Thread: Wonky biscuit joints

Have you got a digital camera? Pics of the slot's and of the biscuit joiner will make it much easier to diagnose.

Hope this makes some sense of it all.

The first pic show the gap between the fence and the cutting bit on the right.
The second shows a larger gap measured on the left.

Doesn't look like in the picture that the feeler gauges are actually under the cutter, but right behind it which would measure greater.

Just a oddity of the picture?

Originally Posted by knucklehead

Hope this makes some sense of it all.

The first pic show the gap between the fence and the cutting bit on the right.
The second shows a larger gap measured on the left.

That isn't right. In fact it is bloody useless. Take it back and get another. Don't let them fob you off sending it away for repair. It was no good to start with and of "non-merchantable quality", as defined in the Trade Practices Act. Watch them duck for cover when you use that magic phrase.

cut a slot, with the setting on size 20, or the largest slot it will cut. Then dock the timber right in the middle so it show's a cross-section of the slot, and take a pic and post it. Also, when checking with the feeler gauge's, make sure they are under the actual carbide tip's which do the cutting, however i dont think any difference's there would effect what I think, you are talking about.

The picture was just an attempt to show the different gap size from left to right. When I actually measured it I tok a a lot more care with the position of the feeler gauge.

Looking at it further I am sure that the cutter is tilted from front to back also. However I cann't find a referance point to measure it from.

If, like you say, that the cutter head is tilted from front to back, and the sliding mechanism is running straight and true, then the slot made will actually be much bigger than the required 4mm....................i think..............

I would have to agree matrix if the cutter was not at 90 deg then the slot would be widerand thge biscuit a very sloppy fit , the slot would also taper up from the bottom

If you are cutting slots at 88* then the fence is at 88*

Can the fence be adjusted , has the unit ever cut 90* biscuit slots, could the fence have been bumped dropped ?????


Rgds
Russell



Useless infomation for the day

Cockroaches break wind every 15 minutes.

Thanks for sticking it out while I stumble through some pretty terrible explainations.

The slot is uniform. Although I havn't measured the slot it is a snug fit for the biscuits.
The cutting head doesn't wobble it is just on an angle. Picture a compound mitre cut of say 88 degrees and 88 degress.
Yet another picture to make sure that you are confused.

See if you can take the blade off, like your changing it. Make sure it is setting all the way in the spindle, no burs, no metal shaving, not cocked off to one side. But if the balde is out of Skew, all it would do is make a wider cut like a wabbler dato blade.

How is the biscuits setting in the wood?



It is like the top left exp, and the fence is square, could the spike or the item that sticks out to keep the cutter from sliding left and right be out to far, making it rock up ??

Bottom Example. If you unit is molded in 2 parts, Top ( where motor is ) and bottom ( where cutting unit is ), make sure they are bolted together right and there are no miss modled or casting seams causing then to set funny. Other then that. get a new one

Is it out of warranty? If not take it back.
If yes then is it worth trying to align?? What brand of machine is it?
You could possibly shim between the motor housing and the fence/base housing.

It is about 2 years old but hasn't done much work. It is an "Archer" brand. http://svc010.bne011i.server-web.com....html?cache=no

I really need a biscuit joiner for my current project so I will probably have to buy another one. The old one will have to wait until I have move time.

I have been searching through old post to assist finding a new biscuit joiner. And came across this post.


http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...08&postcount=5

This pretty well describes my problem, except mine has been getting worse.

Take it to a power tool repair shop and ask if they can fix it and for how much