Thread: biscuit jointer or doweling jig

There have been a lot of posts on this topic recently and a search of the forum will give you heaps of information and opinions.

What to buys depends on
a) How much you have to spend
b) The amount of work it will be required to perform

The best of the biscuit joiners sell for around $450 - $500. For that you will get a really good, top of the line Porta Cable, Makita or Dewalt biscuit joiner. If you work in a proffessional environment where they will get used extensively maybe you could justify the cost. The Porta Cable joiner has a few features not available on the cheaper models.

Of the cheaper ones for around $150 -$180 you can buy a GMC biscuit joiner and chances are that it will do all that a weekend warrior will require of it.

Where you can save some money is by purchasing your biscuits in bulk, by the thousand. You will pay around $7 or so for 50 Harron biscuits at a hardware store. Or you can purchase 1000 for around $40 from carbatec,timbecon and a few other suppliers. I assume that you are in Australia. If not then you will be able to find similar deals where you live. The point is that it cheaper by far to purchase them in bulk.


I find that a biscuit joiner is a very useful tool, which makes quick, strong joints very easily. You will not regret getting one.

One last thing. They will throw wood dust and wood chips all over you and your workshop when you use one. A vacumm hose attached to the outlet, in place of the dust collection bag makes a big difference.

thanks chook it sounds if i have to work on the wife to open the purse springs

gidday Farm Boy

Heres some recent threads that give some great information on Biscuits Vs Dowells:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=13159
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=5104

Personally I prefer Dowells but as you'll soon discover its generally horses for courses. The quality of what you do depending on how much time and effort (Supported by a good set a tools) and energy you want to put into any given project.

For me I prefer the pre glueup mechanical strength dowels provide n when accurately marked out the way dowls help to accurately line up a join. But...........thats just me. Regardless; the use of Dowells in joinery has been a proven method of creating solid reliable joinery.

I've presently got my eye on 2 Dowelling Jigs that I'm going to be purchasing as soon as I've got enough coin to throw around and have purchased a few other tools for myworkshop:

http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/dowelmax.htm
http://www.ozziejigs.com.au/

Anywaz thats my 2c worth............................

Regards Lou

Originally Posted by Farm boy

thanks chook it sounds if i have to work on the wife to open the purse springs

There are a few skills that every wood worker needs and I list them here in order of importance.

1. Measuring and marking out accurately
2. Using a hand saw to cut to the waste side of a line
3. Using a chisel to chisel accurately to a line.
4. Finding apparently reasonable excuses that will satisfy the wife that the tool you are thinking about is absolutely necessary for life. That the excuse is entirely ridiculous does not matter so long as it sounds impressive
5. Training up friends and family in the art of purchasing useful tools for birthdays and christmas. The friends and family need not understand the use of the tool just so long as it is one that you need or want (they are not the same thing) and is a quality item.
6. Using machinery safely and well.

1, 2 and 3 must come first. Unless you can persuade those around you that it is not dangerous to let you out of sight around sharp objects then there is no chance of 4 and 5 taking effect. Of course 4 and 5 preceed 6. Until you master 4 and 5 you have little chance of having any toys to play with safely at all.

The difficult skills of training up those around you deserves a thread of its own.

I am very fortunate in that my family were very easy to train up.

biscuits

Chook,


I skipped skills 2 and 3 and used my inability to do skill 2 as the reason for needing more and better power saws. And I still use that reason although since then I have learnt to use them.

I also did not need to train my wife as I was already well on the tool collection road and had the first part of my workshop built when I met her.

But it helps to keep them trained if regularly you produce items that you have made.


Peter.

Originally Posted by NewLou

I've presently got my eye on 2 Dowelling Jigs that I'm going to be purchasing as soon as I've got enough coin to throw around and have purchased a few other tools for myworkshop:

Lou,

Also have a look at the GMC dowelling machine. It is similar to a biscuit jointer but drills either one or two holes at the same time. It comes with drill bits for three different sizes of dowells.

To use you mark the top of the timber same as for biscuits, set the machine for the dephts and height of the dowell hole, again the same as for biscuits, and drill your holes. Accurate and much simpler than dowel jigs.

Peter.

I've got the GMC dowelling maxchine and it's accuracy is no problem. I made my wortkbench top with it and put about 15 dowells in each section. If it wasn't accurate, it would never have lined up but it did and was brilliant. It was also easy to do. I also have the Triton biscuit joiner and I must admit, it's great to be able to have a bit of 'play' in the lineal movement. If i had to choose, i think I'd go for biscuits. But as Peter said, the GMC doweller is well worth the money. I got mine on eBay, so maybe have a look there too.

thanks guys

the bigest fan of my shoping expeditions to hardware stores is my 3 1/2 year old daughter.
i will check out bunnings,gasweld and mitre 10 with my daughter while she who must be obeyed goes to the end of year sales tommorow

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Chook,


I skipped skills 2 and 3 and used my inability to do skill 2 as the reason for needing more and better power saws. And I still use that reason although since then I have learnt to use them.

I also did not need to train my wife as I was already well on the tool collection road and had the first part of my workshop built when I met her.

But it helps to keep them trained if regularly you produce items that you have made.


Peter.

When I met my wife she had no idea about which end of a hammer that you held. But after 25 years of marriage this christmas was a landmark year, a real occassion to mark and remember in old age. This year she asked me to buy and was excited to receive a set of rudimentary tools that she could call her own.

Originally Posted by chook

When I met my wife she had no idea about which end of a hammer that you held. But after 25 years of marriage this christmas was a landmark year, a real occassion to mark and remember in old age. This year she asked me to buy and was excited to receive a set of rudimentary tools that she could call her own.

Dunno bout that strategy Chook.
She might claim your shed as HER SHED
If she does you gunna take up cross stitch??