Novice Question About Edge Banding Cherry Ply

[Ron Robinson]

I am currently working on a night stand with a carcass made of 3/4" cherry ply. The plans call for the exposed edges of the ply to be covered with 1/4" thick strips of solid cherry.

My question:

Is it better to use stock 3/4" thick ripped to 1/4" or 1/4" thick stock ripped to 3/4"?

Advantages? Disadvantages?

Thanks,

Ron Robinson

[Steve Cox]

Generally speaking if your solid lumber is flat sawn, 3/4" stock ripped to 1/4" wide will give you the best grain match but in my experience it doesn't make too much difference from a practical perspective. Most of the time I just use what's leftover from the current or other projects.

[Tom Jones III]

You would probably be better off making whichever cut is safer given your stock and tools. Cutting small pieces even smaller can get pretty dangerous.

[Michael Ballent]

If you already have 1/4" stock on hand then I would rip it at 3/4" otherwise I would just rip 3/4" stock at 1/4". Just be safe, using a push stick or grrr-ripper to keep your fingers out of the way.

[Vaughn McMillan]

...Just be safe, using a push stick or grrr-ripper to keep your fingers out of the way.

Good advice, I'm especially fond of the Grripper. Another approach is to have the 1/4" thick piece come off the "waste' side of the blade. You have to move the fence for each cut, but it's a safe way to rip thin strips.

- Vaughn

[Michael Ballent]

I agree, take the piece from the "waste" side. One way to get repeatability is to make a + shaped jig, part of the + goes into the miter slot, the other side part of the + would be 1/4" away from the left of the blade. Just set it down, tap the fence until the wood touches the stop, lock the fence, remove the jig and rip, repeat as needed