Types of end edges for furniture
When making furniture from laminated chipboard the edges of parts without processing have an unsightly appearance. To put them in order, furniture edges and profiles are used. It is more convenient to work with them using special equipment, but you can also achieve good results with your own hands at home.
Types of furniture edges
One of the most popular materials for making furniture is chipboard. Its disadvantage is the unsightly edges that remain when cutting the part. These edges are masked by the furniture edge. They make it out of different materials, accordingly, she has different properties and price.
You can also get this edge yourself
Paper or melamine edges
Most cheap option— edges made of paper with melamine impregnation. The paper is taken of high density, impregnated with melamine to increase strength and glued to papyrus paper. Papyrus can be single-layer (cheaper) or double-layer. To prevent the melamine coating from wearing off, everything is covered with a layer of varnish. To make it more convenient to edge the parts, an adhesive composition is applied to the back side of the melamine furniture edge. When working, you just need to slightly warm up this composition and press it well against the end.
Paper or melamine edge is the cheapest, but also the most short-lived option for finishing the ends of furniture
The thickness of paper edge tapes is small - 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm are the most common. There is no point in making it thicker, and it will be expensive.
This type of edges is distinguished by the fact that it bends very well and does not break when bent. But its mechanical strength is very low - the edge quickly wears out. Therefore, if it is used, it is only on those surfaces that are not subject to load. For example, on the back of shelves, table tops, etc.
Received recently widespread Polyvinyl chloride is also used in the production of edges for furniture. From painted to specific color mass, a tape of a certain width and thickness is formed. Its front surface can be smooth, monochromatic, or it can be textured - with imitation of wood fibers. The number of colors is large, so it’s easy to choose the right one.
Furniture edge PVC is the most popular material used by both home craftsmen and professionals. This is due to the relatively low price and good performance properties:
- High mechanical resistance.
- Resistant to chemicals ( household chemicals, For example).
- Waterproof material protects the ends of the product from moisture.
- PVC is an elastic material, which allows you to process curved surfaces.
- Works well with simple devices, which allows you to get good results even at home.
Different edge thickness looks different
PVC furniture edging is available in different thicknesses and widths. Thickness - from 0.4 mm to 4 mm, width from 19 mm to 54 mm. The thickness is chosen depending on the expected mechanical load or external appearance, and the width is slightly larger (at least 2-3 mm) than the thickness of the workpiece. There is a furniture PVC edge with applied adhesive composition, yes - without. Both can be glued at home (more on that below).
This type of edge material also has disadvantages: not very wide temperature regime: -5°C to +45°C. For this reason, furniture cannot be left outside in winter, and when pasting with heat, you must be careful so as not to melt the polymer.
Made from ABS plastic
This polymer does not contain heavy metals and is highly durable and durable. The disadvantage can be considered the high price, therefore it is used extremely rarely, although it has excellent properties:
- Resistant to high and low temperatures, therefore, when gluing, you can use glue with any melting point. Small shrinkage when heated - about 0.3%.
- High mechanical stability.
Several options for edge tape made of ABS plastic
This type of edge can be matte, glossy or semi-gloss. There are also options that imitate various breeds wood In general, this material is more convenient to use and more durable to use.
Veneer edge
Veneer is a thin section of wood, colored and shaped into a strip. This furniture edge is used in production for gluing sections of veneered products. Working with this material requires certain skills, and the material is expensive.
Veneer is not the most popular material for edging
Acrylic edge or 3D
Made from transparent acrylic. On back side stripes are applied. The layer of polymer on top gives it volume, which is why it is called a 3D edge. Used in the production of unusual furniture.
Acrylic gives the picture volume
Profiles for processing furniture edges
You can trim the edge of furniture not only with edge tape. There are also furniture profiles that are attached mechanically. They are available in two sections - T-shaped or U-shaped (also called C-shaped).
For T-shaped furniture profiles, a groove is milled in the edge being processed. The profile is hammered into it with a furniture (rubber) mallet. The edges are cut at 45° to make the angle look attractive. To perfect condition finished with fine sandpaper. This type of profiles is produced from PVC and aluminum; with the same installation method, they look very different, and the differences are significant.
