I was wondering how people feel about plate joiner now that they have used them for years? I know a lot of shop don’t pick-up their plate joiner any more, but some still swear by them. Any body care to comment?
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Replies
Ron,
Don't use mine, a PC, nearly as much as I thought I would. Since I bought it a few years ago I've become more interested in traditional joinery. Although a lot of poor joinery was done in the past, we're the recipients of centuries' worth of excellent furniture and cabinet making, and I love the idea of continuing that tradition. Additionally, once one has mastered joinery techniques, the biscuit joiner really doesn't prove to be much of a time-saver. I'd say the only technique where it improves on the past is as a substitute for dowels, and there, the biscuit joiner is a fantastic improvement.
Jeff
I don't own a biscuit joiner but I think I would rather use splines and mortise & tenon joints. To me, they're just as easy to do.--
Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon
On the Redwood Highway
Lee,
Biscuit joiner might be a good alternative to splines. So long as it's set up correctly, you get very nice edge joints and it moves quickly. I'd never consider using them to replace mortise and tenons.
Jeff
Ron,
When you say 'shops' I think professionals and production runs...that ain't me. But as a hobbiest, I use mine all the time, primarily for alignment and not strength applications...board gluw-ups, face frames, etc. I avoid nails and screws whenever I can. Truth be told, in most of my applications the glue alone would probably be sufficient...
I use mine primarily for framing stained glass. I use two biscuits at each miter with very good results, meaning i haven't had a problem in two years of doing it. I used to use keys across the miter once it was glued up, but it was pretty dicey cutting kerfs in the larger sizes with a tablesaw. When i get a piece that goes 40 pounds or so, i use a lapped corner with pegs, however.
I made a bunch of windows with lapped joints at the corners, and biscuited them as well, two per corner, where the end grain met the side grain. Probably overkill, but they were door-sized windows.
Edited 10/13/2002 11:09:29 PM ET by SPLINTIE
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