Iron on edging

[mkr5000]

I have my iron packed up right now and need to apply some walnut iron on edge to some plywood.

Can I use a hot air gun? -- has anyone done that?

Press it down with a piece of aluminum or something?

[Doug Winterburn]

If you have a J roller, that might work with the heat gun. You can get a Wal-Mart iron for under 10 bucks.

- Doug

[RicodJour]

I have an edgebander that uses a heat gun to warm up the tape as it's applied, so if your heat gun gets hot enough it should definitely work.

I wouldn't use aluminum for a number of reasons. A hard plastic roller or equivalent would be better.

R

[Robatoy]

Aluminum can smudge things. Heat gun is no problem.

[upscale]

Somehow, I doubt, that it's going to work properly, but it would be fairly simple for you to try it out on a piece of scrap. While I occasionally using iron on edging for various plywood projects I work on, the edging that uses carpenter's glue is usually my first choice. You may want to see if you can pick some of that up since there's no iron needed, just a little pressure by hand or clamps for a little while.

[Matt]

I use a hot air gun (the paint stripper kind ) and it works great - as good as an iron

I cut a block of UHMW (plastic) and routed a track a bit wider than the tape, and rounded the leading / trailing edges. I use the block to press the tape down - I do have a roller, but have found the block works better. Whatever, it is important to keep it clean. A lock of wood should work fine though.

You want to use something that does not transmit heat very well because it will get too hot to handle quickly.

hope this helps

[Robatoy]

I use a 2" x2" X 4" ALUMINUM BOX WITH 1/4" WALLS.....and why was I shouting? LOL I covered the bottom of the box-tube with filament tape, so not to smudge the edgebanding and the hollow design makes a great heat-sink, and cools off really quickly.

[Phisherman]

I use a $5 flea market travel iron. That iron has come in handy more than I would have thought. I'd be afraid to try anything else since the iron worked so well.

[Lew Hodgett]

A 1,500 Watt heat gun is one of those tools that finds more uses than you can imagine.

Much prefer it to an iron if for no other reason, it's versatility.

Lew