Thread: biscuits home made ??

The trick with biscuits is to buy in bulk. Buy a box of 1000. The last box cost me around $45

As I understand it the biscuits are made from timber that is supposed to swell when the glue is applied. This locks the biscuit in the slot.
I would go with Mat and buy them bulk but make sure you keep them in an airtight container.

I go with the other guy’s on this and recommend purchasing biscuits in bulk and storing them in an air tight container.

But for sake of the discussion, woodworking biscuits are made from a dry compressed hard wood which will once in contact with PVA glue (other glues are apparently not recommended) absorb water and expand to fill the available space and in theory at least produce a strong straight join.

I read somewhere that the original timber used was beech but several other timbers have and are used as effective alternatives.

When caught short of biscuits and in a rush I’ve compressed small shaped pieces of microwave dried pine in the vice and have had no bad results, but to do that on mass would be mind numbing.

The force required to press such a small piece of timber is not large; I’m sure though that when made commercially they would be made in large sheets which would require a big press.

Cheers


Dave

Biscuits are made from compressed beech that swells with the moisture of the glue or timber making it a very strong joint.
Best to store them in an tight box with a packet of silica gel to absorb moisture as they take up water from the atmosphere.

If you do make your own biscuits ensure the grain runs at 45 deg to the long edge otherwise they will have no strength.
You can also make biscuits out of 4mm ply but it probably works out more expensive than buying biscuits.

Thanks all for your speedy response. I have some ultra light almost balsa like timber from some asian (tropical) packing cases. Virtually no knots and easy to work. I think I am handy enough to make a biscuit cutter so I might give it a go at 45deg .
Garry, Frankston

Off topic a bit, but:
To anyone living in the wet tropics considering buying biscuits in bulk, Don't! Unless you have a drying cabinet to store them in they will swell up. An air tight container with silica gel might work if you are prepared to invest in something truly airtight and change the gel (dry it out in an oven) every time you open the container. A few years ago when before I had a drying cabinet and we had a really good wet I lost the better part of 1000 biscuits as well as all my abrasives due to high humidity levels.

Mick

Hmmmm. Not Paradise all the time eh Mick?

The joys of living in Paradise Mick?

Bugger. Hambly just beat me.

The price of biscuits varies considerably, with no appreciable difference in how well they work. Keep an eye out for 'no name' brands.

I'm surprised to see you use a vulgar word after the times you've edited my posts for less:confused:
just asking.
cheers
Jim

John & ,
if you're a mushroom, mould spore, frog, duck etc. etc. wet season is just great, if you're a chippy trying to make a living it can be a bit.... well, trying. And if your workshop is under your house, on a crusher dust floor, with a retaining wall that some @#!% owner builder didn't waterproof then things get trying indeed. In my own place now with a snug dry workshop and a drying cabinet so much less trying, but regardless of all the cons, there's just so many pros that I can't imagine living elsewhere.

Mick(in his bit of paradise )

Yep, know what you mean Mick. I lived in Kuranda in the early 70's with the Vievers for a while.

When we were up there a few months ago I tried to find your place but didn't unfortunately.