George Vondriska

Using a Biscuit Joiner

George Vondriska
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Duration:   8  mins

Biscuit joiners are great for when you want to securely fasten a butt joint on your woodworking projects. George Vondriska teaches you how to use the biscuit joiner to attach a shelf at a 90-degree angle to the face of another board. A WoodWorkers Guild of America (WWGOA) original video.

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7 Responses to “Using a Biscuit Joiner”

  1. Terry Lacy

    What is the preferred biscuit size for 3/4" stock?

  2. Joe

    Confused . . . George marked the top of the shelf with left and right locations for the slots previously cut in the side and cut the shelf slots with the bottom of the shelf down. This keeps the registration distance correct, however the left and right slots only fit when the top of the shelf is installed down. (The shelf was flipped over at 7:36 and the slots were close enough to being equidistant to fit.) The shelf in the video must be installed bottom-up to precisely match the locations of the slots. IF the slots are equi-distant from the center, AND the shelf is 3/4" thick George's method will work. Recommend to mark the shelf for the slots with the bottom facing up, then transfer them to the top, and the shelf cuts made with the bottom down for the slots to locate AND register correctly. Cut a sample shelf using the demonstrated method with the Left side marked inward 3" from the edge and the Right side marked inward 2" from the edge to see the result if these words are confusing. Otherwise, a great video, George. this is an easy-to-miss step, especially under the pressure of performing for the camera.

  3. Carl

    You made registration marks on the shelf. But when you put the 2 pcs. together and flipped it over, now those marks were on the opposite sides of the way you marked them. Am I missing something?

  4. Jay

    I own the DeWalt biscuit jointer (BC). In order to make accurate cuts, the BC needs to be flat on the workbench, at least 4-5 inches from the edge and is best stabilized with 2 hands. The piece being cut needs to be clamped to the workbench within reach of the BC. Otherwise, the blade will tend to shove the workpiece away and laterally. Most clamps will not have the reach to accomplish this. You would need one of those deep throat clamps. Even so, the clamps tend to get in the way of the BC. When everything seems perfect, good alignment of the final joint is still difficult. Independent reviewers demonstrated that the biscuit-type joint was the weakest with the tongue-and-groove joint, my personal preference, being the strongest.

  5. WILLIAM

    is the depth of cut always the same , if so how deep is the slot?

  6. DR

    So, I get it that the tool places the blade 3/8" upward from plate edge which places the biscuit in the center of 3/4" plywood, but what if the shelf material was 1" or 1/2" plywood? How would you get buiscuit in the center of the shelf piece? I also have a similar looking Porter Cable joiner. Thanks!

  7. Sal Romero

    I really enjoy all this info. I took up carpentry when I retired and sure can use this expert advise thanks

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