OPERATION
BUTT JOINTS
See Figure 9.
A butt joint is one of the weakest joints in woodworking. This type of joint is mating the end grain of one board with the edge grain of another. The bonding of glue on this type of surface is poor. However, by using biscuits you can create a very strong joint that gives a
HOW TO MAKE BUTT JOINTS
■Unplug your detail biscuit joiner.
■Place the two pieces of wood to be joined on a level workbench. Align them against each other in the arrangement in which they will be assembled.
■Using a square, determine the location of each biscuit spline joint and mark the center of each joint by drawing a line across the edges of the two boards.
■Set fence angle at 90°.
■Loosen height adjustment knobs, then pull and slide the fence up or down until the indicator point is aligned with the desired dimension on the scale. REMEMBER: The scale indicates the height of the fence from the center of the blade.
■Tighten height adjustment knobs securely.
■Select the correct depth of cut setting to match the biscuit size you are planning to use. We suggest that you make a test cut in a scrap piece of wood from the same workpiece if possible.
■Clamp workpiece securely so that it will not move during the cut.
■Plug your biscuit joiner into power supply and prepare to make your first cut. Grasp and hold your biscuit joiner securely with both hands.
■Place the fence against the board and align the indicator marks on the fence with the centerline mark(s) on the board.
■Depress the switch trigger and let the motor build to its maximum speed, then gradually push biscuit joiner forward to extend the blade into the wood.
■When the base assembly bottoms out against the depth of cut adjustment knob setting, pull back releasing pressure on the spring. Blade will retract from biscuit slot.
■Repeat this procedure for cutting the slot in the mating workpiece.
■Once all biscuit slots have been cut, place a biscuit in each joint and dry assemble the workpieces. Make sure each joint lines up and fits.
■Finally, disassemble the workpieces and place a bead of glue in each slot. Also, spread a bead of glue over the entire surface of the joint. Reinsert the biscuits and assemble the workpieces. See Figure 9.
■Clamp workpieces together until the glue sets up.
BISCUIT
BISCUIT(S)SLOT(S)
CENTERLINE
MARK(S)
MULTIPLE
BISCUITS STACKED
BUTT JOINTS | Fig. 9 |
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OFFSET BUTT JOINT
BISCUIT
SLOT
BISCUIT
CENTERLINE |
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MARK(S) | Fig. 10 |
OFFSET BUTT JOINTS
See Figure 10.
The rails of a table or workbench are often offset from the front of the table legs. When offsets are required, it is necessary to cut the slots in the rails first, then
Keeping this one exception in mind, the procedure for cutting offset butt joints is identical to the procedure for cutting butt joints.
For example — If a 1/4 in. offset is desired, you would mark the centerlines for cutting a butt joint as mentioned in the procedures for cutting butt joints, and cut the slots in the ends of the rails. Next you would raise the fence 1/4 in. to the desired offset and cut the slots in the legs.
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