Edge Bander for Laminate

[lensmith]

Could anyone recommend a good edge bander for laminate? I may be in the market for one soon, and any info would be appreciated.

[Wags]

Len
Are you going to AWFS ? There are a number of great machines available, depending on what your looking for. Some will do solid wood edges, thicker banding, some have shaping or sanding stations etc. I will say an edgebander has what is probably the fastest payback of any machine.

[lensmith]

Hi Wags,

I'm displaying my ignorance as I ask: Where is the show this year? I don't even know when and where...

Len

[SFEditor]

AWFS is next week (17-20, I believe) in Las Vegas.

Kevin

[Wags]

Its at the Las Vegas Convention Center, July 18 to 21, Wed to Sat, show hours Wed, Thurs, Fri, 9 to 5 Sat 9 to 4. Great place to look at any woodworking equipment and compare.

Im like a kid in a candy store at those shows, and the one next year in Hotlanta is even bigger. Odd years in the west, even years in Hotlanta.

Enjoy !

[Dani]

Len,

I have a Holz-Her 1402 SF W/Buffer. Just a few glitches over the past 12 years. If I was was going to get another one I would get the HF unit with the beval end trim feature.

Dani

[Steve Lefebvre]

I have a Brandt KD 85F that is surplus to my needs. Lotta machine though. It has a pre mill station that can be set to remove the same amount of stock as the thickness of material that you are putting on. It was close to 100 K when new.
About 17 feet long.

[fabwizard]

Len,
Asking what is a good machine is a real loaded question. What is good to do is first figure out what your needs are. Are you running wood,plastic or both? How much will you use the machine (how many feet a day/week), and do you want to use std or pre-glued banding. Do you need a machine to do straight edges or curves and free forms. Finally, what's your budget? These are just the begining. Like many machine/tool questions, the trick is to buy what you need not what someone is selling.

fabwizard

[lensmith]

Fabwizard,

I'm beginning to see that. What started me on looking at edgebanders was the fact that we're making so many laminate support systems and corbels, and when we outsource them, they seem expensive for what we get. My initial use for the machine would really just be for making laminate countertop support systems.

[fabwizard]

Len,
I know when we were thinking of bringing a task in house, as opposed to outsourcing, You've got to measure the cost of materials, labor/training and capitol expeditures against the value of what you will be producing. You may find, depending on volume, that what seems expensive may not be so. It could also prove you need to be making your own corbells/supports, but you'll then be making an informed well reasond decision. I know I spend more time convincing people that just buying tools is not necesarily the answer. Good research and analysis is the start. I know thats what your doing, so press on! I would be curios what your final decision is and why you decided that way. Hopefullly this was of some help. Be well.

fabwizard