Which edge banding is best?

When you&#;re choosing your residence hall furniture and deciding on the specs, you&#;ll inevitably choose what materials you want.

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Should it be totally solid wood, including the top? Or should you get solid wood or plywood substrates with laminate tops, or all laminate?

Whatever the selection, your furniture is probably going to include edge banding. Why?

Because it&#;s an important part of the construction. And depending on where we use it in the cabinet, it improves the longevity of your furniture.

In this short guide&#;part of our Nuts & Bolts Series for operational and facilities leaders&#;you&#;ll learn some of the basics of edge banding.

What is edge banding?

So let&#;s start at the beginning. What is edge banding?

It&#;s actually kind of simple, and the video below will help you understand it even better, but this is a simple overview to get you started.

Here&#;s the basic non-technical idea.

Plywood, particle board, and other manufactured wood cores like MDF have rough, unfinished, unprotected, and generally unsightly edges.

To account for that, some clever folks developed technologies that allow you to glue different bands of glossy finished material to those rough edges to match the tops and sides.

Those narrow bands or strips are called edging tape, and they range in thickness from 0.018-inch to 5mm thick and come in 250 ft rolls.

The thicker edging is used in high traffic and commercial environments because it provides greater resilience and impact resistance. For example, the military requires a thicker &#;&#; solid wood edge banding for maximum impact resistance.

And edge banders are the industrial grade machines that apply the edging tape to the raw edges of the wood panels with a hot-melt adhesive or glue.

What&#;s the purpose of edge banding?

Edge banding serves both functional and aesthetic purposes.

Functionally, edge bands perform some key duties for your furniture. First, they keeps moisture out serving as de facto seals on the edge of the core material. Second, edge banding improves durability and resilience by providing impact resistance. If you&#;re using solid wood edging, it can also add to the overall strength of the furniture.

Aesthetically, edge banding covers up unsightly rough edges and creates a glossy finish to match your tops and sides. You can also create radial edges to soften sharp angles.

Where do we apply edge banding?

Where can you expect to find edge banding in your furniture? That depends on your overall material specification.

A solid wood product won&#;t include any edge banding, except where we can&#;t use solid wood. Wardrobe doors, for example, are made of veneer core plywood or MDF.

And even when we use solid wood for case sides and drawer fronts, many customers still use high pressure laminate tops. Those tops need edge banding.

If you&#;re using plywood or laminate as your material specification, that needs edge banding too.

DCI uses edge banding in places you might not expect, like plywood bed decks. Why? Because a fully sealed deck prevents bed bugs. You can read more about bed bug mitigation here.

Where won&#;t you find edge banding?

DCI doesn&#;t use edge banding on cabinet backs or drawer bottoms because they are already embedded (sealed) in dato grooves. Likewise we don&#;t edge band internal plywood drawer parts because it doesn&#;t add value.

You should note that some manufactures don&#;t use edge banding where they should&#;like on the bottom and back edges of plywood cabinets. That&#;s a problem because moisture, even small amounts, can destroy unsealed furniture.

What is edge banding made from?

What are the edging tapes made from? There are different materials, and we&#;ll just focus on a few here.

PVC

1. PVC is the most popular material for edge banding on case good tops. Pros: It&#;s inexpensive, durable, and boasts a long life. It doesn&#;t require any finishing process. It&#;s also easy, albeit tedious, to repair. Cons: You can&#;t recycle it. It doesn&#;t biodegrade. Once it&#;s blemished, you can&#;t refinish it. (NB: ABS&#;Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene&#;is an eco-friendly alternative to PVC because it&#;s both recyclable and safe to incinerate.)

When it comes to PVC, we recommend 3mm edging in general because it goes on cleaner, quicker, and with better adhesion. Another advantage is that you get a graceful radius and a nice soft-looking finish. In general, we avoid .5mm edging because the corners tend to be too sharp.

