Close Mitered Banding Gaps, without Cutting a New Piece

Anyone who has tried to edge-band plywood, or fit molding or trim around an existing panel, has at one time or another cut a piece of banding too short – leaving a gap where a tight miter should be. Here's a handy fix that doesn't require going back to cut new pieces ... by "stretching" the too-short workpiece.

By removing material from the inside edge of each adjacent banding piece, you effectively "lengthen" your banding to close the gap. Remove a small amount with each pass, checking your progress as you go.

If your banding is wide enough to safely cut on a tablesaw, you can dial in repeatable cuts easily on that machine. But if the gap you're trying to close is a small one, try making a few passes with a hand plane.