Biscuits used to join pieces of wood are oval-shaped, thin, dried, and compressed bits of wood or wood shavings, often made with beech wood. A tool known as a biscuit joiner cuts a slot into each of the two pieces of wood to be joined, adds glue to the slots, inserts the biscuit into one and then the other to join the pieces together. The biscuit joiner aligns the slots precisely so that when the two pieces of wood are clamped together, the edges align perfectly, and the wood’s plane is maintained.
I’m trying to make a jewelry box for my girlfriend and the plans I’m using call for screws but I’d like to do it without screws. Worst comes to worst I’ll use dowels instead, but I’d like to try using biscuits. Edit: Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I’m going to go with dowels and buying a jig kit so I don’t drill it poorly.
In this article, we are going to learn how to make biscuit joints without a jointer. The first way to make biscuit joints without a biscuit joiner is by using a router. As you can see there are some ways to make biscuit joints without a jointer.
The cool thing about biscuit joinery is that the biscuit is made from compressed wood. Biscuit joinery may not be for the DIYer who’s just building one cabinet, but if you have a lot of cabinets in your future, a biscuit joiner is a great tool to own. The Family Handyman editor, Ken Collier, shows you how to glue and clamp biscuit joints for a strong and nearly invisible joint.
how to make a biscuit joint without a biscuit joiner Related Question:
What can I use instead of 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.
Can you use a router to make biscuit joints?
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.