Edge banding

[tlempicke]

I have some heat activated adhesive veneer edge tape that I want to use for a project. Can one of you Pros tell me what temperature to use?

[jTr]

Medium to medium - high on your household iron, assuming that's your available tool. Any automated machinery will either be fixed, or manual will guide you to proper setting in that case.

In general, a real wood veneer can take higher heat. A pvc or polyester for melamine edging is a bit more sensitive, and should have a bit lower starting temp to assure no discoloration/melting.

Hope that helps- if you need more, let us know more about the material and tools you're using.

Jeff

[tlempicke]

Thanks that will get me going. It is real wood veneer.

[bleeth]

I came to prefer using a heat gun and block (to apply pressure) over the iron. (Hold piece in place and heat from face-once you get an end down the rest flows quickly)
A little trickier to use till you get used to it but better results.
Really don't like pre-glued by hand though in general and if without an edgebander I prefer to spray edges and back of tape with contact cement.

[Ajcoholic]

I found pre-glued wood veneers best when I had my iron (regular house hold clothes iron) set to cotton, just under the max temp. That would be way too hot for the non wood edging.

I always ran the iron down the veneer, then immediately go over with either a wood block with rounded edges, or a small laminate roller. Making sure to press the edges down well. You have to work fast as the glue cools quickly.

We've also used contact a lot in the past. I find the pre glued will eventually come loose if you use in an area where it gets handled a lot (like shelving, etc).