First Time Using the Conturo

[Brian Livingstone]

Hi All,

So I just finished a project where I had to edge band 9 4 by 8 sheets of PVC decorative panels.  I was initially supplied .45 mm edge banding.  It didnt’ work.  I contacted Festool and was advised the edge banding needed to be a minimum of .5 mm.    I then used 1 mm edge banding, and it worked perfectly (black, with the black adhesive).  The machine is easy to use, a dream in fact. 

Then it came time to trim the 1 mm pvc edge banding.  I used my MFK 700 with a round over bit.  It worked okay.  Used a combination of the Festool carbide tool, 320 grit sandpaper, and lots of elbow grease.  I found the PVC trim quite time consuming to trim. 

All to say what are the recommended combinations of sheet material and edge banding ? 

Thanks

Brian

 

[tjbnwi]

I use this bit for trimming 1mm edge banding. Works great.

There is a slight learning curve to the process.
https://www.toolnut.com/festool-499...SqhQpLbHzAtm6HCmGOHXxHq85mlzEHTRoCcdUQAvD_BwE

Tom

 

[tsmi243]

Tom, is routing your last step for a finished piece? 

Or is some hand sanding/scraping inevitable? 

 

[Peter Kelly]

4 by 8 sheets of PVC decorative panels.

What was the core of these panels like? Foam? What thickness? 19mm?

 

[Brian Livingstone]

Hi,

I was using Tafisa brand panels.  5/8 pvc over particle board.  Very nice product.  Cuts easily with the new TS60. 

Thank you.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] I have seen that bit (and the other sizes) recommended several times, but I just don't follow?
They are using an MFK700 with the bearing brake. In this orientation, with the edgebanding sticking up above the surface of the sheet, the rotation of the bit is perpendicular to the overhang.
This just seems odd to me. The cutter is either pulling the material away or you have to climb cut. The climb cut is no big deal, when there is so little being removed, but it still seems odd?
I much prefer to use my MFK700 with a horizontal base and a straight bit, then follow with the 1mm radius carbide scraper. This puts the cutting parallel to the edgeband.

 

[tjbnwi]

Tom, is routing your last step for a finished piece? 

Or is some hand sanding/scraping inevitable?

Scrape with the carbide to make sure all the glue is off the panel, hit the edge with felt pad. Done.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member],

MFK 700 with the bearing brake. Climb cut, quick pass forward cut, scrape glue with carbide, buff with felt pad.

The Conturos don’t get used as much over the last couple of months. But they still have their place in production.

[attachimg=1]

Tom

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member],

MFK 700 with the bearing brake. Climb cut, quick pass forward cut, scrape glue with carbide, buff with felt pad.

The Conturos don’t get used as much over the last couple of months. But they still have their place in production.

[attachimg=1]

Tom

That's production-level stuff there...lol
I'm talking about the stuff that I do effectively by-hand, because of its shape. Those big machines are great for straight, square, and rectangular parts, beyond that, boat anchor.

I guess I could just try it for myself and see how it works out.

 

[Brian Livingstone]

I have another project coming up using hardwood plywood.  My supplier sold me edge banding that I now realize is too thin for the Conturo, according to Festool.  Do any of you have a recommendation as to what type of edge banding to use for hardwood plywood ?

On another note, man did I ever burn my thumb on the glue.  I accidentally fed the entire roll of banding into the machine, instead of the eight foot piece I had prepared.  Seriously hot glue. 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Brian, realistically you need a minimum of 1mm thick material. Super-thin edgebanding is a giant pain, no matter the application method, with veneer, it's worse. It's hard to handle, splits, cracks etc.
Are you in the US? OH, I see, Canada. I don't know if I can help you with suppliers there though?

 

[tjbnwi]

[member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member],

MFK 700 with the bearing brake. Climb cut, quick pass forward cut, scrape glue with carbide, buff with felt pad.

The Conturos don’t get used as much over the last couple of months. But they still have their place in production.

[attachimg=1]

Tom

That's production-level stuff there...lol
I'm talking about the stuff that I do effectively by-hand, because of its shape. Those big machines are great for straight, square, and rectangular parts, beyond that, boat anchor.

I guess I could just try it for myself and see how it works out.

I started with iron on with and iron, moved on to the hot air fixture for the iron on, moved up to the Conturo the day it was available, got a second Conturo about a year later. Until a couple of months ago when the boat anchor finally got hooked up and running (I bought it about 18 months ago for $3000.00 but had no place to put it) all edge banding was by hand.

Next is something up your alley, curved bent Corian waterfall countertop, to add to the fun it has a draft in it also. Not sure how to pull it off but I’ll make it happen.

Tom

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That will be good to see. How tight is the radius? How much draft?

 

[John T.]

What are some suppliers of >1mm thick hardwood edge banding? Or do most make their own on the table saw?

Can the Conturo do thick (~3mm) solid edge banding, or it needs to roll up? Maybe this wouldn't be a very good application versus just using wood glue and clamps.

 

[woodferret]

What are some suppliers of >1mm thick hardwood edge banding? Or do most make their own on the table saw?

Richelieu carries thick Cedan edgebanding. 1 through 3mm.  Other cabinet suppliers like McFaddens also carry a few Edgemate.  Edgemate is US, so you should be able to order direct from the states.  They have the 1.5 and 3.0 on their online store.