edgebander

[Ralph Butts]

any thoughts on one of these:
SafetySpeed 72GP Edgebander

[Loren Woirhaye]

What's your business objective in acquiring an edgebander?

[Ralph Butts]

I would not characterize this as a business objective by any means. I am intending on building a couple of kitchens. My plan was to use the tool for me needs and move it along to someone else.

[Loren Woirhaye]

If you can do it without losing money, why not? If you buy it new, you'll have a hard time selling it for even half.

[Peter Kelly]

If you can wait, Festool is coming out with a hand-held edgebander: http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=3896

Virutex also sells a similar unit in the US: http://virutex.com/gluepotedgebanderportable-modelpeb250-withtempcontrol.aspx

[Erik Loza]

If you can wait, Festool is coming out with a hand-held edgebander: http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=3896

Virutex also sells a similar unit in the US: http://virutex.com/gluepotedgebanderportable-modelpeb250-withtempcontrol.aspx

This ^^^^

If it's just for one job, I would spend as little as possible. Assuming you are planning to sell it afterwards, much greater opportunity to recoup a bigger percentage of the initial purchase price on a portable unit than with a stand-alone. Also, only a shop is going to want a used stand-alone bander and since it is used, they will try to chisel you to death on the price. With a handheld unit, a hobbyist could use and afford it so you automatically have more options.

Just my 2-cents. Best of luck with it.

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[Ole Anderson]

Wow, I thought those hand held jobs would be cheaper than a traditional table mount version. Here is one from Rockler that is about 3% of the cost of the one you are looking at: http://www.rockler.com/edge-banding-machine?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PL&gclid=CKfu68j1tbwCFcVFMgod-DoAbw Almost wish I would have found that one before I did my kitchen, edge banding almost 200 feet of Hickory veneer on Hickory ply for the boxes. Edge banding for a couple of kitchens is really no big deal just using a woodworkers vise to hold the panel, your wife's iron to apply the banding, a sharp chisel to pop the overhang on the ends and a flush cut bit and tall fence in your router table. It is actually kind of fun...

[Peter Kelly]

Both hand-held machines can apply 3mm edging as well as plastic and pre-finished tapes which can't be ironed on. The Festool one may include top & bottom trim. I would imagine either machine will also give the tape a better bond. Having owned a real edgebander, I've never been real satisfied with how well pre-glued tapes stick by comparison.

As per Erik's point above, re-selling a used Festool product would be considerably easier than trying to unload a stationary machine. Festool products tend to hold their value pretty well too.

[Loren Woirhaye]

Some people say the Fastcap stick-on stuff is real good. I have not tried it. It is certainly fast but not a heavy banding you can put a radius on. I edgeband with a special press. If you only want to do a couple of kitchens you might consider using cauls and clamps to do solid wood. It will give you an excuse to get a Festool MFK700, which is a neat little tool which holds good resale value, though you probably won't want to part with it if you build nice furniture.

[Jim Andrew]

Are you building cabinets w/o face frames? For shelves, I just rip 1/4" strips, run a bead of glue down the center and brad nail to the edge of shelves. A kitchen doesn't have all that many shelves. And I have never had anyone complain about the strips coming loose. I could see an edgebander if you are building 3 kitchens a week.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

It is actually kind of fun...

Ole, you must not be feeling well.

Felder has a portable too, it's cheaper than the Festool. I think it's also sold under different brand names.

[Erik Loza]

The Adamik hand-held bander is a popular one. It's sold by several US dealers, re-badged as their own. I have no idea what it costs but it seems to have a solid repitation for a portable unit. I would personally just buy from whoever had the best price on it...

http://www.adamikcompany.com/edgebanding-machines/portable-edgebanders/

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[Bill Orbine]

May I suggest this: http://virutex.com/220vag98fhandheldhotairbander-1.aspx

This is a nice hand held hot air machine that uses pre-glued tapes. It'll take a little time to get the handle of machine and with practice you'll move along nicely. Fairly priced and for keeps for future projects you don't know about, yet! You won't get your money back with a larger and new machine less you find used one cheap! Finally, if this is one project, borrow your lady's iron.

[Peter Kelly]

There's also the Co-Matic one which is supposed to be good too.
http://www.shopgearinc.com/products/portable-edgebanders/portable-edgebander.php

[Ole Anderson]

Ole, you must not be feeling well. Actually edge banding was a pain until I learned to put the panel in a woodworkers vise to hold it steady and to forget trying to use those goofy razor edge trimmers and go to a flush cut bit and how to quickly trim the end. You know, if woodworking wasn't somewhat fun, even in a somewhat perverse way, I wouldn't still be doing it. I WW as a hobby, not as a source of income, so I can simply stop and take a break when something starts getting old. I seem to enjoy not just the setup for repetitive parts, but the actual production once the setup is going well.

[Ralph Butts]

Thanks guys for all of the great suggestions. Ole I have a similar outlook to ww as I can just stop when something gets old. That being said edge banding got really old really quick for me. Everyone has something they don't like doing and that one is mine. I have no intention of buying a new production grade edgebander. However I have an opportunity to get my hands on one and the dollars may workout for me. If I don't get every possible dollar out of it on resale it won't be the end of the world. In my younger Navy days I have wasted more money in a bar. I am hoping to get some input on the pros and cons of this particular machine. I am not locked into this by any means. The scenario ultimately may not work out but if it does it will make a task I don't like into one that will be hopefully fun or tolerable at worse.