Width of plywood banding?

[krogers]

Is there a generally excepted width of edge banding for plywood? I am making a few small benches using oak plywood. I plan to band the exposed edges of the ply with oak. Is a quarter inch about the right size? Is there any magic to this width? I am considering a half inch on the top so that I have room to a cut profile on that piece.

[Pappy]

Assuming you mean the thickness, it can vary greatly. If its sole purpose is to hide the edge, as thin as 1/16" will work or, as in your case, as thick as needed to cut the profile. To add strength, or a heavier appearance, to the top, make it wider than the plywood. I have done edging with a rabbet cut into the edge material so it fits under the ply. No real strength advantage other than more glue surface but it adds a heavy 'feel' to the piece.

[vaking]

This is a very good question. I have heard some conflicting opinions about it. For instance I have heard that too big of edging material is not good because plywood is dimensionally stable while wood moves with humidity. This supposed to cause the joint to fail over time if the edging piece is too big. The biggest edging I have ever done myself was 3/4"x3/4" and so far it has not failed.

[Wood_workur]

thinner is usually better- easier th hidethe joint. But you are are gonna treat the edge (roundover, chamfer) then you need a widere edge band.

[krogers]

Thank you for all of the replys.

Pappy, yes I meant thickness. My sole purpose is to hide the edge and maybe provide a little decoration. i.e. I might want to run a profile on the edge to give it some character. I am curious about your rabbetting technique. Are you saying you cut a deep rabbet? Almost or all the way to the last ply layer, and use hardwood to fill the gap? From the top this would give a consistent grain pattern without a seam. Correct?

There was another thread recently about some of the bit sets that provide interesting profiles for edge banding. I understand that they increase the glue surface area. But the arguement against is that they are hard to set up. It there any problem with glue failure if I just glue up straight cut bands with lots of clamps? I don't want to "add a few brads until it dries." I am staining this piece and don't want to come back and fill the holes.

[Pappy]

No, the rabbet is cut into the edging material.