Solid Wood

2. Solid Wood is still a favorite for case good tops in many woodworking camps. It&#;s durable, recyclable, easy to fix and refinish, strong, stiff, and economical.

Benefits: it&#;s more resistant to chipping than veneer edge tape. Solid wood glues are more reliable and less prone to peeling than veneer and PVC. It provides additional dimensional support to plywood and mdf. Climate neutral manufacturing. Cons: Difficult to use for curves.

We offer solid wood edge banding for tops in a range of thicknesses. And you can apply it internally or externally.

When it comes to solid wood we recommend 9.5mm on case good tops.

As we explain below, at DCI, we believe the best way to apply wood edge banding is &#;internally&#; with a HPL top. Why? Because in our experience, it&#;s incredibly durable and never requires additional service.

Wood Veneer

3. Wood Veneer is the most common edge banding material for plywood cabinet sides, drawer fronts, and MDF wardrobe doors. It&#;s made from thin slices of wood&#;typically oak, maple, ash, walnut, birch, and mahogany&#;that are joined together in a roll using finger jointing.

It usually features a heat-sensitive glue backing. And it comes in a range of thicknesses, so it&#;s important to use the right one depending on the application.

Pros: It&#;s attractive, durable, and strong. It provides a clean solid-wood look, and it&#;s pre-sanded to absorb stains and finishes and seamlessly match your wood. Cons: It&#;s not heat resistant. Avoid putting it near a heater. It doesn&#;t do well in high-use environments.

How is edge banding applied?

According to RA Learning Center, there are at least four methods of applying edge banding. There are a lot of things to say about each of these but for now, here&#;s a simple list of application methods and mediums.

• Hot-melt glue
• Hot air/laser
• Iron-on
• Laser edging

Additional considerations

Peeling

There&#;s no doubt, edge banding is essential to most campus and dorm furniture. When applied improperly, or used incorrectly in critical components, it&#;s a huge maintenance issue.

One issue you might find in furniture that has edge banding is that it peels. Why?

Sometimes, for different reasons, the adhesive can fail. When that happens, the edge banding will start to peel away from the edge.

Peeling can also happen because of rough use. For example, .5mm edging doesn&#;t provide much resistance to impact. Therefore you don&#;t want to use it on the front end of a case side. If you do, your edging might start to peel.

If your furniture starts to peel, we can fix it. Just reach out to your local DCI account rep, and we&#;ll take care of it for you.

Cost

Generally speaking, we recommend PVC edge banding for projects where budget is the first and driving priority. That is not to say there is anything wrong with this material. There are just fewer steps in the manufacturing process and the raw material is less expensive.

Solid wood edge banding is more expensive because it&#;s labor intensive and the material is higher quality. And with more steps involved in the manufacturing process, we consider this a premium solution. As we alluded to above, internal solid wood edge banding with HPL tops are probably our strongest and most durable solution.

Adhesives

We choose to use a hot melt glue for our adhesive solution because it&#;s user friendly and provides a great seal. We apply the glue to the edge while it&#;s still hot and then apply the banding, pressing it to the side.

Ambient temperature plays an important role in the edge banding process. We need to regulate the temperature of both the building and our materials. In essence, we need a warm environment for the optimal adhesion process. It can&#;t be cold in the building.

And finally, you need a good clean glue edge for the process to work. At DCI, we have state of the art machinery that improves the glue edge and squares it up perfectly.

Your Choices

It&#;s our responsibility to edge band correctly. But you should know, there are still choices you&#;ll need to make when evaluating edge banding options.

Those choices can feel daunting if you don&#;t live and breathe this stuff like we do. Our experts will help you navigate your edge banding options to ensure you get the right product for your project.

Our goal is to help you understand the process and give you confidence that our products are designed based on years of manufacturing experience and time-tested performance in the field.

Videos: Edge Banding Basics

Here is a stripped down version of edge banding. Of course, when building furniture for Higher Education and Military customers, we do this on an industrial scale. But this video will help you visualize the process in its simplest form.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Lituo.

