Trimming edge banding/not marring finish

[Rwe2156]

I'm doing some edge banding on prefinished ply. I've always had trouble accomplishing this without skimming a little of the finish. I do a quick pass with aerosol poly and it's all ok.

I use one of those double sided cutters, followed by 150 on a block. No matter how careful I am, flushing up always leaves some small areas of finish on the ply that's been scuffed.

I'm wondering if anyone has any tricks. I thought about a block plane, but it's just too risky.

 

[Whitfield]

Before I went over to using thicker hardwood banding, I would "saw" the edge-banding flush with the edge of a flat file. Held at angle away from the face of the plywood, the technique left the plywood face pretty pristine.

 

[Bill Clemmons]

You mentioned a block plane, but have you ever used a "finger plane"? They're much smaller and more manageable. I've used them for exactly what you're describing.

 

[Rwe2156]

Before I went over to using thicker hardwood banding, I would "saw" the edge-banding flush with the edge of a flat file. Held at angle away from the face of the plywood, the technique left the plywood face pretty pristine.

You know, I usually use a file. I’ll give that a try.

You mentioned a block plane, but have you ever used a "finger plane"? They're much smaller and more manageable. I've used them for exactly what you're describing.

I have a small LN block plane as well as a bullnose. I’m just scare it tear out this particular roll of banding has some squirrelly grain that why I went to sanding.

 

[Howie]

Razor blade tapped into a small poplar rectangular block at 45 degrees .

 

[Rwe2156]

Went back to the file