Things to look for when choosing an edgebander
If you are in the market for a new edgebander here are a few of the questions to ask yourself and what to look for when shopping.
What thickness of edges am I looking to apply?
Basic edgebanders are intended for applying thin tape (around .5mm)
As the edge thickness increases the capacity of the guillotine and knife on the top and bottom trimmer will have to accommodate for that. Larger machines can handle up to 3mm PVC on a coil. Even larger machines can handle solid wood edges over 6mm thick.
What type of material am I looking to apply as an edge ?
If you are looking to apply an edge other than thin tape PVC it will be worth your time to look at the different stations you can add onto your machine. Stations such as Scraping, Pre-Mill and Corner Rounding are some of the most common stations woodworkers look to add.
How fast and how many hours per week will I need to run my machine?
Edgebanders can range from hobbyist machines meant to run a few hours per week to industrial machines meant to run several shifts per day. Entry level edgebanders will typically run slower and will not be able to handle the same workload as their larger counterparts. Some specifications to look for are the “feed speed” and “panel gap”. These can be clues to a machine's working hours capacity.
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