Comments on: Quick Poll

By: Craig Andrews

Craig Andrews — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:34:05 +0000

Interesting . . . I’ve seen studies that say they are just as strong as M&T.

I’ve only built one piece with biscuit joints. It has been fine and I see a lot of advantages to biscuit joints. Currently I am focusing on other joints, but suspect I’ll do biscuit joints again.

By: Hafwit

Hafwit — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:57:58 +0000

The only thing I have ever used them for is to align two boards for edge glue-ups.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:51:54 +0000

Alas, it’s a quirk of the polling software.. I’ve seen some polls where no votes equals a negative percentage…. :-/

By: Frank Murray

Frank Murray — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:46:41 +0000

I note that opinion (They are terrible….) has got no votes yet registers as 1%.
Is there something amiss with your maths model sorry math (I am Australian)

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:45:47 +0000

Tough to beat for panel joints in box lids and thing that won’t have to stand a ton of stress.
Done just right, I can get them to look like one piece of wood with no seams.
Funny too, I have two biscuit joiners and I do better with the cheaper priced one!

Thanks Tom.

By: Torch02

Torch02 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:23:56 +0000

Isn’t this a case of misguided expectations? Do people actually expect those tiny wafers to be strong, or do they just get knocked because they aren’t? I’ve always thought of biscuits as being great for alignment and adding a little extra to what would otherwise just be a butt joint. In that role, they excel.

By: Dyami

Dyami — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:56:14 +0000

Tom,
I voted “Something Else . . .” I feel biscuits are fast, easy and usually strong enough. Not nearly as strong as a mortise and tenon, but a little stronger and much easier than a but joint.

I’ve used them extensively with MDF and special MDF conformat screws and they’ve been fantastic. While I can appreciate not using them in “Fine” woodworking, I think the relatively low cost of a biscuit jointer easily pays for itself, even if used for nothing more then alignment in panel glue up, shop furniture & jigs.