Conturo issues

[petertheeater]

Hi All
Recently bought the Conturo and accessories kit. Huge investment for me but I uhmmed and ahhed for a few weeks before deciding that it was a prudent investment and would save me a whole lot of time on my next two projects.
The first Project is 25mm Ash veneered MDF boards with 2mm Ash edge banding. I have approximately 150 linear metres to do.
I have done a good few metres practising. Adjusting feed rate, temperature and amount of glue with improved results and have started edging for real on the project.
What I cant seem to do is get an invisible, or near as damn it, invisible glue line. Although it is a fraction of a millimetre it is still very apparent to the eye. I am using the natural coloured glue. See photo attached although it looks worse in real life.
To my eye, the results are not really up to standard. I know I could do better, but slower by gluing and clamping the edging on. Am I missing something? Should I be pushing even harder as the machine passes the work? Less Glue?
I would only ever really use this machine with real wood edging and if it's not great at that then I feel a bit aggrieved as it was described as fit to do this task.
I am considering returning the machine but only have a day or so left on the 14 day policy. I doubt I can return the fairly costly accessory kit as it would be no good without the machine.
I would appreciate any input and would love to hear that the glue line can be improved upon as the machine is a really beatiful piece of engineering.
Thanks in advance.
Peter
[attachthumb=1]

 

[Phil Beckley]

Hi All
Recently bought the Conturo and accessories kit. Huge investment for me but I uhmmed and ahhed for a few weeks before deciding that it was a prudent investment and would save me a whole lot of time on my next two projects.
The first Project is 25mm Ash veneered MDF boards with 2mm Ash edge banding. I have approximately 150 linear metres to do.
I have done a good few metres practising. Adjusting feed rate, temperature and amount of glue with improved results and have started edging for real on the project.
What I cant seem to do is get an invisible, or near as darn it, invisible glue line. Although it is a fraction of a millimetre it is still very apparent to the eye. I am using the natural coloured glue. See photo attached although it looks worse in real life.
To my eye, the results are not really up to standard. I know I could do better, but slower by gluing and clamping the edging on. Am I missing something? Should I be pushing even harder as the machine passes the work? Less Glue?
I would only ever really use this machine with real wood edging and if it's not great at that then I feel a bit aggrieved as it was described as fit to do this task.
I am considering returning the machine but only have a day or so left on the 14 day policy. I doubt I can return the fairly costly accessory kit as it would be no good without the machine.
I would appreciate any input and would love to hear that the glue line can be improved upon as the machine is a really beatiful piece of engineering.
Thanks in advance.
Peter
[attachthumb=1]

Hi Peter
Can you send me contact details to Philip.beckley@festool.com and I will get one of the team to contact/visit you.
Is the Ash you are using bought in or cut in the workshop?
The 'edge' that is being banded has to be perfect for a near invisible glue-line.
rg
Phil

 

[Timtool]

Was the veneer cut with a scoring blade equipped saw? Those always cut more into the panel on the bottom side of the panel which will leave a gap when joining or banding.
Stand alone edge banders are always equipped with cutters that take away material on the edge (usually the thickness of the banding) to eliminate that gap and/or leave a clean edge.

I know people that cut their veneer 1mm larger and then pass it through the spindle moulder to take 1mm off so that they have a clean straight edge.

not sure if that is the problem here though, if it were then one side would be without gap.
Did you try more glue with a little squeeze out? that tends to hide the gap.

 

[petertheeater]

Thanks Phil. Will do.
The edging is bought in, on a roll. It seems even and consistent.  I am using a sliding table saw equipped with a scoring blade. So the cut is pretty good and consistent. I am aware of the slight undercut when using the scoring blade but it is not the problem here.
Using more glue does not solve the problem. It makes it worse as it doesn't squeeze out, only leaves a thicker glue line.
Thanks
Peter

 

[Brent Shively]

Peter,
Is the glue line the same on the top and the bottom of the piece? Sometimes if the plate of the Conturo is not kept flat one side will have a larger glue line than the other.
Brent

 

[noelguillermo]

Phil,

Any ideas on what's the best temperature and speed to do .5mm pvc edge? I can do 1mm no problems, it is perfect.

I'm really having a hard time with the .5