Glues and machines

In short

1. 01Edge tape is glued with hot-melt glue. The glue is melted by heat, the edge tape is pressed onto the edge, and the joint holds as soon as the glue cools.
2. 02EVA glue is the most common and easy to work with, but it softens again when warm, so it copes less well with steam and heat.
3. 03PUR glue keeps curing with moisture from the air after it cools and never softens again. It takes water and heat better and gives a thinner glue line, but needs more care on the machine.
4. 04Laser edge tape has a layer on its back that is melted by a laser or another heat source, with no separate glue. The joint is almost invisible, so it is called a zero joint.
5. 05By hand you use pre-glued edge tape. It is heated, pressed until it cools, and the ends and overhang are trimmed and the arrises lightly eased.
6. 06An edge bander works in one pass, in order pre-milling, glue, pressure, end trimming, overhang trimming, scraping and buffing.
7. 07Pre-milling takes a thin layer off the edge so the edge is straight and clean. That allowance goes on the cut size.