I’m considering buying my first biscuit joiner. I never considered that there may be a minimum width of stock that is usable with this tool until I was reading the description of these special face frame biscuits (http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-5563-Joiner-Biscuits/dp/B0000222ZC/ref=acc_glance_tool_ai_-2_2_tit) where they said they could be used on stock as small as 1 ½â€. That’s very thick! Can a biscuit joiner really not be used on stock any thinner than that?
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I’m also considering splurging on a domino joiner. Anyone used one of these with ply wood? I wonder how well it woks joining into plys end grain…
Replies
I think they got their T & W mixed up, as in as narrow as 1.5" wide.
I've used biscuits on stock as thin as 5/8". concerns when it gets that thin is telegraphing through if you're staining but not an issue if painting.
Domino will work just fine on plywood, though it's better on 3/4 than 1/2
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Like John said, 1 1/2" wide stock. The "FF" biscuits use a 2" cutter not the 4" as for the 20s, 10s and Os etc. Smaller cutter means shorter biscuit slot (as in length) allowing to cut a slot in 1.5" wide stock's end grain without blowing out the exposed edges. The joiners are most user friendly for 3/4" thick stock but allow to go thinner if needed.
Sorry, this is going to sound like a typical Breaktime reply. You want to buy a biscuit joiner and I'm going to tell you to look into a Kreg jig.
Its cheaper, lots quicker, no clamping while glue drys, and if you plan it right, you can usually hide the pocket hole. The only advantage to a Biscuit machine is if it has to be invisible.
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What will you be joining? If visibility is an issue, go with the biscuit joiner. If it isn't, get a pocket joining system.
I build cabinets and furniture and have used everything from dowels to biscuits to pocket screws. My dowel jig has been collecting dust in the drawer for several years and - since I got the Kreg K3 pocket screw kit a couple of years ago - my biscuit joiner spends most of it's time on the shelf.
It used to take me a couple of hours to make a biscuited faceframe and I had to leave it in the clamps for several hours before I could put it on. Now, I can make the same faceframe with pocket screws in less than an hour and install it immediately after I drive the last screw.