Edgebanding bamboo plywood?

[Jamie Buxton]

I’m going to build some bookshelves from bamboo plywood. The material has rather thick faces— about an eighth inch. I’m thinking I will cut some of that off, and use it as edgebanding. Anybody done that?

[Jim Becker]

You might want to try messaging Brandon Conover. I know he's done some kitchens in bamboo plywood (I have some of the scraps from them) and he may be able to share what he's done about edge banding. He doesn't stop in here very much and is unlikely to see the thread.

[Jim Tobias]

Jamie,
You may not be interested in commercial edge banding but this company (Sauers & Company Veneers) has an unbelievable numbers of options. They (Larry Sauers) even cut some 1/16" think veneers for me. If you are looking for thicker, he may have it or be willing to cut it for you. Anyway, just an idea.

https://sveneers.com/wood-veneers/wood-veneer-edge-banding/

Jim

[J.R. Rutter]

I have used single ply edge grain bamboo for people who didn't want to see the core. The faces have the thin 1/8 - 1/4" strips and the edges have the full 3/4" bamboo slice. I've not edge banded it, but the face layer would look good on the typical plygrass bamboo, imho.

[Jamie Buxton]

Jim, I'm concerned about matching the color of the banding to the color of the plywood. This job is that color often called "caramelized". Looking at pics on the web, it seems that each manufacturer has it's own idea of what that means. I'm concerned that using sheet good from one source, and edgebanding from a different source, will give me unmatched colors.

JR, I'm not quite clear what you're describing. It sounds like the sheet comes pre-edgebanded. If that is true, I'd be stuck when I cut parts from the interior of the sheet. For instance, I'll be a making about a sheet-and-a-half's worth of shelves.

[Frank Pratt]

I think your idea to cut some of the face off the sheet to use as edge banding is a good one. Then your more sure of a good match in grain and color.

[jack duren]

If I'm correct you are using what I have with such a thick face we call Boo-ply. You can cut off the face but I'm not sure it will stay together after being cut.

I was going to use what I have left for floating shelves...good luck on your project

[Frank Pratt]

I've cut bamboo board as thin as 3/16 & it held together very well, so I think 1/8 thick would be fine as long as you're reasonably careful handling it until it gets glued in place.

[jack duren]

They sell it in a veneer if he can find some...

[J.R. Rutter]

JR, I'm not quite clear what you're describing. It sounds like the sheet comes pre-edgebanded. If that is true, I'd be stuck when I cut parts from the interior of the sheet. For instance, I'll be a making about a sheet-and-a-half's worth of shelves.

It is a sheet glued up with a single layer of bamboo strips on edge. So the front and back of the sheet is the "edge grain" 1/8" to 1/4". The long cuts from the sheet would show a full 3/4" wide piece of bamboo "face grain" The crosscuts would show the end grain in a vertical orientation. I'll see if I have any around to get a picture.

Not the best, but the front sheet is the single ply:
https://i.imgur.com/eYgAGMOh.jpg

[Mark Daily]

Do you guys prefer edge banding that is peel-n-stick or iron-on better?

[Jim Becker]

Iron-on/hot melt is generally going to be more durable than so-called self stick. The latter really, really likes the cleanest, smoothest surface to adhere to, too.

[Jamie Buxton]

JR, I’ve not seen that material. The stuff I’ve seen is the next to the left in your pic: lumber core and thick faces. How does the single ply behave? Does it cup across the grain? Does it expand and contract across the grain like wood lumber does?

[johnny means]

Do you guys prefer edge banding that is peel-n-stick or iron-on better?

I would never use self selfstick for anything other than a build and burn.

[Mark Daily]

Iron-on/hot melt is generally going to be more durable than so-called self stick. The latter really, really likes the cleanest, smoothest surface to adhere to, too.
That’s what I thought- I’ve never used self-stick but I’ve used a lot of iron-on. Easy to put on, move if necessary, or remove.

[J.R. Rutter]

JR, I’ve not seen that material. The stuff I’ve seen is the next to the left in your pic: lumber core and thick faces. How does the single ply behave? Does it cup across the grain? Does it expand and contract across the grain like wood lumber does?

It acts similarly to the 3-ply sheets. It actually seems to bow along the grain rather than cup across it if it is going to move, iirc. Controlling moisture absorption/loss is the key to keeping both types flat. I haven't done much with it - a few jobs making shaker style doors using strips of the 3/4" for the rails and styles.

[Frank Pratt]

I would never use self selfstick for anything other than a build and burn.

Same here. Even the sun warming up the peel & stick can make unpeel & unstick.

[Jamie Buxton]

Follow-up...

I've been building these bookcases, using the technique I was asking about -- cutting off the thick face veneer to use for thick edgebanding. It has been working very well.

Bamboo, on the other hand, is not a nice material. It makes lots of splinters. They are the color of skin, so you can't see them. I now only work with gloves on.

It turns out I was overthinking when I worried about bamboo color from different suppliers. This job has taken 10 sheets of bamboo -- so 20 faces. There are color variations within a face, and more variations from sheet to sheet. I think those variations will swamp out variations from different suppliers, so I could have used veneer tape banding. However, my other many objections to veneer banding still stand, so I'm glad I could make the thick banding method work.

[Frank Pratt]

Can you post some pics? I love the look of bamboo, especially in contemporary pieces.