Laminate/hardwood edge technique?

Use a router with a patern bit to bring the wood banding flush with the laminate surface

John

Try FWW (Fine Woodworking mag) #156, June 2002 - cover article is "Six ways to edge plywood". Searching for "edge banding" will help too.

1. Thin veneer tape with hot-melt glue.
2. Thin solid wood strip, glued on.
3. Vee'd wood strip.

4 & 5. Tongue and grooved wood strip.

1. Thick wood strip, with spline.

1. is the well-known "DIY chipboard furniture" tape. But done carefully, it can give good (if not hard-wearing) results and an invisible edge.

2. is more robust, and barely visible.

1. is the best of the "invisible" techniques. It needs a pair of matched router cutters, as are used to make butterfly keys. The banded-on strip is substantial and strong, but has invisibly thin edges.

-- Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods

Here's an example of the edge-banding router bit sets. I have seen these in action, but have never used them myself. They make for and excellents edge.....I prefer it over the tape.

I hand file 'em with a good sharp flat file. It's coming flush when you see the glue line start to pull. Takes a little practice but works well. Then mask the laminate and hand sand the hardwood with 320 apply finish to hardwood sparingly as to not build a ridge at the mask line and pull the masking off when the finish is not fully hardened. may need to folow with some 600 on any high spots but with practice thats not too often.

EJ