Glue the edge on the countertop with your own hands. How to properly glue the edge to the countertop. Recommendations and advice.
If it was decided to independently make furniture from materials such as chipboard or MDF, you will need to take care of protecting the end parts. This is necessary to make the product look more aesthetically pleasing and last longer. A special edge is used to protect the side surfaces. In this material, we will talk about what its varieties are, how best to stick it with your own hands and other important nuances of how to glue the edge to the countertop.
If it was decided to independently make furniture from materials such as chipboard or MDF, you will need to take care of protecting the end parts.
Features of gluing the edge to the tabletop
To perform high-quality gluing of the material to the countertop, you need to take into account many nuances, since this process has its own characteristics. Competent preparation will allow you to avoid mistakes in the cutting process and will allow you to get a high-quality result, which, firstly, will perfectly cope with its functions, and secondly, please the eye with an aesthetic appearance. Next, let’s figure out what an edge is, why and where it is needed, as well as other important features.
To perform high-quality gluing of the material to the countertop, you need to take into account many nuances, since this process has its own characteristics..
What is an edge
A furniture edge is a strip of melamine, PVC, ABS or other material that acts as a decoration and a way to protect the product. if the furniture is made of cheap materials, then you cannot do without such an addition, otherwise it will not be possible to avoid the effects of formaldehyde resins on the health of households, and also to protect the furniture material from moisture. If the edge was glued, then the service life of the product also increases..
The edge for furniture is a strip of melamine, PVC, ABS or other material that acts as a decoration and a way to protect the product..
Why do you need an edge
Many believe that this element is necessary solely for beauty and a more accurate appearance. In reality, the edge, of course, performs a decorative function, but this is not its main purpose. The main task of the edging is to protect furniture from moisture. The kitchen is a wet area in the house, and therefore this aspect is especially important here, and closing the ends with such a trick is a necessity. In addition, if the ends of the product are covered, then the release of formaldehyde from the chipboard material will not harm human health..
In reality, the edge, of course, performs a decorative function, but this is not its main purpose..
There is an alternative option that can be used in place of adhesive edges – end plates. Their installation is a fairly simple process, but some elements in this case may look unnecessary and harm the appearance of the product..
There is an alternative option that can be used in place of adhesive edges – end plates.
Where to trim
As mentioned earlier, edging is necessary not only for the product to look beautiful. In addition, it helps protect furniture from moisture, and households from exposure to chemical elements. Based on this, we can conclude that edging is necessary:
- in the kitchen – at family meals, household members should not inhale the fumes of resins that are in the chipboard material, as well as high humidity and often water is used in the kitchen space, therefore, in order to avoid premature furniture failure, swelling of surfaces from moisture and other unpleasant consequences from interaction with moisture, be sure to arrange the ends with an edge.
- in living spaces – a chipboard table can stand in a children’s room, and children will learn lessons at it, it can be in a study or an office – it does not matter, in all these cases, safety and protection from formaldehyde is important, which can be provided by edging.
Types of furniture edges
There are several types of edges that can be used to decorate the ends..
Melamine paper
The most optimal option for do-it-yourself home cutting. It already has an adhesive layer, making the process much easier. It is easy to glue such material, but in terms of its performance this option is inferior to other types of edges..
dav The best option for DIY home edging.
Pvc
PVC edging is a strip of polyvinyl film. Their direct purpose is to seal the ends on panels and countertops. An adhesive layer is not provided here, and it will be difficult to glue such material with your own hands..
PVC edging is a strip of polyvinyl film.
ABS (ABC) plastic
But this kind of edge will be easy to glue on your own, because an adhesive layer is already provided here, which greatly simplifies the task. It is for this reason that this option is the most popular to use..
But this kind of edge will be easy to glue on your own, because an adhesive layer is already provided here, which greatly simplifies the task.
Veneer
Veneer is not at all a popular material for edging furniture. It is a cut of wood that has been shaped like a ribbon and painted. More often, such an edge is used in furniture production and exclusively for edging veneered furniture products. To use such material, you need to have a lot of honed skills, knowledge of working with this material and experience. Such material is expensive. In general, there is no reason to use veneer for do-it-yourself edging at home. However, it is necessary to mean about the existence of such a variety so that you do not accidentally acquire it through ignorance..
To use such material, you need to have a lot of honed skills, knowledge of working with this material and experience..
Acrylic
These products are made of transparent acrylic. A drawing is applied on the seamy side. Due to the fact that there is a polymer layer on top, a feeling of a three-dimensional pattern is created, which looks very impressive. For this reason, this variation is called a 3D edge. At home, you should not use such material. It is too complicated from the point of view of the technological process, and there is absolutely no expediency in the use of such material. As a rule, it is used in professional furniture production, if it is planned to make furniture with unusual design solutions..
Due to the fact that there is a polymer layer on top, a feeling of a three-dimensional pattern is created, which looks very impressive.
Profiles
Profiles are cut-in. In this case, the T-profile is inserted into a milled groove in the end of the chipboard. When it was difficult to find a special machine for PVC edgebanding, and there were a lot of milling machines in the workshops, this option was especially popular. Today he faded into the background.
Profiles are cut-in. In this case, the T-profile is inserted into the milled groove at the end of the chipboard..
Also, the profile can be overhead. This option is convenient, since no special devices are needed to use it, and it is quite possible to use it at home. As a rule, such a P-profile is simply enough to put on the end and glue it with liquid nails. However, there is also a drawback – a few millimeters of the edges will protrude, and dirt and dust particles will clog under them..
Also, the profile can be overhead. This option is convenient, since no special devices are needed to use it, and it is quite possible to use it at home..
