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Edge banding: All you need to know & its benefits
What is Edge Banding and its uses?
The process of sealing the raw, exposed edges of wood panels with lipping is called edge banding. Edge banding or edging has wide use in furniture making process; thus, making lipping is one of the critical sorts for materials for the furniture sector. Edge banding is also commonly used in carpentry as an end process to tidy up rough edges and ensure that the finished product is durable and constructed to a high standard.
If you have observed furniture being made, you might have noticed that the wood panels have a raw, exposed edge when cut to size. This natural edge, if left unprotected, can pose severe problems for the furniture. The exposed edges of the wood panel allow moisture to seep in, making them warp and become uneven or swell, which in turn significantly reduces the furniture life span. It is also very damaging to appearance.
So edge banding was created to address the problem. Put simply, edge banding protects the wooden panels in your furniture from moisture, thus reducing the effects of atmospheric humidity and liquid spills.
What is lipping or edge band?
Typically, a lipping or edge band is a thin tape of impermeable PVC, acrylic or ABS material cut to fit the size of wood-based panel materials such as plywood, particleboard or MDF. The lipping is then applied on the exposed edge using a strong adhesive. Commercially, edge banding is completed using industry-grade machines called edge banders and a hot-melt adhesive. For flatpack and modular furniture, the material used is mostly PVC which is easy to fix and has a long life.
Lipping can be sourced in 200 metres rolls, and the thickness of the tape may vary. The width will also be quite different, depending upon the requirement of the customer. At Meru Timber, edge banding is available in various thickness ranges ranging from 0.45mm, 1mm, and even beyond that.
The thicker lipping is used in high traffic and commercial settings because it provides greater resilience and impact resistance. For example, the doors and drawer fronts may require a thicker 1mm PVC lipping for maximum impact resistance. Typically, a lipping or edge band is a thin tape of impermeable PVC, acrylic or ABS material cut to fit the size of a wood panel. The lipping is then applied on the exposed edge using a strong adhesive.
How Does Edge Banding Protect The Furniture?
Modular furniture is made using wood-based panels. As such, the wood is handled and made resistant to moisture by treatments. Nevertheless, wood has a natural inclination to absorb moisture. This trend cannot be eradicated – it can only be reduced. The lipping protects the wooden panels in your furniture from moisture, therefore reducing the effects of atmospheric humidity and liquid spills. That means that the strength and durability of the wood increase. So, the next time you spill the tea on your table, and it drips down the edge, thank the edge banding for protecting the wood.
Notably, edge banding serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. Functionally, lipping performs some essential duties for your furniture. First, it holds moisture out, serving as a de facto seal on the edge of the core material. Second, edge banding increases strength and resilience by providing shock protection. Aesthetically, edge banding covers unsightly rough edges and creates a glossy finish to match your tops and sides. You can also develop radial edges to soften sharp angles.
Are There Different Lipping For Different Materials?
There are various edge banding materials available in the market to choose from. Edge band tape can be made from PVC, ABS acrylic, PP, PMMA, PET, Laser, wood or wood veneer. But, we will focus on two common materials: PVC and ABS. PVC is the most popular material for edge banding.
PVC- PVC edge banding
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) lipping materials are made from thermoplastic gum and are soft and long-lasting. PVC lipping is most popular in the construction of Laminated And Melamine cabinets and furniture. PVC Lipping is noted for its wide variety of colour matches to Laminate and Melamine board manufacturers. With Europe style modular cabinets on the rise, it is not uncommon to see cabinets with glossy or colourful finishes. Pigments and other materials are added to produce ostensibly endless edge banding colours, textures and natural wood grains. You are assured of finding a match once you choose your Board laminate!
PVC Edge bands or lipping
PVC edge banding is very popular for modular furniture as it is incredibly durable, simple to fix, and has an extremely long life. Therefore, the PVC edge band is the most preferred edge band model. That is because the material is impermeable, which means that it reduces water absorption to a large extend.
Furthermore, modular furniture comes in a much wider variety of colours and shades than the possibilities available with real natural wood. PVC lipping can be produced to resemble your modular panel’s exact shade and finish, thus creating a seamless look. Also, as compared to natural wood bands, PVC are easier to use on curved surfaces.
So, in essence, the main reasons that PVC is such a popular choice for edge banding are:
- It is inexpensive;
- PVC is durable;
- It Boasts a long life; and
- It doesn't require any finishing process;
Cons for the use of PVC:
- You can't recycle it;
- It doesn't biodegrade;
- Once it's blemished; and
- You can't refinish it.
ABS Edge bands or lipping
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) shares most PVC characteristics, but ABS is lower in density and does not include chlorine in its composition. Edge bands made of ABS are Eco friendly, recyclable and thermally resilient, meaning it’s safe to incinerate. Lipping made of these materials are available in various colours, finishes and textures, offering you the versatility to pick a colour that best resembles your interior.
