Edgebanders

[gene]

I am soon to be looking at a new edgebander and was wondering about input from other botters .
Tell me youre experiences, PLEASE

[thewoodcrafter]

An edgebander can take quite an investment.
It depends what you will want to use it for.
Laminate, 3mm, solid wood, PVC or only just regular thin edgebanding.
That will lead to hot air or glue pot.
Glue pot is way more versatile.
You will get top and bottom trimming and end cut off on any basic machine. You may want to invest more and get buffing. This will ensure the parts are ready for assembly right off the machine with no hand work needed. If you want 3mm capability scraping and profiling stations are needed and lots more money.
Used or new.
That leads to lease or CASH.
Many used machine out there. Are you very mechanically inclined? Can you read wiring diagrams? Because an edgebander is the most complicated machine you will ever have in your shop!
Do you have 3 phase? Do you have clean dry air? Do you have dust collection? How much space do you have? Some machines can be 25ft long.

I bought a working SCMI Basic 1 about 2 years ago for $1000. At that price I could afford a lot of repairs. It needed a little tuning and cleaning. Some switches, pressure regulator and a relay. I rebuilt the glue pot last year, new bearings and cleaning. It could use a new conveyor and upper roller wheels but it glues and trims just fine.
I wish it had buffing.

[myxpykalix]

Gene,
A friend of mine came thru town who had bought a whole shop out and I think he had 2 edgebanders and was going ot sell one. I know nothing about them but if you are interested i can give you his contact information and see if he still has it. Email me and i'll send it to you if interested.

[handh]

Gene,

For a small shop I recommend a Castle Equilizer edgebander. It takes up very little shop space, uses a glue pot, but you do have to hand trim which doesn't take that long. It takes a lot of production to justify a large edgebander but if you have the space and business the larger units are a lot better. We have had the Castle machine for about 4 years with not a single problem, little up keep, just clean the glue pot that's been it. You can check it out online at http://www.castleusa.com/edgebanding.html

[henrik_o]

Funny that this thread should turn up now. A couple of years ago I bought some used machines at a bancruptcy sale, the creditors sold everything execpt a Holz-Her panel saw and a Holz-Her edgebander (14xx-series iirc). I arranged to go look at the edgebander, but after inspecting it nothing came of it: I didn't really need it and they weren't in a hurry to get it sold.

Just this last friday I digged up the phone number and called, and yes, they still have it. It's been in storage for the intervening years. I offered $2000 cash in the hand, and they will let me know by next weekend.