If you enjoyed this article, you can check out the full Nuts & Bolts Series here.

In today&#;s design age, the selection of furniture pieces is near limitless, with e-commerce and brick-and-mortar shops selling a wide selection of furniture. Choosing elements that have been manufactured with keen attention to detail is vital.

The desk you&#;re sitting at, the shelving unit that holds your books, and your kitchen and bath cabinets may all have one key detail in common: edge banding.

Edge banding aids in creating an aesthetically attractive piece and adds value to it while also improving the longevity of the product it is applied to.

To learn more about edge banding and the different types available today, the experts at PRIedgebanding.com have created an ultimate guide to edge banding. Gain knowledge and understanding of this critical, intricate product and craft.

What is Edge Banding?

Edge banding is both a type of material and a process. As a material, it functions as a narrow decorative strip with adhesive applied to one side to seal the edges of a piece of carpentry. It makes the outside of a piece of wood or plywood more aesthetically pleasing and creates a seal that helps protect the exposed edges from dings and harmful elements such as water or debris.

Edge banding is also the process by which these narrow strips of material are placed on the edge of exposed wood or plywood.

How Does Edge Banding Work?

During production, everyday furniture items like cabinetry, desks, doors, and shelves will be shaped and cut to exact dimensions, often leaving exposed or unsightly edges. Not only is this visually unappealing, but it is also a hazard to the material. Rough, unfinished edges on a manufactured wood core open to the elements are a recipe for disaster. Over time, these exposed edges can absorb moisture, leading to the bowing, shrinking, or cracking of wood. Edge banding is a sealant for these exposed edges, delivering a functional and stunning look.

What is Edge Banding Used for?

While we have mentioned wood a few times, edge banding is only used for some wood material. For example, a solid wood item would not require edge banding as it is durable enough. As solid wood becomes more expensive and the need for harvesting increases, potentially devastating to the environment, the market for manufactured wood has vastly expanded, along with the need for edge banding.

Manufactured wood, e.g., plywood, particle board, and MDF, do not have solid wood&#;s density or beautiful smooth finish. It requires the application of edge banding to create a &#;natural&#; edge. A component made from manufactured wood panels typically has a decorative and protective top and bottom surface. Still, it will usually require edge banding along the edges to create the decorative and protective seal.

What Products Don&#;t Require Edge Banding?

Edge banding is used on the exterior edges and sides of drawers and cabinets because these areas are readily visible. They are also the areas that are heavily exposed to air, moisture, and dust.

Areas not requiring edge banding include cabinet backs or drawer bottoms because their raw edges are usually embedded in attached pieces in dado grooves. Leaving these areas unbanded is also less expensive since exposed edges are not readily visible.

How is Edge Banding Applied?

Edge banding can be applied in a variety of ways, including:

• Laser edging
• Hot air
• Hot glue
• Iron-on
• PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive)

The appropriate application method(s) will depend on several factors, such as the type of edge banding being utilized, the size of the material, the intended use of the final product, and the production capacity of the component manufacturer. Several application techniques suit those doing the work themselves without professional assistance.

Different Types of Edge Banding

There are several different types of edge banding. The best edge banding choice typically depends on finding the closest color match to the finished surface(s) of the component that is both cost-effective and suitable for the intended use of the furniture item.

Edge banding is available in various materials, thicknesses, widths, textures, and sheen levels, and an unlimited range of solid colors, patterns, and wood grains. Working with an edge banding specialist to find a suitable material is highly recommended.

Here are the different types of edge banding materials, what they are best used for, and their pros and cons.

PVC Edge Banding

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) edge banding is a long-lasting material that has continued to grow in popularity over the last few decades.

It is one of the most popular materials in laminated and melamine furniture construction. It is renowned for its color selection (including solids, wood grains, and patterns) with many width and thickness options, sheens, and textures. PVC is also available with a metallic look.

