Joe Lyddon

Harry, also known to swell enough to make little bumps where each biscuit is placed... getting sanded smooth... then, as they dry out, shrink leaving little indentations instead of bumps...

It's best to just leave them alone until they shrink down to a flat surface again...

The joint will not be any stronger or weaker as the result.

Yes, this point has been proven and discussed, it seems, for a long time.

Bottom line... good for alignment purposes, keeping the parts in the same place, while the glue dries.

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harrysin

Joe, I reckon that Ozzie timber and MDF must be stronger than what you have in the U.S. because I have never had a problem with bumps. Obviously I would not use an 1/8" biscuit in 1/4" material, most of my projects using biscuits were in 1/2" to 3/4" material. Perhaps it's a case of me doing things because I've never been told that they can't be done!

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Harry

challagan

Harry, if it works for you I would continue to do it I don't think the MDF is going to be a problem as far as wood movement etc. I do know that what Joe has referred to has turned out to be a problem some years down the road, in paticular on panel glue ups. Norm Abrams - New Yankee Workshop touted glue ups with biscuits for years on his projects but several years ago he discontinued that practice for the most part due to the depressions that became apparent some years down the road. Most often you will now see him square his lumber and just glue up the panels. He primarily uses biscuits for aligning face frames and moldings and stuff like that any more.

Corey

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harrysin

Thanks for that explanation Corey. I have only been using biscuits for about five and a half years so perhaps that's not quite long enough for the problem to surface but I shall certainly keep an eye out for it. I've been searching the various manufactures web sites over here to see if any of them produce one of those mini biscuit jointers but without any luck so far but I intend to keep looking.

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Harry

Bob

Corey,

The one thing that bothers me about this tool is that you mentioned having difficulty finding replacement blades for it. Are there none available?

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Cheers,
Bob

Pictures from the shop

http://s107.photobucket.com/albums/m292/bnoles616/

challagan

Hi Bob, just not sure on that. It was more of a part number and tr ying to find it on the craftsman site. Didn't have any luck.

Corey

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My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver
http://iowacarver.tripod.com/

My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503
http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/

bobj3

Just a note about BISCUITS

It's not the bump it's the dent after the glue sets up and drys out you will see the error.
It's hard to see without the light hitting the project just right like on a table top wiith high gloss...


Most woods will expand with water base glues and after you sand the projects down you will see the small recess in the wood but it's real hard to see because it's will not show up well for weeks after the glue up .
So I guess I'm say don't use water base glues with BISCUITS joints,hide glues work very well for this type of job, it sets up quick unlike some of the other types of non water base glues, note*** about hide glues, a clamp can be used to pull the stock together but you can remove them in 10 mins. or less and it's inside glue only.

Most Mfg. of cabinet,tables,chairs,etc. use hide glue in the dowel pins and joints because it has a fast setup time and will not deform or distort the stock or the joint.

just more info below

For the SMALL H9 BISCUITS and the Round number #11 BISCUITS, this router table setup works well also. note the very small slot cutter on the web page.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../biscuits.html

Just more useless info from Bj




Bj

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Bj

Joe Lyddon

Harry,

I've never had the problem either...

I guess those that have, had too much water in their glue!

... but, if it IS a problem, the biscuited areas should be allowed to return to their normal moisture content (shrink back down) before sanding & finishing.

challagan

I think unless your doing big panel glue ups it really shouldn't be a problem anyway. Large table tops etc. like Norm builds is where the depressions become evident and where they can be seen. For small panels I don't see the reason for them anyway, you can get perfectly flat panels if you have good square stock and nicely finished edges with clamps and cauls (sp?) and glue.

Corey

__________________
My Carving Website: The Iowa Woodcarver
http://iowacarver.tripod.com/

My Shop Website - Woodshop 51503
http://woodshop51503.tripod.com/

harrysin

Gentlemen, I think we are all agreed, in the normal course of things biscuits cause no problems and are fast and simple to use with no measuring required and after having used dowels for many years biscuits are a delight to use.

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Harry