Cutting edge banding with TS55 ?

[smittyc]

I'm starting a kitchen cabinet project and need to cut edge banding from hard maple for the exposed edges of the carcases and shelving. I was planning to cut what will probably be about 6mm strips from a board that I run across the jointer to get a smooth glue edge then cut the strip from the board using my table saw.
Then repeat, back to the jointer, back to the table saw to cut more pieces.
But now I am the proud owner of a TS55 with parallel guides and extensions and after reading about how fabulous the cuts are from this saw I'm wondering if I can simply cut glue ready strips in one pass using the track saw ? If so what would be the best blade to use ? I am pretty sure the material is hard maple but it was purchased at auction without any positive identification. I have subsequently done a weight vs volume test that seems to indicate it is hard maple.
Thanks

Chris

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Chris

I am sure there will be some responses far better than mine but this is what I would do in your shoes....

I would try and produce the 6 mm strips from your planer as wide as possible. I assume that they will be too narrow to cut in the normal way with a guide rail.

I would use double sided tape to fix the strips to the sacrificial top of a bench or on a sheet of MDF. It may need several pieces evenly down the length. I would then use my guide rail and TS 55 to cut the thin strips. It will be necessary to use some offcuts or other pieces of the 6 mm stock to keep the guide rail level.

If you get any movement of the maple during cutting it will be ruined. If the double sided tape does not work then consider using the double sided down the length or some hot melt glue.

The blade that I would use would be the 48 tooth one that came with the saw as the strips are so thing and it will leave a lovely edge.

Peter

 

[ear3]

It depends on how thick the board is -- the thickmer the board the more likely there might be some marks from the saw blade.  But I've cut oak and maple edge banding from 1x stock with just my 75 or 55 with no additional dressing required (I don't have a jointer anyway), using just the standard blade included with both saws.  I think you should be fine with just using the TS55 for this.

I'm starting a kitchen cabinet project and need to cut edge banding from hard maple for the exposed edges of the carcases and shelving. I was planning to cut what will probably be about 6mm strips from a board that I run across the jointer to get a smooth glue edge then cut the strip from the board using my table saw.
Then repeat, back to the jointer, back to the table saw to cut more pieces.
But now I am the proud owner of a TS55 with parallel guides and extensions and after reading about how fabulous the cuts are from this saw I'm wondering if I can simply cut glue ready strips in one pass using the track saw ? If so what would be the best blade to use ? I am pretty sure the material is hard maple but it was purchased at auction without any positive identification. I have subsequently done a weight vs volume test that seems to indicate it is hard maple.
Thanks

Chris

 

[tjbnwi]

Various methods have been discussed;

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/how-i-rip-ff-and-door-pieces/msg211307/#msg211307

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/is-ripping-narrow-stock-the-ts-achilles-heel/

Tom

 

[semenza]

    I have also done a two step process using the TS55 and planer. Cut strips a little thicker than what you need (1/8" extra is usually enough). Then run them through the planer to get the desired thickness and smooth surface. It speeds up the TS55 ripping since it doesn't need to be exact. All the strips can be cut first instead of going between tools each time. And they can usually go through the planer in batches too.

Seth

 

[smittyc]

I now realize that I should have described the material I intend to rip the edge banding from. It's 22mm thick planks that are 90 or 140mm wide. My plan is to rip the strips at the current plank thickness and attach them to 19mm ply then trim the excess using a tall jig I made for the router table. I hadn't previously considered gang planing the strips, I was hoping the surface left by the TS55 would be smooth enough to glue the strips to the plywood edges that were also cut by the TS55. I have a 23 ga. pinner I can also use in addition to the glue.

Thanks for the replies and any further comments.

Chris

 

[truck90278]

With the parallel guides that should not be a problem with the TS55. In the Las Vegas Class, Steve Bace has recommended using this technique with the parallel guides. what I have been doing is after attaching the edge banding (using this method), simply use a small block plane to bring the width of the edge banding to the to the same width as the plywood

 

[semenza]

The surface should be smooth enough with the TS55 if the material can be ripped using the Fine blade. But that is  a really a cross cut / sheet goods blade. So 22mm maple could be difficult.

Seth