Thread: Biscuit Joints

Mike

Biscuits can be used to join "planks" to make panels, to make a frame, or to join side corners.

Which did you have in mind?

Originally Posted by Mikepaus

I am building a blanket box (100 X 50 X 60) and intend doing the joins using #20 biscuits. Never having built anything using I wonder what distance apart I should put them. any assistance would be much appreciated.

Mike

Hi Mike,

Biscuits add no strength whatever, and are only really useful for board alignment, and then only somewhat. However, if the board edges are jointed (by machine or with a hand plane) and are set up grain-up/grain-down (do a search on Tage Frig or edge jointing in general), then with the judicious use of cauls and clamps, the biscuits become superflous...

Also, if you are intending to use biscuits to line-up butt joints, then I would, politely, suggest, that the box will look pretty ordinary as you will have long-grain abutting end-grain at each corner.

In any case, the blanket box would look much better if you used through dovetails, box joints or even locked mitres. It just depends on whether you want a useable box, or something to be proud of...

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

grain-up/grain-down

Steve this has probably been coverd in the past, but im not keen on grain up grain down cause you can get the waivy effect with movement. I like it all the same orentation with the same cut of timber as in qtr to qtr or flat sawn to flat sawn otherwise riges are likley to occur. on a table top i like the top if it was to cup to go up at the sides so when its fixed down its guaranteed to stay flat

Hi Redwood,

If the timber is quarter-sawn, then it's not much of an issue, but if, like most stock, it's through cut or crown cut, then the grain-up/down approach is precisely to avoid overall panel cupping, bowing.

However, I may bow to more superior knowledge here

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

Hi Redwood,


However, I may bow to more superior knowledge here

Cheers!

Pleeze no need to bow, if you feel the need just pop a cheque in the mail

when i said a ridge with qtr to flat sawn, i ment if movement is tangent with the grain they will move at opposite direction. the qtr sawn will be very slight in the thickness of the top but enough to be slightly vissible to the eye and touch if the timber isnt stable enough. i personly wouldnt take the chance because you do see tops where wat appears to be an opening is infact a slight ridge from that movement