In contrast to any ordinary plywood, Baltic birch plywood is more popular these days. This is for the
reason that it is reasonably priced and durable. In addition, it is known for its strength as well. It is a
piece of wood that you would be comfortable showing off to the guests at home as it is utilized to
make a wide variety of furniture pieces. However, unfinished birch plywood edges may feel rough
and unpleasant if not finished properly. But, how do you finish birch plywood edges?
To finish the edges of birch plywood edges, you will need to sand it well and then use super-blond or
blond de-waxed shellac. Sanding will smoothen the surface, and the de-waxed shellac will fill in any
imperfections without altering the plywood’s colour. You can also use adhesive veneer strips.
Birch plywood is commonly used in cabinetry because of its anesthetic appeal, light-weight, and
durable nature. It is a wonderful alternative for the ones who would like that high-end look on their
furniture without going for the exotic hardwoods. Therefore, you must know how to finish its edges
for that final smooth appearance. This blog explains different ways that can be used to finish the
birch plywood edges on your furniture pieces.
Baltic Birch plywood is excellent for household furniture, especially the ones that are in hidden spots
of the room. However, its downside is the rough, unfinished edges that can make it look
unappealing. Finishing the edges improves the outlook of the furniture and also protects it from
spills and other dirt.
You can clearly see the considerable difference between well-polished plywood edges and exposed
edges with no finishing done. If the edges are left exposed, they tend to get stained, react to
different weather conditions, and accumulate dirt.
With time, you will notice that the colour of the uncovered edges changes and does not resemble
the original colour of the plywood. To keep away from such, you can cover the edges and make sure
that they look appealing all the way.
Here is a step-by-step guide to finish birch plywood edges using strips of adhesive veneers
Before you start finishing the plywood edges, you must first mull over the finishing products you will
use and then choose the most appropriate ones. These products include wood glue, varnish, lacquer,
etc.
The same as other wood projects, birch plywood may require you to apply some varnish or lacquer
at the edges to conceal the open edges. So, you will have to mull over the kind of finish you would
like so that you can easily make a choice.
When choosing a suitable glue to use with the plywood, you should select one recommended for
plywood so that it can adhere correctly and allow other finishes to apply properly. If you use any
wood glue type, you risk having stains on your plywood or have other finishing products not
adhering properly when you apply them.
Once you have all that you need in one place, you can begin your finishing process. If you are unsure
of your choices, try them out on a waste piece before proceeding with the main furniture you want
to finish.
Applying finish on a rough surface will make it look even clumsier and unattractive. Therefore,
before you start applying any finish on the edges, make sure that you do a good sanding on it using
good sandpaper.
The best grit for the sandpaper you can use should range between 150 grit to 180 grit. Sand the
edges thoroughly along the wood grain so that you do not scar the plywood. In addition, you must
be careful about the amount of sanding you do so that you do not dig too deep into the plywood.
Keep in mind that the finish veneer layer of the plywood is relatively thin for too much sanding.
In addition, you can mull over using hand sandpaper or a vibratory sander rather than using a belt
sander. This is for the reason that a belt sander is designed to scoop deeper and remove more
material at once. Using it to smoothen the birch plywood edges will remove more material than you
intend to remove.
On the other hand, a vibratory sander or a hand sandpaper sand out the rough patches only, and
you can easily control it. You can use them to smoothen out the edges to your desired level and
achieve the feel you want.
Once you have smoothened out all the rough parts, you can now wipe the wood dust with a wet
piece of cloth and leave it to dry.
Step 3 – Prepare the veneer
One of the methods to finish birch plywood edges is to use a strip of adhesive veneer of the same
colour as the plywood. They are available in the market and come with a roll with glue already fixed
to it. The veneer strip covers the rough exposed area, giving it a uniform finish similar to the
plywood’s colour.
Most veneers have a width of ¾” so that they can go well with most plywood edge widths. Since
some plywood pieces can be less wide, some trimming or sanding may be required during fixing to
give a smooth finish.
The only preparation you will need to do is to trim the veneer to fit the size of the plywood’s edge.
So, place the veneer on edge along its length and trim it with an inch longer on one side. This longer
side acts as an allowance when fixing the veneer on the plywood edge.
Step 4 – Clamp the plywood in position
You will need to hold the plywood in position so that you can put the veneer properly. Clamp it on a
vise clamp or any other clamp that can hold it tightly and in an upright position. The upright position
will allow you to fix the veneer strip easily and correctly.
This step is essential because the plywood piece will not wobble or destabilize as you fix it. You only
need to fix the veneer correctly the first time so that you will not have more tedious finishing to do
after.
Step 5 – Fix the veneer on the plywood edge
When fixing the veneer, you can leave some of it about an inch overhanging on the side to allow you
some flexibility when fixing it. Most veneers are adhesive to the plywood and are easily fixed by
applying some heat to it using a household iron.
Before you start fixing the veneer, you can plug the iron into the socket for preheating. Adjust the
heat settings to the point indicated ‘cotton’ and leave it to heat. This heat limit is just enough to fix
the veneer without destroying it.
You can position the veneer on the polished birch plywood edges as the iron preheats, making sure
that it fits incorrectly. Then, use the iron to press onto the veneer to make sure that it adheres to the
plywood edges completely. The heat melts the glue on the glue on the veneer and helps it stick on
the edges properly.
Wait for the veneer to cool down first, and then use a sharp pair of scissors to trim the overhanging
veneer edges. A pair of scissors will be less vigorous on the veneer grains, unlike a blade that drags
back and forth on the veneer. Other tools you can use include a utility knife or a trimming tool
meant for this purpose.
Step 6 – Sand the edges for a smooth finish
As mentioned earlier, you can use hand sandpaper effectively to remove the rough parts without
damaging them. Make sure that you use sandpaper with fine grit for that smooth finish.
You will notice that some parts may require a little wood filling, especially on the corners where two
veneers are meeting. You can add a suitable wood filler for that.