How to glue the edge on the countertop with your own hands
First of all, it is important to pay attention to whether the countertops were cut with high quality. This directly affects the edging. The fact is that it will not be able to hide the irregularities, but it will hold well only on a perfectly executed cut..
We will divide the entire subsequent process into small stages..
- First you need to position the tabletop in such a way that it is convenient to work with the end..
- The end itself needs to be wiped with a damp cloth, to clean the surface with a damp cloth to ensure a strong hold.
- Next, you need scissors – cut off the edge of the required length.
- When the end is dry after wiping with a damp cloth, you need to attach the cut edge to the surface with an adhesive layer.
- Along the top edge of the table top, you need to align the edge of the edge, then carefully trim the edges.
- Next, you need an iron for ironing synthetics – we heat it.
- Cover the edge with, for example, a newspaper. One layer will be enough. It should be ironed for 3-5 minutes. This procedure will allow the glue to melt and adhere the materials to each other..
- After the glue has “seized”, the edge must be carefully trimmed with a knife..
- If ABS plastic was chosen as the material for edging, then it will be difficult to cut such material. So that irregularities do not spoil the appearance, you can carefully remove them with a nudge.
Video: How to glue the edge on the countertop with your own hands
Important!
To ensure that the cut is not made at an angle, the knife blade must be kept parallel to the surface of the tabletop..
Additional Information!
Instead of an iron, you can use a building hair dryer. In this case, you will also need to prepare a hard wallpaper roll. During the heating of the material, it will need to be pressed with a roller to the end of the tabletop.
Material and tools for work
To make the edge of the tabletop yourself, you need to prepare all the necessary tools:
- an ordinary household iron or a hair dryer for heating the edge;
- construction knife (it is important to stock up on new blades);
- fine-grained sandpaper;
- scissors.
As a material, you need to prepare:
- the countertop on which the edge will be glued;
- the edge itself, matching color and thickness.
What glue to choose for the edge
Modern furniture manufacturers use hot melt adhesives. This type of glue has long established itself and is practically unmatched in terms of its quality characteristics. However, there is one significant drawback in their use – it is necessary to have special equipment that is capable of gluing at high speed and of good quality. For those who plan to manufacture furniture professionally, it makes sense to purchase such equipment. If you are just an amateur and do not plan to make furniture, then this option will definitely not work..
Modern furniture manufacturers use hot melt adhesives.
At home, the use of PVC glue is common. It does an excellent job of gluing paper materials to any other. It is important to take into account that such glue is not friendly with moisture, so you should not use it for kitchen furniture..
But universal adhesives will not only reliably glue materials to each other, but are also not afraid of moisture. It takes 3-4 hours to dry, after which the product will be ready for use. Such glue is inexpensive, in addition, it is available – it is available in almost every store, and is safe.
Professionals who are planning to use hot melt adhesives can pay attention to the products of the Kleiberit brand..
Professionals who are planning to use hot melt adhesives can pay attention to the products of the Kleiberit brand.
How to glue an edge without an adhesive layer
Sometimes it happens that the edges with an adhesive layer are not available or for some other reason it is not possible to purchase it. In such a situation, you can use an alternative – an edge without an adhesive layer. True, you still have to buy glue separately..
In such a situation, an alternative can be used – an edge without an adhesive layer.
Additional Information!
You can safely purchase glue of such brands as “Moment” or “Lux 88”. You definitely shouldn’t buy 88 Luxe glue, especially if the edge is made of PVC..
It is better to apply glue both there and there – on the edge and on the end of the countertop. Pressing must be done using a rigid roller. If excess glue is visible, remove it immediately, and
using a damp cloth. After the glue is completely dry, the edge can be carefully trimmed.
It is better to apply glue both there and there – on the edge and on the end of the countertop. Pressing must be done using a rigid roller.
Helpful hints
You can do the edging of the tabletop with your own hands, the main thing is to follow the instructions and take into account all the important nuances. To consolidate everything that was written about in this article, you can summarize and, in a generalized form, once again recall all the recommendations of experts.
1. The edging may have glue on the inner surface, or it may be sold without it. The list of necessary tools and materials and the progress of work will depend on this. If there is already an adhesive layer, then using an iron on a low-temperature mode (this mode can also be called “synthetics”) or a hair dryer and a hard roller, we apply the edge to the end, which has been previously cleaned of dust and small crumbs. Be sure to make sure that the entire cut surface is covered with an edge.
Be sure to make sure that the entire cut surface is covered with an edge.
2. After we have made sure that the edge lies flat and covers the entire surface, we begin to heat it (if an iron is used, then cover the material on top with a light cloth or one layer of newspaper). The material must be smoothed and leveled, exactly until it cools completely.
The material needs to be smoothed and leveled, exactly until it cools completely.
3. If you cannot find a specialized glue, you can use a universal glue. For its high-quality “grip” the surface must be especially clean.
If you cannot find specialized glue, you can use a universal.
4. Adhesive can be applied to both surfaces that bond to each other. It is necessary to firmly press the edge to the end so that the glue glues the two materials well. You can use a cloth or roller to smooth the surface..
You can use a cloth or roller to smooth the surface..
5. After the adhesive has set, the protruding parts can be trimmed or chipped. Chipped areas can be sanded.
Chipped areas can be sanded.
Do-it-yourself edging of a countertop is a fairly simple process, but even here it is important to know certain rules and features. This article examined how you can glue the edge to the countertop at home, therefore, after reading the materials of this article, you can safely get down to business..
Do-it-yourself edging of the countertop is a fairly simple process, but even here it is important to know certain rules and features..