Finding the Perfect Edge banding
Whether you are a Fundi or DIY hobbyist, looking for quality edge banding can require an extra effort toward achieving the look and value of your Furniture. That is why you should seek professionals for their expertise and guidance in selecting the correct width, thickness, and colour shed.
There are a variety of lipping tapes available in the market; from pre-glued ones to 3D acrylic tapes:
- The thickness of – 0.45mm, 1mm (Recommended), 2mm and 3mmm
- Board thickness – 22mm, 27mm, 45mm, 54mm and 60mm
- Materials – Solid colours like – White, Light Grey, Dark Grey, Red, Green, e.t.c
- Materials – Wood Grain Colours – African Wenge Esperanza Oak, Cherry, Zalzach Beech e.t.c
Edge Banding at Meru Timber
We at Meru Timber can assist you with making those critical selections! We use top-quality, commercially available lipping with 90 different colours currently in stock. Additionally, we offer a diverse range of finishes and patterns to choose from – You just name it; we have got you covered. And, if it’s pre-finished you’re looking for, we’ve got that too! The consistency of our products speak for itself, and we are eager for you to notice our quality. Our PVC lipping materials are designed to match current popular melamine boards such as Timsales, Comply, PG Bison and Rai plywood. We aim to offer a One-Stop-Shop and make your life easy…
Your Cost Considerations
Generally speaking, we recommend PVC lipping for projects where budget is the primary factor. That is not to say there is anything wrong with this material, far from that. There are just fewer levels in the production process, and the raw material is less costly. And with more steps required in the production process, we consider this a premium solution.
It is also essential to use the right lipping for a particular material to ensure strength, durability, and precision. When it comes to PVC, we recommend 1mm lipping because it runs cleaner, faster, and with superior adhesion. Thus, an added benefit is that you get a smooth radius and a piece of nice soft-looking furniture.
EDGE BANDING WITH HOT MELT ADHESIVE
Edging adhesive, also known as hot-melt glue, is a form of thermoplastic adhesive. Using the suitable adhesive for the job is essential to ensure your edge banding goes on and stays on and that you don’t make a mess of your project. However, using the wrong glue in the wrong way could spell disaster!
We choose to use a hot melt glue for our adhesive solution because it’s user friendly and provides an excellent seal. We apply the glue to the edge while still hot and then apply the banding, pressing it to the side.
The two main Choices of hot melt glues are EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) and PUR (Polyurethane). Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on your project and the material you are working with.
- EVA Adhesive. EVA adhesive is a multipurpose hot melt glue used in a wide range of applications. It is suitable for all edge banding, including PVC, Melamine, ABS, Acrylic, and wood veneer. It’s the most affordable end of the market, has a fairly standard water and heat resistance, but is easy to work with and clear up after.
- PUR adhesive. Polyurethane (PUR) based hot melt glue hardens when dry and cannot be re-melted. They form an incredibly strong bond quickly, meaning little room for mistakes and the need to work fast. Some can set a matter of seconds, with full cure time being 24 hours.
Machinery is used in the process of Edge Banding
The machine that is used for this process is called an edge bander. The Edge bander machine applies the lipping to the raw edges of the wood panels with hot-melt glue. Edge banding machines can process lipping up to 3 mm thick and up to 50 mm wide. The ends are trimmed flush and bent to cover the wood and do not have any sharp corners at the edges. Any excess adhesive is scraped off, and the finished edge is buffed to give a perfect, seamless finish.
At Meru Timber, we use State-of-the-art machinery that improves the glue edge and squares it up perfectly. One of them is Casadei Edge banding machines – Italian technology and another Industrial edge banding machine from Europe, Capable of grooving and corner rounding.
Additionally, we’ve invested in the top of the range Cutting Optimization software to calculate and determine the number of linear Metres of lipping required for your entire Project.
When generating your cutting list, there is no need to subtract edge banding thickness; our software will automatically provide you with the finished size.
The size of the part is automatically adjusted to accommodate the thickness of the lipping.
Learn how to manage your cutting list successfully on Meru Timber online cutting list platform and get the quantity of edge banding material required for your entire Kitchen or wardrobe project, all in a single click of a button!
A Quick start video on how to us Meru Timber cutting list platform is as below. Remember, its absolute Free to use our online cutting list platform!
A local carpenter/in-house fundus may not have the capacity and know-how within their reach. That’s why there is a distinction between commercial modular vis a vis carpentry edge banding.
If you are looking for which is the best kitchen material? – MDFand Particle Boards.
Videos: Edge Banding Basics
Here is a video that will help you visualize the process on an industrial scale. The use of a fully automated machine for excellent flexibility and easy adjustment reduces production time and gives the best output.
At Meru Timber, we provide first-class edge banding processing solutions for various processes and materials with extreme accuracy, precision and in no time.
We believe this article has provided you with an insight into what goes into the edge banding process. If you have further doubts about edge banding, do leave a comment, and we would be happy to answer your queries.
