Trimming edge banding with MFK 700

[Ebuwan]

I have not quite convinced myself to buy the Conturo yet (I'm working myself up to it, though).  I mostly use hardwood strips glued on, or pre-glued, iron on stuff.  (Back East, I rarely did Euro style cabinets.  Here in California, things are different)

I think my theory of why the horizontal base works better than the vertical one sounds like a winner for the Conturo too.  The direction of the bit/speed dealing with the glue, etc.  Either way, the results I got with the horizontal base and the MFK were simple, and clearly the way to go!

I have both the vert. and horz. base and there is a reason the vert. has NEVER been used.  The task the MFK is designed for the horz. base is the clear winner to me.  Followed by a profile bit of your choice in a cordless trimmer.  As far as the conturo goes its an amazing machine for small shop.  Theres really nothing that compares except for the MAfell wich is 3x-4x the price.  The ability to change color, no glue pot, handle curves, simply turn off and cool down then pack away in a tidy little systainer is a god send.  It has a few quirks like the extra glue on the banding but thats minor.  The conturo is probably my favorite tool festool makes its a shame its getting discontinued.

It's being discontinued?!?

 

[afish]

yes, based on what others have said here on FOG. I have not confirmed that info but typically the folks around here know these things and its pretty accurate info.  It seems Festool is really trimming down there line up. I missed out on the RAS. I almost got sucked into the FOMO on the vac sys but glad I resisted. I did scoop up a LS before is gone for good.  However, Im very glad I already have a conturo its an amazing tool and there is nothing else like it on the market. The only way I would ever sell it is if I was going to get the mafell unit but its way more than I can justify as a hobby user and I try at least once a month to rationalize the purchase...

 

[Ebuwan]

Man that stinks. They might as well drop the MFK 700 too then.

Also I reported the last post to moderator by accident, using FOG on my phone.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Man that stinks. They might as well drop the MFK 700 too then.

Also I reported the last post to moderator by accident, using FOG on my phone.

Hush! Don't say things like that out loud. Just because a guy might not be able to put edgebanding on with a Festool machine, doesn't mean he doesn't want to trim it off with one.
The MFK700 is in my top 3 of "never going to give it up, tools" along with DF500 and TS55.

 

[Jasmin]

Hi Everyone!

I tried with a 3/4'', two flute router bit today and also waited about one hour. Worked much better but still a lot of glue on the router bit. This is with a DIY horizontal base.

I am attaching picture of the glue line with relatively low glue setting and temperature at 200C (sorry not very sharp). The second picture is from the router bit after trimming maybe 2m of edge banding. Does bit on the MFK look like that? What speed setting do you use?

Thanks!

 

[Michael Kellough]

Don't have a Conturo but that's an awful lot of glue.

There are lubricants you can spray the bit (after you get it clean) that will make it more resistant to glue sticking on.

 

[Cheese]

I also don't have a Conturo but as Michael said, there must be some type of spray surfactants available that will ameliorate that mess. I'm a hot iron kind of guy, apply the edge banding and then starch those collars...sorry.  [smile]

 

[usernumber1]

Whiteside makes these laminate trim bits with a square bearing that's supposed to glide and not gum up. the bit also has a slight taper as well. I've been meaning to try one...
https://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/collections/laminate-flush-trim

 

[afish]

I have one and use it a lot for HPL it works good for that and I like it but wont fix the OP problem.  the OP doesnt even have a bearing on his bit.  I dont do much wood edge banding but while I do get some glue residue on my bit trimming PVC its nothing like that.  You mention and I can see its a DIY base.  The issue is probably heat build up its hard to tell from the photo but it doesnt look like there is a whole lot of room for air movement or chip evacuation. The MFK has a dust port near the bit that is A. helping to cool the bit via air flow. B. shooting the chips to the dust port.  If the chips are unable to escape your DIY MFK fast enough and are getting caught/trapped and recirculated/recut thus producing more and more heat as it gets more and more clogged then you have kind of created the perfect little chip and glue re-melter. Im pretty sure that's what's happening.

 

[afish]

If you want to cheaply test my theory remove your DIY base and buy a fastcap little lipper about 40 bucks and a bottom bearing bit and try that.  Its going to fling stuff everywhere but at least its flinging it away from the cutter fast enough you shouldn't get that build up.  I looked at your photo again and Im willing to bet this is the issue.  It looks like you have almost zero room around the bit so as it cuts and tries to spit the chips they are just bouncing around inside your jig and re sticking to everything. Then just keep getting re cut hundreds or thousands of times until you make the goo. 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Don't have a Conturo but that's an awful lot of glue.

There are lubricants you can spray the bit (after you get it clean) that will make it more resistant to glue sticking on.

Yes, Lami-lube works pretty well for this. They also have a non-silicone version called "no-fish-eyes", it is not a good, but does still get the job done.

Whiteside makes these laminate trim bits with a square bearing that's supposed to glide and not gum up. the bit also has a slight taper as well. I've been meaning to try one...
https://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/collections/laminate-flush-trim

CMT also has one, the bearing is actually triangular on theirs, but the effect is the same. I have used both quite a bit, but not really for edgebanding. I much prefer the MFK700 with the horizontal base. The registration is much better, the chip collection is near 100% too. I do like the square or triangle bearings for laminate on adjacent surfaces though.

I have one and use it a lot for HPL it works good for that and I like it but wont fix the OP problem.  the OP doesnt even have a bearing on his bit.  I dont do much wood edge banding but while I do get some glue residue on my bit trimming PVC its nothing like that.  You mention and I can see its a DIY base.  The issue is probably heat build up its hard to tell from the photo but it doesnt look like there is a whole lot of room for air movement or chip evacuation. The MFK has a dust port near the bit that is A. helping to cool the bit via air flow. B. shooting the chips to the dust port.  If the chips are unable to escape your DIY MFK fast enough and are getting caught/trapped and recirculated/recut thus producing more and more heat as it gets more and more clogged then you have kind of created the perfect little chip and glue re-melter. Im pretty sure that's what's happening.

Can't say it any better than that.