What are Edgebanders and How Do You Use Them?

Finishing off your carpentry or joinery task neatly can take as much time as actually crafting the item. However, it’s time well spent to be sure your finished product looks aesthetically pleasing and has the required smoothness.

One of the biggest sources of help in creating a flawless finish is an edgebander. This piece of equipment adds a narrow strip of material to the edge of your item. It can be important when crafting furniture, doors and kitchen units from wood as it adds a protective layer of wood veneer, PVC, acrylic or melamine.

The seal is created using water or solvent based hot-melt adhesives. At Calderbrook, we find PUR is most popular for this, as it offers vital heat and water resistance.

Some edgebanders also apply a primer between the adhesive and the host material to provide the edge strip with an even firmer fix.

Edgebanders vs Alternatives

Using an edgebander can make a big difference, especially if you are working with MDF, plywood or particle board, as they can result in a less than attractive edge finish. Adding a smooth covering strip to the edge makes them look and feel more pleasing. It also creates greater durability thanks to the added layer of protection.

Of course, you could create a frame of some kind, or add a moulded edge to your item. However, this can be a fiddly and time consuming process. Manual edging requires a degree of accuracy that edgebanders automate and control with precision.

Fast and Efficient

One of the other advantages of an edgebander is that it can finish off your furniture, doors, kitchen units or other items quickly as well as smoothly. For commercial carpenters and joiners, this time saving is crucial, but so is the assurance that you have finished the edge in a robust and attractive way.

The machines in the Calderbrook range have been designed and engineered to match different carpentry and joinery tasks. The thickness of edging you need and the angle you are working at are just two of the things you need to consider when specifying the right edgebander.

Some of our machines are especially designed to create flawless edges on multiple items such as high volume cabinet doors. Others are more portable to take to sites for joinery work in situ.

Finding the Best Edgebander

If you’re not sure which machine best suits your carpentry, joinery or manufacturing work, we are always happy to help. This includes advice on setting up your edgebander to ensure that it provides maximum efficiency and quality from the moment you switch it on.