Replies

1. 
   Sphere | Dec 09, 2007 04:07pm | #1

   Handy for a boat load of non-solid wood shelving.

   When I was in that area of work, I went to T-moulding instead, added  a bit more commercial look and durability, edge band is fragile.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   "People that never get carried away should be"

1. 
   JHOLE | Dec 09, 2007 04:28pm | #3

   Special order melamine color - no T mold match.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

2. 
   VaTom | Dec 09, 2007 04:20pm | #2

   Never got the picture to load, my ISP's unusually crappy this AM.  However, assuming it's similar to my Freud, they work.  Calling them a pro tool is a stretch.

   I've run miles of melamine and more than a little hardwood plywood.  The supplied table is woefully small, requiring mounting the bander in a larger table if your panels are of much size.  And not a no-skill job running the panels.  Takes some practice to get panels through straight and at the right speed for the glue to melt but not make a mess. 

   A job I was always eager to get the new cabinet shop help to master.  Tedious.  I always did the tool set-up. 

   Much better than an iron.  The double trimmer should be supplied with it.  Works great on vinyl, but requires care using it on wood tape unless the grain's exactly straight.  Which I've never seen. 

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

1. 
   JHOLE | Dec 09, 2007 04:36pm | #4

   Thanks Tom.

   I've went through a few irons worth of edging also.

   Never pulled the trigger on the machine ( the Rockler unit is pretty much the same as your Freud )

   Have a closet project coming up and am already dreading the banding.

   As long as it actually works, it's got to be better.

   Wasn't looking for a "pro tool" just an improvment. Would hate to get it though and find out it was just a "gimmick"

   Thank You.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

1. 
   calvin | Dec 09, 2007 04:39pm | #5

   Jeff,  Have you tried the edgeband from Fastcap?  Tenacious and after 3 years, still stuck on the edge of a folding table in a customers laundry.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

   Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.

   http://www.quittintime.com/

    

1. 
   VaTom | Dec 09, 2007 04:58pm | #6

   Whassat?  Not hot melt?

   I always wondered why there wasn't something better.  Although hotmelt does span gaps pretty well.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

1. 
   JHOLE | Dec 09, 2007 05:11pm | #8

   It's good stuff.

   http://www.fastcap.com/products.aspx?id=38

   So far it's stood the test of time on my projects, sounds like Cal's too.

   It's the main reason I didn't get the machine but now I have to use hot melt for this project.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

2. 
   VaTom | Dec 09, 2007 05:25pm | #10

   Thanks for the link.  Good to get a recommendation.  But 3/4" standard?  Leaves nothing to trim on melamine.  And maybe a tad short if it's been humid.

   Or maybe y'all never get much humidity...PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

3. 
   JHOLE | Dec 09, 2007 05:37pm | #11

   Standard at 15/16" too.

   I'll keep an eye out for used, now that I know it'll work. Or at least I can drop over to Port Clinton and you can show me how - ;)

    Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

2. 
   JHOLE | Dec 09, 2007 05:05pm | #7

   Yea, and I have it in stock in the shop, but this is special order color with banding from the manufacturer - hot melt.

   I like the stuff. Pretty tough.

    Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City

2. 
   VaTom | Dec 09, 2007 05:17pm | #9

   You're welcome.

   I've known a few who bought the Freud and then complained that it didn't work.  That's the guy you want to find- buy it cheap.  Usual complaint: it didn't keep the edging on straight.  Yeah well, that's your job: feeding the panel straight.  Also gotta get the guides set up right. 

   Largest shop in town here bought one.  Called me when they learned we were using one successfully.  Paid for my visit.  Bad set-up, but my panel went through their machine straight.  22 guys in the shop and nobody could/would tell the owner what he was doing wrong.  Pretty sure they never used it, wrong tool for them anyway.

   But no more complicated than a bandsaw to set up.  I'd advertise interest on Craigslist and see if someone didn't want to unload theirs.

   Another banding choice is thin wood.  Traditional hide glue makes that real easy.  No clamps, no masking tape.  Considerably more durable than hot melt tape.  Probably don't want to part with my Freud, but it's sure got a lot of dust on it.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

3. 
   USAnigel | Dec 10, 2007 01:43am | #12

   Only takes care of half the job. But make sure the roller is dead square to the table for best tracking.

   Got rid of mine and picked up the full machine with trimming built in. Had a big job with 30 sheets of plywood sliced up in to 347 pieces with edgeing to 2 sides on most. Should have done it sooner!

4. 
   WoodShopGuy | Dec 10, 2007 02:09am | #13

   Not for a professional shop. Made this mistake and got rid of it in a couple of months.

   As someone else above mentioned, it only does the easy part of the job (no perfectly trimming edges and ends like the much larger and professional machines) and is only marginally faster than using a hot home iron. Plus you still have to buy the relatively expensive and shorter rolls of pre-glued edgebanding, be they wood or plastic.

   Actually, still a waste of money for a home shop too, for the above reasons.

   IMHO! :-)