Woodworking & Carpentry

Is a biscuit joiner the best way to go?

I’m wanting to start up woodworking and have been researching different ways to make corner joints for things like night stands and desks. Some joints that I have found are dovetail using a router (which I have), finger joints, and miter joints. I keep reading about biscuit joiners and they look neat and promising. Is it worth the investment? Is it something I would use for most joints or is it a specialty project item?

A biscuit jointer is a good way to make a hidden glue joint in solid wood. I prefer a biscuit as a fastener over using 3 or 4 dowels, in a hobby type setting. For commercial production though, I’m more likely to use a multi-spindle boring machine, and fluted dowels – its faster. A biscuit does not necessarily make for a stronger glue joint, than using the appropriate quantity of fluted dowels, or some other jointery technique.

There are some cases where you do NOT want to use a biscuit, such as in the edge of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). MDF can split when a biscuit is used along the edge of a panel, because the biscuit swells as the glue dries.

I’d wait to purchase a biscuit machine itself, and instead, get a slotting bit for the router. In fact, you can get an attachment for the router base, that makes it behave like a biscuit jointer. When you find you are using the ‘biscuit bit’ in the router repeatedly – THEN go out and buy a biscuit jointer, until then, save your money.

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