I'm in the process of building a built in linen closet in my newly remodeled bathroom and I'm planning on making the face frame out of 1x2 maple with FF biscuit joints. I made a couple of 90 degree test joints out of scrap stock about 12" long (end grain to long grain) and had some problems. The first joint broke with little effort when I applied pressure from both ends in an inward fashion. Turns out I did not get enough glue on one half of the biscuit and it didn't grab at all. With no biscuit to hold the joint the end grain side peeled a thin layer of the long grain off as the joint broke. I Remade the joint after cutting and jointing the surfaces again and this time it held strong while applying inward pressure. I thought I had it right but upon light outward pressure the joint split right apart again, this time taking a chunk out of the long grain side that encompassed the entire biscuit so the biscuit and surrounding wood were still fastened securely to the end grain side. I'm a little shocked at how easy this wood broke and I wondered if I'm expecting too much out of this type of joint. The pressure applied was by hand only and I'm no muscle bound weight lifter so I would not expect this to break like this even with a straight glue up and no biscuit. BTW, Titebond lll is the glue and it was clamped over night.
- posted
19 years ago