How to: Oak Plywood Edging

Plywood is a very handy building material but it does have an unsightly edge that shows the individual layers of veneer. Adding edging hides these layers and produces an appearance that can look similar to a solid piece of oak. The piece of wood added to the edge of the plywood is referred to as a “nose” and the installation process as “nosing.”

Things You'll Need

• Oak plywood
• 1-inch oak board
• Table saw
• Wood glue
• Pipe clamps

Instructions

1. Cut the plywood and edging to size, depending on the project. Cut the edging from 1-inch oak lumber, actually 3/4 inch thick, to the length of the edge to be covered. Rip the oak board lengthwise with a tablesaw, to 3/4 inch wide.

2. Apply a 1/8 inch diameter bead of wood glue to the entire edge of the plywood.

3. Press the wood edging into the glue on the edge of the plywood. Position the edging so the top of it is flush with the edge of the plywood. If the piece is a shelf, align the edging with the top edge of the plywood.

4. Apply clamps to hold the edging to the plywood component. Pipe clamps are commonly used in this application. Use the clamps to maintain compression between the edging and plywood piece.

5. Wipe any excess glue away from the seams with a damp cloth or rag. Keep the clamps in place for about 24 hours, or follow the glue manufacturer’s instructions.

References

• "The Family Handyman": How to Install Edging for Plywood
• Wood Grid: General Wood Information