Expert: Jamie Yocono - 8/4/2011

Question
I need to know what do you call that adhesive strip that you can heat-tape on the kitchen cabinet shelf edge to closely match the color of the kitchen cabinet. We have a lot of the shelf edge showing even when the cabinet doors are closed. Those edges are uncolored. We want to cover them with the strip that I know can be ordered and it comes in rolls of so many feet long. What do you call it?

Answer
Lorna,

The stuff you're talking about is called edgebanding. Try looking at Rockler.com or Woodcraft.com, both are woodworking supply stores. There might even be one in your town, if you live in a bigger city.

Oh - VanDykes is another good supplier of edgebanding:  http://www.vandykes.com, and their prices are really good.

Type "edgebanding" into their search box and you'll see a huge variety of rolls, in all sorts of woods, melamines, and more.

Also, edgebanding comes with a couple of different backings - some is self sticking, you just peel off the back and stick it into place. Some you have to iron onto the wood edge. Some you have to glue in place, which is harder. Make sure when you buy a roll of it, you get the kind you want - self sticking is probably the easiest.

There is a trimming tool that makes it very easy to trim the edgebanding, once you adhere it to the board. The trimmers are not very expensive, and they're really handy. Otherwise, you can trim the banding with a razor blade, a hand plane, or a chisel.

Good luck, hope this helps,

Jamie in Vegas


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Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com