A biscuit joiner is tool used to permanently join two pieces of wood together. It has a spring-loaded blade that cuts a small receiving slot into corresponding pieces of wood. After the slots are cut, a football-shaped biscuit is inserted into the slots with glue and clamped to permanently bond the wooden pieces. Biscuit joints are popular in woodworking because they are hidden, they align the joint and use real wood as a gluing component.
First of all:Biscuit Joiner Safety
The biscuit joiner is a single-use tool that safely performs its task with precision and ease. Also known as a plate joiner, the tool is used to cut slots in the edge or faces of two pieces of wood that are to be joined together. Since the blade is housed inside of the tool body and then buried in the work piece, the tool is one of the safest power tools in the woodworker’s shop.
Make the Cuts
1
Align the wood boards together in the way that they will be secured by the joint.
2
Draw a ‘V’ across the top of both boards where the joint will be cut.
3
Use the ‘V’ to measure exactly where the biscuit joiner will cut. Mark both boards in the exact same spot on the top of the board. This will ensure you get a precise cut on both boards.
4
Set the depth on the biscuit joiner to the number 10 wood biscuit size.
5
Align the biscuit joiner with the cut marks and make the cuts on both pieces of wood.
Glue the Joint
1
Apply wood glue to all the slots cut by the biscuit joiner. Make sure the whole slot is covered in glue.
2
Insert the number 10 wood biscuits into only one of the joint sides. Wipe off any excess glue that comes out of the slots.
3
Complete the joint, by fitting the board that does not have the biscuits, into the other board that does have the biscuits.
4
Wipe off any excess glue that comes out of the slots.
5
Clamp the joint until the glue is dry. Read the wood glue manufacture label for drying times.
6
Remove the clamps and the joint is complete.