Bending Laminate Bevel Edge With Heat Gun

Heat the laminate with a heat gun.

Bending laminate bevel edge with heat gun.

Wilsonart and others make solid surface edges that you can apply to a laminate edge. Make sure when sticking the edge you ve got the thinner section lined up with curve. Once you can feel that the area is flexible push it firmly onto the curved surface. Run your heat gun or iron over a section of formica that is 2 3 inches 5 1 7 6 cm long.

The way to bend a 1 1 2 radius is to apply a wax carnauba on the edgeband then file top and bottom face side of edgeband on 45 degree angle to stop cracking and apply heat with heat gun. Keep the gun moving as edgeband softens bend on desired radius keeping it tight to the top with roller or block stick. A countertop shop will use a postforming machine and post grade laminate to do a bullnose edge. There is another way to do the edges of a laminate countertop that i just recently found out about.

Bending shaping plastic with hot air gun heat gun. Keep working down the curve this way heating small sections and then attaching them. Heat small sections and then attach them right away. Make sure nothing is under the strip so you re sanding flat.

The 45 degree angle cut reflects light for a defined border that smartly frames your countertop. Tutorial for how to. Heat only the section you need to bend and keep the heat gun moving over that section without focusing on one spot too long. The machine is a bit like a sheet metal brake with a heater bar that heats the laminate at the bend point.

Preparing hot air gun w. If you want a fancy ogee bevel or bullnose edge this is something you might want to look into. Heat and moisture together allow the wood to bend without breaking. When putting edging on use a heat gun to make the strip easier to.

However the forming temperature will be approximately 170 c 338 f. Laminate edge options decorative edges the difference is in the details. The best thing to do is learn about how laminate reacts to heat. The exact temperature to which you must heat your laminate depends on the manufacturer and grade.

I think it s a great idea and it actually looks easy to do. We over cut the width by 1 8 of the actual core thickness. Strong crisp angles enhance the solid stone look with a classic look and feel. Clamp the laminate strips to your table before sanding.

They sell special pre made edges that you can glue onto your countertops. Steam carries the heat but soaking in hot water would get the wood too wet so that hydraulic forces would develop when bending. Ideal for perspex acrylic plexiglass polycarbonate.