Better edge banding for melamine?

[ryanjg117]

I made about 50 feet of shop upper cabinets with quality melamine from my local hardwood supplier. My only regret is I cheaped out on edge banding, going with the 1mm thick, glue-backed edge tape that I ironed on. The adhesive seems good, but the edge banding is very delicate and easily damaged by just sliding/removing items from the cabinet shelves.

What do you use for more durable edge banding on your melamine projects?

As I'm limited on shop space, a Conturo or purpose-built edge bander isn't really in the cards for me now.

 

[Lincoln]

I'd guess that your banding isn't 1mm, if it's delicate - melamine banding is 0.4mm thick, while ABS/PVC banding is 1mm thick and very durable.

 

[ryanjg117]

I'd guess that your banding isn't 1mm, if it's delicate - melamine banding is 0.4mm thick, while ABS/PVC banding is 1mm thick and very durable.

Yep, you're right. Looks like my edge banding was .018" or about .4mm thick. So... just step up to the 1mm thick glue-back?

 

[Packard]

I made a small bookshelf for the local Starbucks about 10 years ago.  I knew it would be a hostile environment. I made the bookshelf from 3/4” melamine clad particleboard.

I edged it with PVC iron on edge banding which quickly (about 6 months) was chipping badly.

I took the bookshelf back to my basement shop and removed the PVC tape.  I replaced it with oak thin edgebanding. 

The I trimmed it to width wit a sharp chisel.  Stained it an brushed on a couple of coats of oil based poly.

The keys to durability are

1.  I use a wood block to follow the hot iron and apply pressure while the adhesive is cooling.  It assures a good bond.

2.  I check the edges of the edgebanding with my thumb nail. I should not catch the edgebanding at all.  If I do, I use a hand sanding block to take off the excess.

3.  I hand sand the edgebanding so that they edges of the banding is at about a 30 degree angle.

4.  I brushed on the poly by hand (no taping).  I have no proof, but I think the poly helps with preventing the edgebanding from pulling off.

Of course, the look has to be OK too.  I took some pictures of it a few weeks back.  I will look for them and post

 

[Lincoln]

I'd guess that your banding isn't 1mm, if it's delicate - melamine banding is 0.4mm thick, while ABS/PVC banding is 1mm thick and very durable.

Yep, you're right. Looks like my edge banding was .018" or about .4mm thick. So... just step up to the 1mm thick glue-back?

Yeah, it's the best option. Harder to trim etc, but well worth it. Down here in Aus we're mostly frameless cabinet construction and 1mm is industry standard.

 

[ryanjg117]

Yeah. It would need to be white. I know hardwood edging is the absolute best for durability but I really don't want to have to paint it.

Any preferred brands/suppliers for the 1mm thick stuff? My supplier only had that without glue-back, I think for use in edgebanding machines which apply the glue during the process. I'd probably want 1mm thick glue-back.

 

[tjbnwi]

At 1mm there is a risk of scorching the surface before the glue melts. You’d be better off using a hot air system when using 1mm banding.

Call Frama-Tech they may have pre-glued.
https://www.framatech.com/

Tom

 

[Oldwood]

As Tom says when you get into the thicker banding, it gets very hard to melt the glue from the outside without scorching the banding.

The hot air banders heat the glue from the glue side, so do a better job.

For a small run I have used solid colour laminate glued on with contact cement, but it is time-consuming.
https://www.wilsonart.com/laminate/specialty-laminate/colored-core

 

[Packard]

Outwater Industries, which sells direct or through Amazon.com, carries a line of extruded resin T-shaped edgebanding.  It requires a slot in the edge of the sheet goods.  Depending upon where you are in the assembly of your project, this is easy or difficult. 

It is available in white and black and possibly other colors.

It is the standard used in the retail display business.

No glue required if the slot is the right size.
https://www.google.com/search?q="T-shaped"+resin+shelf+edge&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwij_9Cb5ZGDAxXRD1kFHZA7CuYQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=%22T-shaped%22+resin+shelf+edge&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQAzoECCMQJzoGCAAQCBAeOgUIABCABDoGCAAQBRAeOggIABCABBCxAzoKCAAQgAQQigUQQzoNCAAQgAQQigUQQxCxAzoHCCMQ6gIQJzoLCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6BAgAEAM6DggAEIAEEIoFELEDEIMBOgQIABAeOgcIABCABBAYUO0NWNHtAWCr8QFoE3AAeACAAZsBiAHzIpIBBDY3LjKYAQCgAQGqAQtnd3Mtd2l6LWltZ7ABCsABAQ&sclient=img&ei=NXV8ZeOQEdGf5NoPkPeosA4&bih=707&biw=1151&client=firefox-b-1-m

It is about $1.00/foot from Home Depot.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Outwate...Kqa9nYT2FRgfsEs5nIkaAodJEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

In larger quantities (250+ ft) direct from Outwater at $0.28 per foot.  Going down to $0.19 per foot at 3,000 feet.