Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Feb 27, 2010 12:03am | #1

   Much easier to put several coats of shellac on the edges.  Shellac is very effective at slowing the passage of water vapor. 

2. 
   stantheman | Mar 01, 2010 08:41pm | #2

   Thanks Steve, yes shellac would be easier than epoxy.  Oldusty, I thought that the surface was too rough to get edgebanding to stay, but I would do that if the edges were going to be visible. 

1. 
   gossamershavings | Mar 31, 2010 01:20am | #3

   edge banding will work just fine.you can also paint the edges and wipe off any excess that gets on the surface with laquer thinner or acetone to no damage to the melamine.

3. 
   DonStephan | Apr 01, 2010 08:13pm | #4

   Iron on edge b anding is fairly quick, and I think if the adhesive gets hot enough the edge is sealed pretty well.  Using an iron, set on cottom temp to experiment.  Details on the process likely are in "how to build kitchen cabinets" books.   J roller and laminate file are essential.  I've never had luck with the good quality edge trimmers.

1. 
   ring | Apr 02, 2010 12:13am | #5

   Edge trimmers

   Don,

   The edge-trimmers on sophisticated banding machines are basically double routers set on spring-loaded arms, simultaneously trimming both edges as the piece leaves the machine.  High quality machines may also have small sanding drums which follow the routers.  Once everything is adjusted the machine turns out kilometers of perfectly glued and trimmed pieces.

   But I don't think that you were referring to these.  In my own shop we have a fairly primitive edge-bander, which does a decent gluing job but does not trim the edges.  After much experiment we found that the very best trimmer is a sharp old plane iron, the heavier the better, hand held at a skew angle and run along the edge.  It takes a bit of practice to get used to, but once you do it is extremely fast and good.  On PVC or other synthetics it is unbeatable.  On veneer it is also very good but you must "read" the grain direction and go accordingly.