Edgebanders: Maintaining Your Glue Pot
If you own an edgebander, then you already know that maintaining the glue pot on your machine can be a challenging task. The glue pot is the heart of the edgebander. If the glue pot is not functioning at 100%,then neither is your machine. Through the years, we have developed a list of the most common problems that our customers have with this station and what to do about them.
Today, we will share this list with you in the form of helpful hints for maintaining your glue pot.
Tip #1: Clean up glue spills right away!
You’ve heard it before, right? Chances are you will hear it again. The root cause of many problems with the glue station is in the lack of promptly cleaning up the small spills. 
We’ve seen this many times. If some glue is spilled, it should be cleaned up by the end of your shift at the latest. If a spill doesn’t get cleaned up promptly, it will never get taken care of at all. Over time, many small spills add up to a large headache. Yes, it takes time away from production, but always remember that preventative maintenance is always better than corrective maintenance!
Tip #2: Proper lubrication is critical!
Proper lubrication is extremely important to the long-term life of your glue pot. You would be surprised at how many times we see people doing it incorrectly. The first issue is to make sure that you are using the proper lubricant. Glue pots typically require a specially formulated grease that is designed to withstand the extreme heat in the glue pot’s bearings. The second issue is to ensure that you are performing the lubrication at the correct frequency (i.e. every 8 hours, etc…) The ONLY way to be sure is to consult your machine manual. The final issue with lubrication is to make sure you are injecting the correct amount of grease every time you perform this maintenance item. If a special grease gun came with your machine, use it!
Tip #3: Keep the glue pot clean!
You’ve heard this one before also, right? To maintain your glue pot at 100%, it is necessary to perform a full-blown cleaning on a regular basis. You will want to take the glue pot out of the machine, put it on the bench and remove every spec of glue from the inside and outside of the pot. Your machine’s manual will tell you the correct frequency to do this and it will also vary depending upon you production schedule. If you have the means to easily do so, we recommend removing the glue from the inside of the pot every week or so. When you need a thorough, professional cleaning, contact Stiles.
Tip #4: Watch your temperature!
This is a big one. First of all, you should always make sure that you are operating your glue pot in the temperature range specified on the glue’s specification sheet. Never seen a spec sheet? No idea what we are talking about? You’re not alone. Each shipment of glue your company receives will be accompanied by a “spec sheet.” Find yours and keep it near the edgebander for future reference. Our next suggestion is that you never let the machine sit idle with the glue pot at operating temperature for any longer than 15 minutes. If you do, you will rapidly build up a layer of burnt, oxidized glue on the inner walls of the glue pot. This can lead to problems withyour glue bond strength and de-lamination. Our advice is to reduce the temperature of your glue pot by about 30 degrees C if the machine will be idle for any longer than 15 minutes. When you are ready to run production again, it will only take a few minutes to heat the glue pot back to operating temperature. Lastly, we recommend that you check the accuracy of your temperature controller periodically.
Depending on the condition of your glue pot and the age of the machine, it is possible that the application temperature (the temperature at the glue roller) can be very different than the temperature indicated on your temperature controller. The easiest way to check this is with an Infrared Pyrometer. You can pick one of these units at your local Radio Shack for as little as $50. We recommend them because they are typically very accurate and you don’t have to get close to the glue to get a reading. You simply aim the red dot at the glue roller and the temperature will display. If the temperature at the glue roller is greater than 10 degrees C different than the indicated temperature, contact your machine vendor’s service department.
Tip #5: Check your float!
“Float” is the deflection of the glue pot as a part contacts it. Float is necessary to ensure the proper tracing of the workpiece. However, if you have too much or too little float, it can cause problems in your glue line. The most accurate way to check your float is with a dial indicator.
We hope that you find these suggestions useful in maintaining your glue pot. In addition to these hints, be sure that you operate and maintain your glue pot in accordance with your machine’s technical manual. A properly maintained glue pot can last for a very long time.
Want to learn more?
Stiles Education offers maintenance courses for Brandt edgebanders and also for Homag that address these techniques in-depth along with other preventative maintenance practices.