T-shaped furniture profile for processing furniture edges
In width they are available for laminated chipboards of 16 mm and 18 mm. There are also wide ones, but they are much less common, since they work less with such material.
C- or U-shaped profiles are most often mounted with glue. They coat the edge with it, then put it on plastic profile, press and fix well. These PVC profiles there are soft and hard. Hard ones are harder to bend and it’s difficult to paste them over curved edges. But they have great strength.
Gluing C-shaped furniture profiles does not cause problems
If you still need to “plant” a rigid C-shaped furniture profile on a bend, it is heated with a construction hairdryer, then given the desired shape and secured masking tape until the glue dries.
We glue furniture edges with our own hands
There are two technologies for gluing furniture edge tape. The first is for those that have glue applied to the back. In this case, an iron or a hair dryer is needed. The second is for gluing tapes without glue. In this case, you need a good universal glue that can glue plastics and wood products and a furniture roller, a piece of felt or a soft rag so that you can press the edge well against the cut.
It’s possible to get such an edge at home
A little about what thickness of edge to glue on which parts. Those edges that are not visible, according to GOST, do not need to be glued at all, but basically they try to treat them so that less moisture is absorbed into the chipboard, and also to reduce the evaporation of formaldehyde. Melamine tape or 0.4 mm PVC is glued to these edges. The edges of the drawers (not the fronts) are also processed.
It is better to use 2 mm PVC on the front ends of the facade and drawers, and 1 mm PVC on the visible sections of the shelves. The color is chosen either to match the main surface or “in contrast”.
How to glue edging yourself with glue
The adhesive composition is applied to the melamine edge; it can be applied to PVC. If you choose PVC, it’s easier to start with thin ones - they are easier to process, any melamine is easy to glue.
We take an iron and a fluoroplastic nozzle on it. If there is no nozzle, thick cotton fabric will do - so as not to overheat the tape, but to melt the glue. A hair dryer is also suitable for this purpose. We set the iron to about “two”, while it is heating up we cut off a piece of tape. The length is a couple of centimeters longer than the workpiece.
Place the edge tape on the part
We apply the edge to the part, level it, smooth it out. There should be small pieces hanging off both sides. We take an iron and, using a nozzle or a rag, iron the edge, heating it until the glue melts. It is necessary to heat evenly over the entire surface. After the entire edge is glued, let it cool. Then we start processing the edges.
The edge can be cut with a knife, both with the sharp and blunt sides. Some people use a regular metal ruler, while others find it more convenient to use a stainless steel spatula.
So, take the tool you have chosen and cut off the hanging edges of the edge. They are cut close to the material. Then cut off the excess along the part. Melamine and thin plastic are easily cut with a knife. If the PVC edge is thicker - 0.5-0.6 mm or more, difficulties may arise. Such edges can be processed manual router, if there is one. This guarantees good result in a short time. The processing will take longer if you use sandpaper, but the result may not be worse.
You can even use a spatula with a hard blade
One important point: when gluing thin edges, the cut of the part should be smooth, without protrusions and depressions. The material is plastic, which is why all defects are visible. Therefore, first go over the cuts with sandpaper, then thoroughly remove dust and degrease. Only after this can you glue.
Edging with PVC tape (no glue on the back side)
With this method of gluing PVC edges yourself, you need universal glue and a piece of felt or rag. We read the instructions for the glue and carry out all the steps as recommended. For example, for Moment glue, you need to apply the composition to the surface and distribute it, wait 15 minutes, and firmly press the surfaces to be glued.
Apply glue and wait - no problem. To press the edge tightly to the cut, you can use wooden block wrapped in felt. Instead of a block, you can take a construction float and also attach felt to its sole. As a last resort, you can roll up thick fabric in several layers and press the tape to the surface.
Press firmly, leaning with all your weight
The selected tool is pressed against the laid edge, pressed with all its weight, pressing it to the surface of the chipboard. The movements are stroking. This is how they iron the entire edge, achieving a very tight fit. The part is left in this form for some time - so that the glue “seizes.” Then you can start processing the edges.
Hello, tell me, is a fluoroplastic sole the same as a Teflon sole? Thank you.