Best Uses

Because PVC is relatively easy to affix and has a long life, it is a prevalent choice for modular furniture.  It is often preferred for its impermeable nature. PVC can be molded to fit curved surfaces and comes in unique colors that can easily match many color varieties.

Advantages

• Durability
• Low cost
• Longevity
• No finishing process requirements
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA

How Can Businesses Benefit from PVC Edge Banding?

PVC has continued to grow in popularity and stay relatively inexpensive, making it an excellent option for businesses looking to increase their profit margins and decrease labor costs. PVC is highly durable and easy to use, so even those without prior edge banding knowledge can create beautiful pieces of furniture for a fraction of the cost of solid wood.

ABS Edge Banding

ABS, also known as Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is another plastic edge banding produced from ABS resins rather than its more common cousin, PVC. To be more eco-friendly, many areas worldwide, including Europe, are utilizing ABS, Polypropylene, and Polyester edge banding (discussed below) over PVC due to their stricter environmentally-friendly standards.

Best Uses

Due to its greener attributes, healthcare and educational furniture are two of the largest markets for ABS. Architects and designers also specify ABS, and some furniture conglomerates like IKEA and H&M are abandoning PVC altogether.

Advantages

• Recyclable
• Thermally resilient
• Versatile in color, finish, and texture
• Environmentally-friendly
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA

Is ABS Edge Banding More Environmentally Friendly?

ABS is more eco-friendly than PVC as it does not produce toxic chemicals when incinerated.

Veneer Edge Banding

Wood veneer edge banding is natural wood sliced very thinly and is commonly used in furniture manufacturing due to its durability, sustainability, and luxurious look. Thin veneer edge banding is typically 0.5 mm thick but is available in multiple thicknesses up to 5.0 mm.  Veneer is produced from common woods and more exotic woods that are either too expensive to use as solid wood or subject to limitations on harvesting. Veneer edge banding is considerably more affordable than solid wood, making it a preferable choice for businesses that want to match the aesthetics of solid wood but at a much lower cost.

Best Uses

Wood veneer edge banding is the perfect material for environmentally conscious furniture pieces and is a favored option for movable elements like cabinetry, shelving, or drawers. It is an excellent option for those who want a premium wood look for less.

Advantages

• Environmentally friendly
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA
• Easily stainable and accepts finishes; also available in UV prefinished
• Affordable
• Lighter weight than solid wood
• Available in many species, thicknesses, and widths

Best Materials for Veneer Edge Banding

Numerous types of wood work well for veneer edge banding. These include red oak, cherry, white birch, maple, and walnut. At PRIedgebanding.com, we can source virtually any wood species needed for your banding and offer complete flexibility for order quantity.

Mylar & Metal Edge Banding

These types of edge bandings should be considered if you need a metallic look on your edges. Mylar edge banding is a thin film laminated to a plastic backer, usually ABS or PVC, which closely resembles the look of natural metal edge banding. Mylar film is often favored for its metal-like appearance at considerably less cost than actual metal. Both mylar and metal are available in attractive, modern finishes like brushed and polished. During production, a protective peel coat is typically applied to the top of the banding to prevent scratching. A primer is applied to the back to help the edge band adhere to its corresponding product. Both mylar and metal are available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA.

Mylar vs. Real Metal Edge Banding

While mylar and natural metal edge banding appear very similar, they have distinct differences that might ultimately be your deciding factor in choosing which is suitable for your project.

At PRI, mylar and natural metal edge banding are produced on wide master rolls and can be made in thicknesses ranging from 0.5mm to 3mm. They also come in various choices, including aluminum, stainless steel, gold, chrome, pewter, zinc, bronze, and copper.

As noted above, Mylar is more economical as it is a thin film instead of a solid metal surface. However, metal edge banding may be the preferred choice in some applications. PVC is also available with a metallic look.

