finishing, scratching, polishing, slotting, sealing, binding, coating, sough repairing, etc. It's more efficient and accurate.
Fully automatic edge banders are mainly suitable for medium and solid wood boards, medium-sized furniture, cabinets, polymer door panels, planers, and plywood.
Popular brands include Maksiwa, Cantek edgebanders, and Safety Speed.
Advantages Of Edgebanding Over Solid-Wood Wdging
- It's an easy process that requires no sanding, staining, or finishing.
- Edge banding is easy to replace when damaged or worn.
- Edge banding provides additional protection to the wood's surface.
- Adds a professional finish and thus increases the value of your furniture piece.
- It is more affordable than solid-wood edging, which requires staining or varnishing following assembly.
- Appearance. You can also choose from various decorative tapes available in different colors, finishes, and textures.
- It reinforces the edges of your furniture, making them more durable and less prone to damage than solid edging. This is especially important for furniture (like tables) that will be subjected to heavy use or unnecessary roughness.
- Edge banding provides a smooth and clean finish to your furniture.
- It is easy to remove if needed for repairs or replacement.
- Protects the edges from damage caused by dust build-up over time and liquid spills such as milk and other drinks.
Bottom Line
Edge banding can be easy and fun to use if you choose a suitable material and a good edge banding machine for your project. Each type of edgebanding machine comes with its own benefits, so it's important to weigh those advantages against your budget and the specific application before making a final decision.
4 Steps of Maintaining Edgebander Edge Banding Machine
4 Steps of Maintaining Edgebander Edge Banding Machine
4 Steps of Maintaining Edgebander Edge Banding Machine
Every machine need to adjust and maintain for their best performance. Edgebanding machine contains the processes of: pre-milling, spray anti-glue coating agent, preheating of the plate, pressure sealing and cutting, front and rear cutting and roughing up and down, scratch repair and polishing, each process needs to check regularly in case of the worn of machine parts or computer system failure cause the damage of machine. So here are 4 projects you need to check on time:
1. Clean up the external of edgebanding machine regularly. First of all, we must clean the wood chips and various wood debris generated during the production process, to prevent the accumulating of wood chips which will cause the machine get stuck, affect the normal use of the edge banding machine. Secondly, clean the stains on the surface of the machine in time, to keep the edge banding machine tidy and prevent corrosion damage to the surface of the edgebanding machine.
2. Regular lubrication of the edge banding machine is very important. The bearings of the various parts should be lubricated regularly, and the proper lubricating oil must be selected.
3. Regular inspections. Regularly check and maintain the edge banding machine. During the maintenance process, carefully check the wear and tear of the gears, bearings, pressure rollers, conveyor chain pads, support beam wheel, buffing wheel and other parts of the edge banding machine, and replace the worn parts in time.
4. The edge banding machine computer system maintenance. Today's edge banding machines are mostly connected to computers, so it can be automated by computer program. If there is a problem with the computer system, it will affect the normal use of the machine.
The guide rails of the edge banding machine should be cleaned every day. I recommend adding the 46th rail oil to the sliding surface, or the oil sealing hole. The edge banding machine oil water separator and oil cup is filled with low viscosity air compressor oil; add two-thirds of the oil cup. For the edge banding machine main drive motor, check the gear oil whether need to add every two months. The gears under the glue box of the edge banding machine should be inspected and cleaned every 40 hours, and filled with high viscosity grease.
The head rail part needs to be blown clean with an air gun every day, and then injected into the sewing machine oil or transformer oil, one or two times a day.
Here is the suggested checking list; you can adjust it based on your machine model:
No.
Projects
Project’s details
Period
1/1
2/1
1
Whole machine
Clean external dust and wood chips
1 Day
2
Glue Shovel device
Clean the cutting tools
1 Day
3
Pneumatic device
Check condensate drain valve
1 Day
4
Gluing device
Lubricating roller bearing
2 Days
5
Pre-milling device
Check the cutting tools
7 Days
6
Pressure roller
Check whether need replacement
7 Days
7
Front and rear cutting device
Check linear guides and shock absorbers
7 Days
8
Refining device
Check the sharpness of the tool, clean the motor and the hood
7 Days
9
front and rear tracking device
Check tool sharpness and contour wheel
7 Days
10
Scraper device
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Check the sharpness of the tool
7 Days
11
Front and rear cutting device
Linear guide lubrication
15 Days
12
Upper beam
Check lubrication
30 Days
13
Upper beam pressure roller
Check for wear
30 Days
14
Pre-milling device
Guide rod lubrication
30 Days
15
Gluing device
Cleaning the glue working parts
30 Days
16
Gluing device
Check the glue level sensor
30 Days
17
Refining device
Check lubrication of ball screw and movement parts
30 Days
18
front and rear tracking device
Check lubrication of ball screw and linear guide
30 Days
19
Scraper device
Check lubrication of movement parts
30 Days
20
Glue Shovel device
Check lubrication of movement parts
30 Days
21
Polishing device
Check the wear of the polishing wheel
30 Days
22
Main drive motor
check the gear oil is enough or not
60 Days
Also, the change of worn machine parts is very important, to keep the machine in normal use and increase the safety during work.
Those
edgebander parts
are most easily worn, please be noticed:
Polishing Wheels
: they are used for edge banding machine polishing and buffing wood panel edge. Normally need to replace every 2 months, if your edgebander working too often.
Edgebander Pressure Roller Wheels
: they are edge conveyor wheel with high quality HSK bearing. Normally they can be used for 1-2 years based on the toughness of workpiece and other factors.
Edgebander Track Pads
: they are made of high quality nylon and rubber, last for long time working. Around 2 years use life based on using situation.
Side Rollers Beam Wheels
: these side rollers support at both ends, which helps in easy movement and feeding of workpiece on the table. Because they only in the function of supporting the workpiece to move, so they have a very long use life.
RicoCNC
is a reliable edgebander accessories supplier for most edge banding machines such as Biesse, Homag, SCM, IMA, Brandt, Holz-her, Casadei Busellato, Felder, Laguna Bandit, CEHISA, and Chinese edgebanders, etc. If any needs, welcome to contact visit
www.cncsparetools.com
.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of intelligent wood edging machine fabrication. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.