Not the same, but Teflon will work too..
Teflon and fluoroplastic are the same material.
Thank you. Are those characteristics the same? Or does the heating time need to be shorter/longer?
The heating time generally depends on the thickness of the pad. Teflon is an aluminum base coated with fluoroplastic... In general, the modes are selected “on the spot”, since the irons are also different. Try gluing it on the scraps a couple of times...
Okay, thank you very much!
Oh, I forgot one more thing, in the store they told me that edges with glue for the machine are sold and this type cannot be glued at home, are there any varieties? Or is this exactly what you glue on the video? Thank you.
Why can't this be done?
where in Moscow can you buy PVC edges with glue applied?
Source: http://stroychik.ru/mebel/vidy-torcevyh-kromok
How to properly trim the edge of chipboard
Gluing the melamine edge
Melamine edging is a traditional edging material used in the manufacture of cabinet furniture from laminated chipboard. Despite the fact that today there are more wear-resistant edge materials, for example, based on PVC or ABS, melamine edge is one of the first places in terms of applicability. There are two main reasons for this: low price and simplicity of edging technology. We'll show you how, using simple and available tools You can qualitatively edge a part from laminated chipboard.
Edging tools:
- Iron. Anyone will do, but preferably small sizes, without steam holes and with a thick sole. It is important that the soleplate of the iron is clean and free of deep scratches.
- Knife. You can work with an ordinary stationery (construction) knife, which will be discussed below. A shoe knife and a plane knife will also work. There are special ready-made devices for quick edge cutting, for example, from Virutex.
- A block of sandpaper. You can buy a ready-made one or make it yourself by gluing a piece of sandpaper onto a suitable-sized workpiece (it’s convenient when the block has sandpaper of different grain sizes on different sides). Recommended grain size is 150 units.
Edge technology.
It should be said that the quality of edging largely depends on how well the cutting is done laminated chipboards. The surface of the end of the part should be smooth, without a visible step from the scoring (sawing) disk of the format-cutting machine, there should be no obvious chips of the laminate and “lifting” of the laminate when a chip has just begun to form. High quality and fast cutting laminated chipboard performed only on special equipment. The edge must be used with pre-applied adhesive. The edge is sold in rolls of 200 rm, but you can almost always buy it in lengths of 1 rm. A typical melamine edge is 19mm wide and 0.3-0.4mm thick (excluding adhesive thickness).
The process of edge processing of one end of a part consists of the following steps:
- The part is installed vertically in an improvised holding device so that the processed end is on top.
- An edge segment is measured 2-4 cm longer than the length of the processed side of the part.
- The edge is placed exactly in the center on the end of the part, with equal releases along the edges.
- Holding the position of the edge on the part with one hand, the edge is smoothed with a hot iron (the temperature of the iron is selected experimentally; if too high temperature, the edge begins to bubble; if low, it sticks poorly or takes a long time). Press the iron with moderate force. Excessive pressure may cause the edge to move, but not enough pressure will cause the glue to fail. Indirect confirmation of good heating of the edge can be slightly squeezed out glue from under the edge. Special attention should be given to the ends of the edge and the places where it contacts the laminated surfaces of the part.
- After warming up the edge, it needs to be cooled. A small cloth will do for this operation. Smooth the edge with a cloth, pressing lightly so that when it cools, the edge does not come off. After the edge has cooled to about 50°C (there is no point in waiting until the edge reaches room temperature), you can start cutting off the excess.
- First, remove excess from the ends. To do this, the free ends of the edge are carefully bent down, the edge is broken, the break point is lightly sanded using an emery block and the excess is simply torn off. All that remains is to work a little more with the sanding block so that the edge is flush with the mating side (does not protrude or catch).
- To cut off excess edge length, you need to set the knife blade at approximately 45° (see photo) and run the knife along the end of the part. The angle of inclination (adjacent) relative to the plane of the part is determined experimentally (depending on the knife). This operation requires skill and practice. It is important not to damage the laminate (do not cause chips). After cutting off all the overhangs, you need to lightly process the edges of the end of the part with a block of sandpaper, and the edging can be considered complete. Excess glue can be easily removed with a cloth soaked in acetone or gasoline. If a local gap is noticed, the problem area should be heated with an iron and pressed again with a cloth. Also, by reheating, the edge can be completely removed from the part.
