3/4” Walnut Edge Banding - Finish or Glue First?

[Bugsysiegals]

I’m building a mobile cart for my Festool systainers which will use 3/4” prefinished Maple veneer plywood. I decided to add 3/4” Walnut around the edges to give it some contrast and better support for drawer glide screws.

As the topic states, should I glue the Walnut to the plywood shelves and then mask things off to finish it or finish the Walnut and then glue it to the plywood?  If the later, do I put painters tape on the edge Ill glue to keep it clean or just spray the clear from the top and the bottom won’t get enough on it to stop it from gluing well?

 

[tjbnwi]

Either way will work well. Pick which ever works easiest for you.

Keep the finish off the edges to be glued.

Tom

 

[lwoirhaye]

It's a trick to line it up perfectly flush and plywood varies a little in thickness anyway.  Most woodworkers glue it on thicker and trim off the excess.  There will also be a glue squeeze out line the trimming cut removes.