Replies

1. 
   bobJackson | Sep 11, 2005 08:08pm | #1

   Hi dukeone  From your post im not sure what is wrong ( what is off line?) The biscuit jointer isnt too complex. When I place a biscuit between two pieces of wood i mark a line across the joint, like an alignment mark. then the center of the machine has a mark that is placed on the alignment mark. that keeps things aligned sideways. For vertical alignment you can use the adjustable fence or (depending on workpiece thickness ) fold the fence away and just place the machine flat on the bench,butt up to the work and plunge. Be careful of dust and chips that can throw you off. If using the fence be sure that the fence is flat on the work and that the adjustment lock is tight. Sometimes if using the fence on thinner material you need to overhang the edge of the bench so that the fence will lie flat. If you still have trouble explain and Ill try again.  Good luck  Bob

1. 
   dukeone | Sep 14, 2005 04:41am | #8

   Thanks All: I have been off line for a couple of days, so I haven't responded. I'll look into all you have said and see what is amiss. The stock is 1 1/2'' x 1 3/8'' and I think not keeping the machine straight up and down may be the culprit. As some of you have said this is a simple operation, even I should be able to do it. Will set up a bunch of scrap and play around, probably should have done that first (did it some) before using a new (to me) technique.

   Thanks, KDM

   Kenneth Duke MastersThe Bill of Rights December 15 1791NRA Endowment MemberLEAA Life MemberCRPA Member

   Edited 9/13/2005 9:49 pm ET by dukeone

2. 
   ring | Sep 11, 2005 08:15pm | #2

   KDM,

   Just to keep it simple for starters:

   - the fence should be open 90 deg.

   - you should be cutting both pieces from the outside of the joint.

   - you need to assure that the fence is tight with the wood surface and not impeded by the table or anything else.

   DR

3. 
   hammer1 | Sep 12, 2005 01:47am | #3

   What brand of biscuit jointer are you using? Sometimes the slotting cutter will force the cut to slide a bit sideways, if you don't have full control of the machine. Differences in distance from top to bottom can mean a number of things. Your depth for location isn't locked, you aren't getting the fence flat on the stock, your fence isn't locked or is out of square. Make sure the cutter is mounted correctly in the machine. Of course, you always want to cut from one face, not from both faces while trying to hit the center of the board. If you are joining in an L, with 1 1/2" stock, you can only get one biscuit in 3", unless you stack them. I don't understand what you mean by the slots running off as you go down the board. With some machines, the fence won't fit down flat if a 3/4" board is on a bench. This shouldn't be an issue with 1 1/2" stock. The machines are pretty simple, you just have to make sure that the fences fit tightly to the stock and don't move. When you push in for the cut, go easy, you can always make more than one plunge. It's also a big help to have the machine hooked up to a vacuum so the waste doesn't build up and affect your reference fit. Both the fences and the stock need to be clean when you set the machine on the board.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   jackiechan | Sep 12, 2005 05:30am | #4

   K',

   As someone mentioned in a previous post, a biscuit joiner can skate during a cut if the tool is not firmly registered against the wood stock.  This occurs in the same way a router would during a climbing cut. 

   When the correct size biscuit is used, it sits in the center of the slot with a little room left on either end.  If the cut is off by just a little bit, the biscuit is now sitting tightly against the end of the milled slot.  Because it has no where to go, and the other biscuits do, it will pull the whole joint out of alignment.

   Before making any cuts, lay both boards together in the way you want them attached, and draw small straight lines across both pieces to indicate where the slots and biscuits will go.  Make sure that the slots are cut while both pieces of wood are in the correct orientation - i.e. both face sides of the boards are facing the ceiling, etc... 

   Three things to check before any glue is applied: 1 - are the slots centered on the line you drew for positioning the tool.  2 - are the biscuits the correct size for the slot cut.  Dry fit one before applying any glue. 3 - Make sure that the biscuit is centered in the slot after the glue is applied.

   There is no problem if you have to re-cut a slot due to it being off the mark.  The slot will be slightly elongated but won't reduce the holding power of the biscuit.  If the strength of the oversized joint is a concern, cut a piece off of another biscuit to make up the difference, and lay it in with the whole one.  Just be sure it will fit and won't pull the joint out of line first!

   If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

   Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.

5. 
   wchips | Sep 12, 2005 06:18am | #5

   Hi Dukeone; I mark the stock i want to join on the back side,  2 lay it face side down on my shaper table witch is a flat machined surface, 3 lock the fence on the biscut cutter in the upright position, 4 hold the stock down with firm pressure then cut the biscut slot. perfect match every time, you could use a pece of smooth plywood if you do not have a machined surface large enough

                                   Have a nice day Lee.

6. 
   Dave45 | Sep 12, 2005 06:19am | #6

   Duke -

   Any chance that you're "tipping" the biscuit cutter on some of the cuts? If it tips even a little, the biscuit will be angled and that can cause the pieces to misalign.  (If you're guessing that I just might have some first hand experience with this, you're dead right. - lol)

7. 
   WillGeorge | Sep 12, 2005 07:42pm | #7

   First thing I would ask is did you surface ALL the wood to the same thickness??

   I NEVER use the biscuit cutter on the wood with the tool guide...

   I clamp the wood to my work bench.. Check that the right side is up/down for ALL the sticks..

   I cut with the tool flat on my work bench. (Yes, I have a good spot for that)..

   EDIT:: If you do that AND make sure all the outside parts are at the same reference ... as on the bench top... ALL will be well!

   
   

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   Edited 9/12/2005 12:45 pm ET by WillGeorge