We will send the material to you by e-mail
G gypsum board is an indispensable material for renovation of residential premises. It is used to install interior partitions, insulation of walls and ceilings, compaction of the underground base. When working with this material, there are often no problems, since it is elastic and easy to cut. However, during repairs, many do not take into account such a detail as an edge. Due to ignorance of the nuances when working with this material, people often have the question: “Is it necessary to cut the edge of drywall?” So, if it is not cut first before installation, then soon after the repair the walls will become covered with cracks and begin to deform. Let's look at where plasterboard is used, why it is cut and how to carry out the procedure.
What does a drywall edge look like?
Due to unique characteristics This material is indispensable in a number of repair and construction works. Thus, sheets of drywall are used for the following manipulations:
- Installation of interior partitions;
- Leveling ceilings and walls;
- Insulation of the house;
- The second technology for cutting drywall is performed using a mounting knife. Mark the line on the sheet that you will cut, lay the material on a flat horizontal surface. If you are performing the procedure on a table, the cut line should extend beyond the tabletop to prevent damage to it. After positioning the sheet, cut the sheet along the line you previously drew. To finally pull the cut pieces of drywall apart from each other, carefully grab one side along the break line and tap it. To keep the edge looking neat, it should be smoothed with an electric plane after trimming.
Everyone knows a fact that often occurs when edgebanding is the melting of PVC edges, especially for edges up to 1 mm thick.
There is a problem of wave-like formation on edges with a thickness of 2 mm after scraping, peeling of the edge from the part, lumpy edges of 0.4 mm, whitishness of the edges and many other problems.
It is necessary to understand what the reason is in each specific case more deeply than to attribute everything to the quality of the edges.
So first we should consider edge banding process, namely the reasons for the appearance of marriage on at this stage in detail, we are talking about using exclusively PVC edges.
The process consists of several stages:
Gluing
Trimming
Milling overhangs
Cycling
Polishing
Gluing PVC edges.
Regardless of the type of machine, edge gluing is done using melt glue.
The likelihood of marriage occurring at this stage is very high. In order to avoid problems, you must:
Carry out the most suitable settings by trial and experiment
Select a suitable hot melt adhesive, taking into account the type of machine and operating temperature
Take into account the parameters of laminated chipboard (humidity, friability)
The edge melts when glued.
If you are using a feed speed of 2 - 5 m/min, you should apply an edge that is more heat-resistant, and it must be taken into account that the permissible temperatures declared by edge suppliers are reduced if the adhesive is applied directly to the tape and not to the part. We recommend changing operating temperature glue bath.
After gluing the 0.4 mm edges, surface roughness appears:
A very common problem, which is also not always related to the quality of the edges. As a rule, it consists in the incorrect selection of hot melt glue.
The fact is that the density of chipboard greatly affects the gluing process, and depending on this parameter, you need to choose the right hot melt adhesive. Lumpiness on the surface appears at a low density of chipboard with the simultaneous use of unfilled melts.
The problem can be corrected by using a filled adhesive with increased consumption. In this case, not only the bumpiness will disappear, but the bonding strength of the surfaces will also increase.
When gluing, an uneven surface is formed due to the indentation of the chipboard structure:
This problem is easily solved. Simply move out the additional pressure rollers.
The seam between the edge and the end of the part is too noticeable.
When gluing PVC edges with a thickness of 1 mm, 1.8 mm, 2 mm or more, it is recommended to use an unfilled hot melt adhesive, then the seam will be as thin as possible and almost invisible, in addition, it is necessary to carefully select the tone of the glue to visually merge the adhesive seam of the edge and the chipboard.
The edge is melted on curved parts.
This problem is also worth looking at from the point of view of the type of equipment used and the type of adhesive.
For example, for manual machines, when the part moves around a stationary gluing unit, it is recommended to use melts with a wide temperature range.
