A clean edge, first time

Edge banding rewards preparation more than speed. Most visible joints are decided before the glue goes on, and most of the rest during trimming. Work through the steps in order and the edge reads as part of the panel rather than a strip stuck onto it.

Prepare the panel edge

The band can only be as straight as the edge behind it. A chipped or wavy edge from the saw shows through as a gap or a bump, especially with thin banding and gloss surfaces. Cut the panel with a sharp blade and a splinter guard, and check the edge for chips before you start.

• Square and clean. The edge should be square to the face and free of dust and old glue.
• At room temperature. Cold panels and cold banding make the glue set too early and weaken the joint. Keep both in the room where you work for a while beforehand.
• With allowance. Choose banding slightly wider than the panel is thick and cut it longer than the edge, so there is material to trim on every side.

Apply with even pressure

Whether you use a hand-held edge bander, hot-melt glue or pre-glued banding, the aim is the same: an even glue line and steady pressure along the whole length. Start and finish beyond the corners of the panel, and press the band down with a roller or block straight after it goes on. Let the glue cool completely before trimming, otherwise the band can lift or shift under the cutter.

Trim, scrape, finish

Trim the ends first, then the overhang on both faces. A router with a flush trim cutter, or a dedicated edge trimmer, takes the band down close to the surface. Set it so it stops just short of the panel face; cutting into the face leaves a mark no scraper can hide.

• Make a test piece. Try the setting on an offcut with the same banding before the real panel.
• Scrape the last fraction. An edge scraper brings the band exactly flush and leaves a slight radius that feels clean to the hand.
• Remove glue squeeze-out. Take it off while it is still soft, or with a sharp scraper once it has set, never by sanding across the face.
• Ease the corners. A light pass with fine abrasive takes off the sharp edge without changing the profile.

Check the result in raking light. If the joint line catches the light, the cause is usually the trimming depth, not the glue.