Laser Edge Banding

Laser edge banding is a more modern technique that melts two surfaces together.  Using a laser beam, this new technology is an edge banding with a pre-applied, co-extruded polymer functional layer that replaces the traditional glue used to apply edge banding, allowing for a much superior and seamless joint between the edge banding and the board. It can be used with all zero-joint edge banding machines, including hot-air, laser, plasma, and near-infrared. The edge banding is typically made from ABS or polypropylene.

Advantages

• Aesthetically pleasing since it eliminates the glue line
• It provides a powerful bond
• Wide variety of colors and sizes

T-Molding

T-Molding is an incredibly durable and flexible type of edge banding material that is an extruded shape with a center barb that gets pressed into a kerf (slot) cut into the edge of a panel. It provides strong impact protection and a nice finished look. T-molding is made using PVC and polypropylene. or similar products and is available in many standard or custom profiles and colors, including woodgrains. Because of its unorthodox shape, each T-molding profile has a different-sized barb that will fit snugly into the kerf slot. They are designed to seat firmly and hug the edge permanently.

Best Uses

T-molding has traditionally been used to increase edge durability and soften hard edges on manufactured composite wood furniture, especially office furniture, classroom furniture, and store fixtures subject to high use. At PRI, we offer t-molding options in solid colors, woodgrains, and patterns to meet your needs best.

Advantages

• Extremely durable
• Maintains flexibility even in unheated manufacturing areas
• Full-depth color or pattern, even if cut or nicked
• Easily applied with low-cost equipment

Polyester Edge Banding

Polyester edge banding has become very popular in the furniture industry recently. As many countries avoid PVC, polyester is also an excellent eco-friendly option. Polyester edge banding is made with no formaldehyde or styrene during manufacturing and can be recycled in cogeneration plants to produce power and steam.

Best Uses

Polyester is quickly becoming popular for businesses looking for PVC-free edge banding. Not only does this environmentally friendly material offer matches to high-pressure laminate (HPL) and thermally fused melamine (TFM) solids, wood grains, and patterns, but it is available in multiple textures, gloss levels, widths, and thicknesses.

Advantages

• No formaldehyde or styrene is used in manufacturing
• Matches available to HPL and TFM solids, woodgrains, and patterns
• Multiple textures, gloss levels, widths, and thicknesses are available
• Outstanding color matches because it is made from the same decorative papers that are used to make HPL and TFM panels
• Soft-forming edge banders can shape the edges of laminated panels and apply polyester banding, which cannot be done with other plastic edgings
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA

Polypropylene Edge Banding

Polypropylene (PP) is considered the most eco-friendly edge banding. It requires relatively little energy to manufacture and can be safely recycled or incinerated. It is the best rigid material for radial applications.  PP is resistant to water and most chemicals and has superior light fastness and shrinkage properties, making it ideal for laboratory and school applications.

Advantages

• Can be safely recycled or incinerated
• Matches can be produced available to HPL and TFM solids, woodgrains, and patterns
• Multiple textures, gloss levels, widths, and thicknesses are available

Melamine Edge Banding

Melamine edge banding is a unique, resin-saturated paper that is expertly designed to provide strength and resilience to scratches or knocks.

Best Uses

This low-cost, durable material is used primarily in furniture manufacturing, specifically for kitchen, living room, and bedroom products. It is also widely used for smaller items like cabinetry and shelving by expert manufacturing companies and at-home DIYers.

Is Melamine Edge Banding Cost-Effective?

Melamine edge banding is a highly cost-effective material to use for projects.

Advantages

• Typically less expensive than PVC
• Wide master rolls can be slit to any width regardless of order size
• Available in automatic, pre-glued, and PSA

Contact the Experts at PRIedgebanding.com

PRI Supply is here for you if you require experts specializing in edge banding. At PRI Supply, our knowledgeable team can help you find exactly what you&#;re looking for. From edge banding and wood veneer sheets to Funder America melamine panels, we have the products you need at affordable prices.

Tell us about your project, and we will walk you through our process from start to finish. Have additional questions on our edge banding? Contact us today or request a free quote to get your project started.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Furniture PVC Edge Banding. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.