Thread: why use a biscuit joiner

Ive used my biscuit joiner/domino on panel glue ups not necessarily for strength, but for alignment. Because your registering off the same face, this makes alligmemt very accurate.

Andy

You are correct in your comment that glue holds your edge joining very well in fact there would be many that say a well glued joint with good glue is stronger that the wood itself.
Biscuits help to keep all in line when long boards are being joined it is a bit difficult to try and clamp away from the edges if your boards are not true.
For other joints it allows for dry assembly to check all sizes etc.
Have had a biscuit joiner for many years and paid a lot for it when the cheap tools where not available good money spent.

When edge joining as the others have said it is more for alignment than strength.
It can also be used as a substitute to M&T joints but not quite as strong as the real thing so be aware of that. There is plenty of info around on line about how to get the best out of one. From memory my cheap one came with some how to instructions in the packageing
It is a handy machine.
Regards
John

Alignment? Strength is the main reason I use mine. The 45° joins in door frames mostly. The biscuits are beech and they swell when they come into contact with the wood glue. They aid the chemical join by providing a mechanical one and this is good on cabinet doors because it transfers the closing stess over the whole frame.

I wouldn't want to be without one.

I use my biscuit joiner as others do - it is claimed that it may not be as strong as other methods but I don't find any problems with it - providing as Damien says - that you use the correct biscuits - also keep the biscuits in an airtight container as they will absorb moisture and swell - making a poor fit.

When making joins also ensure that there is "enough meat" between the biscuit and the surface - this usually is only a problem if you double up the biscuits on thicker material. IMHO you still get what you pay for with these machines - pick a recognised brand and avoid those attachments which fit to a grinder and claim to do as good a job as a quality machine - there may be some around but I haven't come across them.

G'Day "old_picker",
Thanks for asking the question.
You have received a great resource from the Woodwoork Forum "Knowledge Bank".
Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day "old_picker",
Thanks for asking the question.
You have received a great resource from the Woodwoork Forum "Knowledge Bank".
Cheers, crowie

And one day he might even respond!