I want to do some buiscuitting, I can't decide whether to spend some money on a separate maachine or go with the cheaper option of buying a bit for my router.
What i've read so far suggests that it's hard to get good results using a router without a router table.
I thought i'd see what the experts in here think.
Cheers, Rick
The point about biscuiting is that it's quick and simple to do. This requires a biscuit jointer, not a router.
You also can't make T joints with a router, as the axial motor would be in the way.
It rather depends on what you want to join. If it's a simple bit of edge t= o edge joining as in kitchen worktops, a router cutter is fine (so long as = you don't change the plunge between a pair of cuts) and surprisingly easy t= o use. More complex tasks may well require the real deal.
I would just like to add, FFS why do I never check spelling before sending. HTF have I managed to spell biscuit wrong, twice and in two different ways?
The joy main benefit of biscuit joints is the ease and speed of placement. You get none of that with a router for this application. The whole exercise is just unsatisfactory with a hand held router. Even in a table, the cutter sets are not large enough to match the biscuit shape with a single cut.
So for this application (much as I love routers), biscuit jointer every time. (and get one with a decent fence that is properly square to the blade and stays that way)
Welcome to my world ;-)
Depending on what you want to join and if it is an expense issue, you might consider dowelling joints. All you need is a jig and a drill and some dowelling . (Round section wood). With carefull measuring you don't even need the jig. Many joints, you can drill both bits of wood simultaneously.
Cutting for biscuits with a router removes too much material in an area whe= re you really need it.=20
We use biscuit joints ( Blue Bosch. We tried and rejected two deWalt. Too i= naccurate )and dowel joints with a Mafell machine. The dowels usually win a= s they will hold their place in a glue up whilst one is applying pressure t= o the joint. Biscuits can be slid from side to side and dont hold as well b= efore clamping. Having said that the adjustability of the biscuit joint can= be a real bonus. Dowell joints need to be right from the get up and go. Th= e Mafell has excellent fences making accurate drilling a breeze.
Dowels are a pain though, as they require alignment in two axes. Biscuits = only need one, so they are _far_ quicker to install and build with. Even = if you need two-axis location for the completed structure, you do this with= two biscuits, and only have to position each one precisely in one axis.
Nothing wrong with dowels, but they solve a slightly different problem from biscuit joints. So its a case of pick which is appropriate for the task.
s only need one, so they are _far_ quicker to install and build with. Eve= n if you need two-axis location for the completed structure, you do this wi= th two biscuits, and only have to position each one precisely in one axis.
Yes but try building a box using only dowels. Dam thing wont stay together = till you get clamps on it. I'm not saying its impossible just that it invol= ves a lot more faffing about.With dowels it will practically hold itself to= gether even without glue. And as I said we use a Mafell dowel jointer which= is very accurate and has excellent fences.
+1
I have a cheap one and it is perfectly adequate.
Perhaps it has to be experienced how easy it is to set up and use a biscuit= jointer. You can literally take it out of the box, maybe adjust the height= stop since last use, and go.
I mainly use it for edge jointing solid timber boards when I need extra wid= th. Simply lay the two boards side-by-side as they will be joined, strike a= mark across in a few places (no measuring, doesn't have to be accurate), a= nd apply the jointer to the marks. Glue and clamp. The cut-outs are very fo= rgiving for minor adjustment.
Similarly easy to do stacked biscuits.
I guess as usual it comes down to "will you get enough use out of it?", and= maybe "do you just want one anyway?".
it really does take the buiscut, doesn't it? :)
Every one knows its bis-cut, from the french, cut twice....
...I'll get my coat...
Oh s*it, Its not funny. it IS from the french and it means twice cooked. As opposed to half-baked, one supposes.
I am often fitting and changing worktops in our office/workshop at work, there's no need to clamp them but it would be nice if I could have the joins level.
From reading the posts i'll probably keep an eye on ebay and try to get a decent one at a reasonable price.
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