Inlay Around Table Top

[Ronn W]

I am trying to figure out a way to inlay a decorative banding in the edge of a ¾” table top (on the vertical face of the table edge).  Bandings come in various thickness from 1/32” to 1/8”.  Banding widths could be from ¼” to ½”.  How do I cut or route the dado into which the banding will be glued.  The dado has to be of a depth so that the banding lays just proud of the surface too allow to a little sanding.  I have looked at slot cutting and dado router bits with various sized bearings and none will allow a cut depth of less than 1/8”.  That’s too deep.  

 

Also I am looking at the possibility of making a pattern for the table top.  Maybe I could use the pattern in combination with router bushings to 1)cut the table top itself and 2) cut the dado using a different bushing and the same pattern. 

 

Just to make the problem more interesting lets say that the table top is not a rectangle but has curved or serpentine sides.

 

Any ideas?

Here is a table with edge banding.

[BonPacific]

https://woodworker.com/116-x-14-inlay-router-bit-mssu-835-841.asp?GF=835-841&srsltid=AeTuncpFN5AFyX9KhVtwOyhggxbajDET_GiA-5VS5HmtSdaphVwgiQtLVoA

Is this what you're looking for? Looks like they're intended for composite, but would probably work for wood as long as you're careful with your speeds.

[krtwood]

Another possibility would be to fabricate a bushing that would press fit on the bearing of a router bit you already have.

[Ronn W]

On 12/28/2022 at 11:15 AM, BonPacific said:

s this what you're looking for? Looks like they're intended for composite, but would probably work for wood as long as you're careful with your speeds.

That may do it.  Thanks.  since it is freud, I may have other diameter bearings so I can change the depth of cut.  Thanks.

[Ronn W]

Did a deeper search and found this:

https://carbideprocessors.com/southeast-tool/carbide-tipped-solid-surface-bits/face-inlay-bits/

More choices of sizes and depths of cut.  And you can order, say a 1/8" deep cut bit and then just order the bearing for a different depth of cut.  $33 or so for the bit, $4 for the bearing and $11 shipping - not too bad.  Made by Southeast tool. Sold by Carbide processors.  Now to find out how well they work on wood.

[Hammer5573]

Ronn, 

Is it possible that the entire edge of the table in the example is a veneer with the banding incorporated into it...?

[Mark J]

That does seem like it would be simpler.   

[Ronn W]

I got the banding into the table top edge.  I used a router bit and from Southest tool mentioned above ana a bearing that gave a 1/6" deep cut.  Since my banding is 3/32" thick I glued and strip of commercial 1/42" veneer into the dado and , immediately glued the banding on top of that.  Using cauls I clamped both into the dado in the edge fo the table top.  It worked really well with the surface of the banding  just barely proud of the wood surface by  1/16' - 1/42" - 3/32" = Not very much.

[Ronn W]

The top is supported by being notched into the legs so, just to make things more complicated, the next step is to dry fit the bench together, scribe lines around the legs and chisel out dados in the legs so that the banding will also wrap around the legs.

[difalkner]

Just now seeing this topic but what I use for the binding/purfling on acoustic guitars and the media stand I just built is this set from Stewart MacDonald - https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/routers-and-bits/bits/binding-router-bit-set/

[wtnhighlander]

@difalkner, what is that little brass collar used for? Spacer for bearings of different width?

[difalkner]

On 1/13/2023 at 2:06 PM, wtnhighlander said:

@difalkner, what is that little brass collar used for? Spacer for bearings of different width?

Yes sir, it's a spacer to go above or below the bearing.