For equipment with automatic feeding, when the workpiece moves around the gluing unit at a constant speed of 10 - 30 m/min, adhesives with a small temperature range can be used. Application polyurethane adhesives It is recommended that the adhesive unit be manually moved around the product and the adhesive is applied directly to the edge tape.
Overhang milling, scraping.
After removing the overhangs, a wavy end remains on the edge.
This problem occurs when the tool (cutter knives) is dull or the rotation speed is insufficient for uniform removal.
Increase the cutter speed and reduce the edge feed speed. The same thing can happen when scraping: a “wave” on the edge is formed if the scraper (knife) is not sharp enough.
There are chips on the edges of the edge.
Chips on a PVC edge after milling do not mean that the edge material is very hard or the chalk content is very high.
They may indicate that the rotation speed of the cutter is set incorrectly and the knives need to be adjusted or sharpened. Perhaps the problem is both.
Polishing.
In order to ensure that the edge is well polished and all remaining chips, glue, etc. are removed, we recommend polishing along the radius with a cloth polishing wheel and applying a release liquid to the surface of the chipboard.
Conclusion:
Based on the above, we recommend that when changing suppliers, you do not immediately attribute poor edgebanding to .
In order to make sure that the edge is not suitable, you need to check its use on several modes/machines, check whether the temperature and feed speed are set correctly, take into account the composition of the glue and much more.
Of course, the quality of the edges primarily influences the cladding process. Based on many years of experience in the supply of edge strips, we recommend that when choosing materials you base your choice not only on cost, but also on other characteristics.
So, in order not to spoil the product/part at the edge banding stage, you must:
Choose a reliable partner for the supply of edges
Pay attention to how long the importer has been working on the market
How many suppliers/factories does the importer have (to avoid quality differences from batch to batch).
We offer to solve your problems at the edgebanding stage.
You can, without reconfiguring the equipment, use the “LUX” edge, and save without loss of quality by using the “STANDARD” PVC edge. ().
We are happy to solve any problems that arise, and in case of a color change in the warehouse program/in production, we will accept a full refund.
We will be glad to become for you not just a supplier of edge materials, but a reliable partner who strives to help develop your business.
An easy way to stick PVC edge
The easiest way to glue a PVC edge is to order hot melt adhesive to be rolled onto the edge from a furniture shop. Then glue it, heating it with an iron or hairdryer (naturally, not an ordinary hairdryer, but a technical one, which gives an output of 500-600 degrees). I myself have not used this method, so I negative aspects I can only tell it tentatively, based on my experience with the material.
I glue the PVC edge with regular rubber glue, which we sell on tap. “Moment” is best, “88” will do as well.
Knife and other hand tools cutting tools They are not suitable for processing PVC. Even if you manage to cut the edge with a knife, then, I assure you, neither the effort nor the time spent on this thankless task will pay off.
To process such an edge, you will need a router. Actually, a special edge router is used for these purposes:
But if you are not going to open your own production, then there is no need to buy such a machine. It is better to buy a normal, large router. In addition to processing PVC, it is useful for finishing the ends and for grooving - both at the ends of panels and on the layer. And if you work with wood, then you simply need a router!
It is not necessary to buy cool and expensive, quite good milling cutters from Phiolent - a reliable semi-professional
ABS edge cutter
To process PVC edges, the following cutter is used:
Therefore, the first thing we will need to do is slightly modernize our router by adding a step to the platform . It can be made from textolite, plywood, at worst, from fiberboard - in a word, from any sheet material 4-5 mm thick. You can secure it with screws, screws, etc., the main thing is to recess the caps or glue them!
Now you need to adjust the cutter height. This should not be done on the panel being processed. It is unlikely that you will be able to accurately adjust the height the first time. Take some scrap (but not very narrow, so that the router platform does not wobble), cover it with an edge, and adjust on it.
Usually, no matter how you set it up, there will be a small protrusion left after processing. It's not scary, just try to keep this protrusion to a minimum so that it can be easily cut off with a knife. When you finish setting up, don't throw away this scrap - you will need it next time. When it becomes necessary to adjust the height of the cutter again, simply turn it with the cutting part perpendicular to the end and lower the platform so that the cutter rests firmly on the machined edge.
