instructables

Homemade Edge Band Clamps

by GenealogistWoodworker

If you work a lot with plywood or particle board, eventually you’ll need to apply a banding to cover the edges.
Some people use iron on edge banding, while others like to make their own. Today, I’m going to show you how to
quickly make a cool clamp that allows you to securely clamp your homemade edge banding to your plywood
panels.

Supplies:

You don't need a lot of materials for this project.

Scrap wood blocks

Wooden wedge
F-style clamp

https://youtu.be/oPsDh06k5SM

Homemade Edge Band Clamps: Page 1

Step 1: Cut Rectangle Blocks

These clamps do not need to be a speci c size. I would recommend that they be thicker than 3/4” because that’s the
typical thickness of plywood. The length of the block is up to you. I made mine approximately six inches long and
three inches wide.

Using a saw, cut at many blocks as you want clamps.

Step 2: Drill a Relief Hole

Using a drill press or handheld drill, drill a hole approximately 4/5th down the length of the block. I drilled a hole
around 1/8” in diameter. The size of the hole just needs to be wider than the kerf that you will cut in Step 3 so it’s
okay if you want to make a hole slightly bigger or smaller than I did.

Step 3: Cut a Kerf

At the bandsaw, or by using a handsaw, slice the block from the end to the hole that you drilled. Don’t cut beyond
the hole. The relief hole allows you to drive a wedge into this kerf but the block won’t split.

Homemade Edge Band Clamps: Page 2

Step 4: Make Wedges

Now, you need wedges to t into the kerf that you just cut. I used some scrap wood to make some thin wedges.
They don’t have to be very big. I would recommend that they are longer than the length of the slice that you cut.

Step 5: Cut a Notch for a Clamp

To hold the block onto your plywood panel, cut a notch to hold a F-style clamp. The brand and size of the clamp
really isn’t important. Cheap clamps work great for this! At the midpoint of the block, cut a notch so that the bar of
your clamp ts inside it. Make the notch as deep as your like. Just make sure that the clamp can reach past the
block so it can clamp onto the plywood.

Homemade Edge Band Clamps: Page 3

Step 6: Use Your New Clamps

You can now put your new clamps to work. Push your
clamping block against your edge banding and
tighten the F-style clamp. The edge banding may still
wiggle if you touch it. Now, tap your wedge into the
kerf of your clamping block. The wedge will push
open the wooden block and apply a lot of pressure
against the edge banding.
People often use blue tape or spring clamps with a
rubber band on them when they apply edge banding.
But with these blocks, you will get much more
clamping pressure across the entire surface of the
edge banding, in turn, getting much better results!
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Homemade Edge Band Clamps: Page 4