Table and Counter Metal Banding Installation

Metal Table Edging : Metal Banding, Counter, Bar Top

Table and Counter Metal Edging Installation Instructions

This heavy gauge, polished aluminum banding is custom made for us with the same molds used in the 40’s and 50’s. The manufacturing process creates minor flaws/scratches that are mostly removed in the commercial polishing process. To keep the surface bright and shiny, and to reduce the chance of scratching, the banding is anodized. Spills can be cleaned with mild soap and water. We strongly urge you to avoid harsh cleaning agents, especially abrasive cleansers. Ammonia cleaners (Windex) can pit aluminum.

Installing this banding is easy, yet requires special skill. A groove must be cut into the edge of your material using a router equipped with a 1/16th slot cutting assembly, strictly following the tool company’s guidelines for use.

Slot Cutter:

The router must be set at the precise height so that the top of the banding will match the top of the material being banded. Follow your router’s directions. Once the slot is cut, the barbed tee of the banding is eased into the slot with the aid of a soft mallet, using as little force as necessary. Sharp corners (less than 4” radius) may require the removal of some of the barbed tee. At the ends of the banding, and at other stress points, fine brads can be used to trap the banding by pre-drilling a hole through the underside of the material and through the barbed tee of the banding and then nailing the brad through the hole.

Some materials may not hold the tee sufficiently. We do not use medium density fiber board or light weight commercial particle board for this reason.

Bending Tee-Banding Around Corners

If the radius is more than 3 inches, the banding can be carefully applied as is. If the Tee is 3/8” from the top, then the application may cause the substrate to split upwards around a corner. With this banding, some of the Tee will need to be removed. Even with banding that has the tee > ½” below the top, some of the Tee will have to be removed for tight radii. The tighter the radius, the more tee needs to be removed. We use a hand held grinder to curve a notch into the tee. (one notch per corner. For a 2” corner, the notch may be 3” long.) Do not remove the tee completely at any spot. If the notch is curved, the banding goes around the corner smoothly.

Curved notches spread the force along the length of the notch, decreasing the chance of kinking. “A” illustrates a shallow curve, and “B” a sharp corner (perhaps a ¼” radius).

Cutting an angle out of the tee can result in kinking at the point of the angle.

Visit Our Showroom In Charles Town WV

Our 4,000 square foot retail store offers a first hand look at our custom Retro Furniture and Vintage Machines. We try to keep a bit of everything on our showroom floor, including Custom Bars, Retro Leaf Tables, Diner Tables, Kitchen Tables, Barstools, Chairs, and Diner Booths. We also offer our Class A restored Vintage Vending Machines including Soda Machines, Coke Machines, Candy Machines, Juke Boxes, CD Juke Boxes, Soda Chests, Gas Pumps, Kiddie Rides, and Video Games. Our showroom is located in Historic Charles Town, West Virginia, only one hour from Washington, DC or Baltimore. We are open to the public Monday thru Friday from 9 am till 6 pm. We are open on Saturday and Sunday by appointment only. Click here for driving directions!