The cutter is set, you can start processing the panels. You need to process in two passes. After the first pass, the cut will probably be uneven; with the second pass we level out all the protrusions and depressions:
Exactly in that order! If you change the order of passage, the cutter will knock out and chip the edge. From time to time, clean the cutter bearing and edge from adhering chips - the bearing can bounce on it and the cut will turn out to be uneven.
So, your panel has been processed with a router, but this is only a small part of the work. Now you have to do a lot of manual processing, which takes two to three times longer. First you need to trim off the overhanging ends of the edge. This can be done with large scissors or simply broken off after cutting with a knife. When breaking off, do not forget to firmly press the edge at the edge of the end so that it does not come off. Do not cut to the very root, but by retreating about 0.5 mm. It is better to spend time sanding or belt sanding than to cut off more than necessary.
No router processes PVC perfectly. In any case, there will be irregularities that will be clearly visible in the light. In most companies that make furniture for sale, no one bothers further processing- cut off the remaining protrusion with a knife, scratch it a couple of times along the cut with the back of the knife and that’s it.
But you do it for yourself, right? Therefore, get ready to spend the same amount of time bringing the cut to perfect condition. First of all, use a knife to cut off the protrusion left by the router (if the height of the router is set correctly, you will have to cut a thin thread).
If you glued PVC with contact glue, then most likely there will be drips and sagging glue on the panel. Be careful when cutting them. It’s better to first remove them with a cloth moistened with solvent or gasoline. After this, go over the cut with fine sandpaper, smoothing out all the “waviness”, then polish it with felt.
Now you have a ready-made panel that is not inferior in quality to that manufactured at furniture factory, and maybe even surpassing it!
Anyone who has ever encountered laminated chipboard knows that a board made of this material has smooth surfaces with a textured pattern, while its end parts are a mixture of wood shavings and glue. To give details sawn from such a slab presentation, a process such as chipboard edging was invented. It consists of gluing a decorative strip - an “edge” - onto the ends of the parts, which can be either the same color as the chipboard decor or different from it.
Today, two main types of edges are used:
- PVC edge
- melamine edge
PVC edge used in the factory production of furniture, it is more reliable, strong, durable, but the edging procedure when using it is quite labor-intensive. IN furniture workshops special edging machines are used. The thickness of the PVC edge is 2 mm and 0.4 mm. The width also varies depending on the thickness of the chipboard sheets.
Melamine edge less durable, but requires a minimum of tools to apply and is widely used among home furniture makers. But due to its low mechanical resistance, its use is limited. Personally, I glue melamine edges mainly on drawers. Hot melt adhesive is always applied to the back of the melamine edge, and it itself is sufficiently resistant to elevated temperatures, so a simple iron is enough to stick it on. It can only be thin (0.4 mm) and I have never seen it wider than 20 mm.
Since our site is mostly dedicated to working from home, let’s first look at how.
So, for work we will need the edge itself, an ordinary iron, a metal ruler, a clamp or a vice (optional), a fine sandpaper on a block.
The technique for gluing the edges is as simple as a nail:
Now let's figure out how to glue correctly PVC edge with your own hands, i.e. without using edging machine. Such an edge will last much longer than a melamine edge, and besides, it is 2 mm and looks “richer”. It is worth mentioning that PVC edges can be either with an adhesive layer (hot melt adhesive) or without it. In the first case, edging occurs using a hair dryer, and in the second case, it is necessary to purchase glue. Let's consider the second method in more detail, because... it is more economically profitable.
Let's start with gluing 0.4 mm PVC edges. To fix it, it is best to use contact types of glue, for example 3M™ Scotch-Grip, Moment Crystal, Titanium or “88”. It is worth noting that it is more convenient to work with liquid glue (3M), it is easier to level and its consumption is much less. We work with glue according to the instructions indicated on the package.
Contact adhesive can be replaced with hot melt adhesive. For this you will need glue gun with a set of rods and an industrial hair dryer.
To work, we will need a roller for pressing the edge (successfully replaced with a rag or a piece of felt boots)), the glue itself, a spatula for leveling the glue or a simple brush, as you like, a wide chisel or a knife from a plane to remove excess edge, a sanding block with fine sandpaper .
