Plywood is a versatile and widely used material in woodworking and DIY projects. While its smooth surface is perfect for many applications, the edges of plywood sheets often require attention to achieve a polished and professional look. In this guide, we’ll delve into different methods for finishing plywood edges, discussing the pros and cons of each approach.
1. EDGE BANDING
Edge banding involves glueing a thin strip of material along the raw plywood edge to conceal it.
Advantages:
- Clean and Neat Appearance: Edge banding conceals the raw edges of plywood, giving your project a polished and finished look.
- Durability: It provides protection against chipping and wear, increasing the lifespan of your project.
- Wide Range of Options: Edge banding comes in various materials, including wood veneer, PVC, and melamine, allowing you to match it to your project’s style. You can even make your own edge banding if you are a skilled woodworker.
Disadvantages:
- Time-Consuming: Applying edge banding can be a meticulous process, requiring patience and precision.
- Cost: Quality edge banding materials can be relatively expensive, adding to the overall project cost.
Instructions:
- Briefly sand your plywood edge so that it’s smooth and level.
- Measure and cut the edge banding material to match the length of your plywood edge.
- Apply adhesive to the plywood edge and the back of the edge banding.
- Carefully align the edge banding with the plywood edge and press firmly.
- Trim any excess material and sand the edges for a smooth finish.
See full instructions with photos here.
2. EDGE MOULDING
Edge moulding also involves glueing a strip to the raw edges of plywood but this strip will be significantly thicker than a banding strip would be. Essentially, it will be a moulding strip of wood that is cut to the width and length of your plywood edge and attached using glue.
Advantages:
- Stylish Detail: The moulding will provide a beautiful finish that can make the piece look as though it’s solid wood.
- Durability and Protection: As with edge banding, it provides protection against chipping and wear but as it is thicker, it should withstand more damage. It should also be easier to repair.
- Versatility: Mouldings come in a range of sizes and designs and you can of course make your own intricate patterns using a quality router.
Disadvantages:
- Limited Applications: Edge moulding will not be suitable for all types of projects. For example, it’s unlikely that an expensive, decorative moulding would be the best choice for a fitted kitchen cabinet door.
- Cost: Ready-made mouldings can be expensive if you require large quantities.
- Complexity: It can be tricky to get a professional finish with a moulding if you are a beginner, especially if mitred corners are involved.
Instructions:
- Briefly sand your plywood edge so that it’s smooth and level.
- Choose the appropriate edge moulding profile and measure the length needed.
- Cut the moulding to size and mitre the corners if necessary.
- Apply adhesive to the back of the moulding and carefully position it along the plywood edge.
- Secure the moulding in place with clamps until the adhesive dries.
3. FILLER AND SAND
Plywood edges are so noticeable because in their raw form, all the layers of wood are visible, each having a different texture. There may also be some small gaps between the layers in certain places. All this can be fixed by using wood filler to fill the unevenness of edges. This is my personal favourite way of finishing plywood edges on furniture that will be painted a solid colour, such as this floor-to-ceiling alcove wardrobe.
Advantages:
- Easy: This is by far the easiest method for covering plywood edges.
- Cost: It is also the cheapest method as a pot of wood filler is significantly cheaper than other materials and you likely already have some lying around.
Disadvantages:
- Time consuming: To get a good finish you will likely need to fill and sand the edges many times over which is going to involve a lot of effort and time.
- Messy: Nobody likes sanding. It is by far the most annoying DIY job and unfortunately, there will be a lot of it using this method.
- Durability: The finished edges will not be as durable as they would be if they were finished other methods. Filler may also crack over time due to temperature and humidity fluctuations as well as the movement of the item so is likely to need some upkeep even if no actual damage is done to the piece of furniture.
Instructions:
- Extensively sand the plywood edges.
- Fill the edges using high-quality wood filler.
- Repeat until the desired finish is achieved.
