Q: I would like to try biscuit joinery but I do not own a biscuit joiner. You can alter the slot depth to accommodate No. 0, No. 10 and No. 20 biscuits by using different router bits or by changing bearings. To cut a biscuit slot with a router, you generally need to make the initial plunge cut and then move the router approximately 1/2 in.
So you need to cut a few biscuit grooves but don’t own a biscuit joiner – No problem, cutting the grooves with your router and a slot-cutter bit is easy. If you can’t afford a $200 or so biscuit joiner, then a router and a $40 biscuit joining router bit set is a real money saver, assuming you already own a router. Grooves cut using a router setup do not match the shape of a biscuit as well as grooves cut using a biscuit joiner.
biscuit joiner router attachment Related Question:
Can I use my router as a biscuit joiner?
If you want to make biscuit joints, you don’t have to buy a biscuit joiner. In most cases, a router equipped with a 5/32-in. slot bit can cut perfect slots to fit the biscuits. Mark the biscuit positions on both adjoining boards as you would with a biscuit joiner.
What can I use if I don’t have a biscuit joiner?
Some tests suggest a dowel joint will provide stronger joinery than biscuits. Tests also indicate that dowel joints are not as strong as tenon joints or dovetail joints. They do make solid and accurate joints, though. A dowel joint will be a better method than nails or screws and are much less susceptible to breakage.
Are biscuit joiners worth it?
Biscuits joints serve best as a quick and easy way to keep glue-up parts in alignment, and that they add appreciable pull-apart to strength joints that would be otherwise too weak to stand on their own – like butt joints and miter joints.