Workshop

Edge-banding iron temperature by material

21 August 2026 · 3 min · Workshop team

A bench-tested cheat sheet for iron-on edge banding. We've tested every combination our customers ask about — PVC, ABS, melamine, real-veneer — at every plausible temperature. Three minutes saved per edge adds up across a kitchen.

Iron-on edge banding with pre-applied hot-melt adhesive works best when the iron is hot enough to fully melt the glue but not so hot that it scorches the face. The exact temperature depends on the banding material:

PVC (0.4–0.8mm): 160–170°C. Too cool and the glue stays granular; too hot and the PVC sheen dulls.
ABS (0.8–2.0mm): 170–180°C. ABS needs slightly more heat than PVC to reach the same adhesive bond.
Melamine (0.4mm): 150–160°C. Melamine is thin and scorches easily. Stay at the lower end.
Real-veneer (0.6mm): 140–150°C. The veneer face burns before the adhesive activates. Use a press cloth.

Workshop technique:

Pre-cut the banding 10mm oversize on each end.
Run the iron at a steady walking pace — about 200mm per second. Faster and the glue doesn't reach bond temperature; slower and the face marks.
Wait 30 seconds before trimming. The glue needs to cool below 80°C to reach handling strength.
Trim with a sharp edge-trimmer, not a chisel. Burnish the edge with a hardwood block.

What we stock: PVC, ABS, melamine, and real-veneer edge banding in 22mm, 33mm, and 45mm widths. 100m rolls (PVC/ABS) and 50m rolls (veneer/melamine). Application service available at our Riyadh yard.

Need banding applied to cut panels? Send the cut list and we'll deliver edged panels ready to assemble.