Replies

1. 
   Midnight | Dec 02, 2003 01:40am | #1

   MW...

   I haven't read the article... but I'd guess that the screws are pitched to fit between the biscuits, not through them. Screwing into endgrain is pretty straight forward provided you drill the correct sized pilot hole to suit the screw size i.e I drill 2.5mm to pilot a #8 twin thread screw. 
   Personally, I have a prob with using this technique for building bookcases. By relying solely on a glue joint, buiscuited or otherwise, you're relying on the sheer resistance of the glue to carry the load. Granted, biscuits and / or screws will strengthen that, but only marginally; properly centred, you're using less than half the mechanical strength of the board.
   To date I've built 3 bookcases for the house, with another 5 in progress. For each shelf joint, I've rebated the shelves into the uprights, no biscuits, no screws, no probs; good tight rebates (cut with a router / jig)..... canna beat em...
   One other point. Over a long span, ply doesn't have good deflection resistance. Cover the exposed outer edge with a hardwood batton that extends down past the underside of the shelf. This will help greatly to stiffen it.

   Good Luck...... hope they turn out well.....

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   mwgarrison | Dec 02, 2003 04:23am | #2

   Thanks for the advice Mike. 

   I'm new to this, what do you mean by "rebated"?  Is that like set in via a dado in the side of the case?

   Meg

1. 
   Midnight | Dec 02, 2003 05:02am | #3

   yupp..... exactly right...

   I'm not allowed to use a dado cutter over this side of the pond.. hense the router. Either works... Rule is not to cut deeper than 1/3rd the material thickness. Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   scooter1 | Dec 03, 2003 03:58am | #4

   Mike, ya'all don't use Daddo cutters over in Merry Ole England, is that what you mean?

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

1. 
   Midnight | Dec 03, 2003 04:06am | #5

   Boris....

   'fraid so.. apparently table saws with an arbor large enough to handle a stack head cutter are illegal. Something to do with safety legislation.....

   go figure....Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

2. 
   scooter1 | Dec 03, 2003 04:15am | #6

   That leaves out molding heads, too I guess. Those are wonderfull finger eaters.

   I'd be tempted to buy an after market arbor from USA. But that would be cheating.

   I have been doing this for a couple decades now, and have only two accidents and still have all my body parts. Hmmmm.......learned something new today. Thanks, Mike.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

3. 
   Midnight | Dec 03, 2003 11:08pm | #7

   Boris..

   Aparently not.... spindle molders are permissable... though I haven't seen any up close and personal. Retro-fitting an arbour did cross my mind... trouble with fitting US spec is the arbour diamater; the range of pro spec blades here are aimed at machines fitted with a 30mm arbour. Finding decent 10" diameter blades on a 5/8" bore is a nightmare.

   Gotta love compatability....Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

4. 
   scooter1 | Dec 03, 2003 11:54pm | #8

   Well we are cooborating on the new YF 23 Fighter and on Iraq, maybe we can extend that level of cooperation with arbors, blades and dados. I'll ask Tony Blair. He could probably run for congress here and unseat several of our own.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

5. 
   Midnight | Dec 04, 2003 12:18am | #9

   LOL...........

   works for me Sir....... would save me a small fortune in router cutters..... As for the politics.... ummmmm....... best I don't go there....

   have a good one Boris...

   ;)

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

6. 
   b1gcountry | Dec 04, 2003 01:57am | #10

   YF-23 Fighter? That's the Black Widow. You sure about that? They are corroborating on the JSF, but that's the X-35; now the F-35. You know something I don't?

   Tom

7. 
   scooter1 | Dec 04, 2003 02:46am | #11

   Ah, the F-35 thats what I mean.

   You know, I am used to Migs, not the F Series, right.

   Da?

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

8. 
   b1gcountry | Dec 04, 2003 06:43pm | #12

   Dang! I really liked the F-23 and am hoping someone will pick it up like the Navy picked up the F-17 (now the F-18 Hornet). Well, so much for staying on topic...

   Tom