Hi everyone.Thanks for the fabulous answers in the past.I have been making alot of miters for frames using 3″ x 3/4″ oak stock.Arts and Crafts whoppers indeed.I use my tablesaw to cut deep splines the thickness of my blade(1/8″) to create the joint I think is sufficiently strong and will withstand the assault of years pretty good I am sure.I lower the glued-up frame corner to cut the slot for the triangular spline(probably more properly called a feather as it is done after the frame is assembled and glued up).
However to get a clean on-edge look when glued up I have to switch blades.I normally keep a combo blade on my saw which I use to create good miters.It doesn’t quite cut it,though, when making clean rip cuts for the splines.This blade switching gets tedious.I am a tad lazy I admit.
Question:Will a biscuit create an equally strong joint in such large dimensioned hardwood stock?Will it save time?I’ll spend money to save time.Does anyone here have production experience making such frames out of oak.I am sorry folks but let me pre-emptorily say that a couple of brads or screws in the corner just won’t get it for oak frames this size.Yes maybe painted pine or poplar 1 1/2″ wide x 5/8 thick which also is a much more stable wood.Oak even quartersawn,if I am not mistaken,isn’t exactly stable compared to the softwoods so a spline,feather or dowel is mandatory.Thanks tons in advance.Roland.
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I'm new to "this" forum and can't belive you've not gotten a reply.. I use biscuits for miters as well as splines and they work very well as long as the frame is large enough to accept them.. I use splines only when I want the look of the spline (in some boxes I make)..
Dave² http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/
Thanks Dave.Yeah I thought this was a dead thread due to the lack of replies.
I make miters out of 3/4" thick by 3" wide white oak.The splines are taking too much time to clamp and then,when glued,to trim and sand flush.I was hoping to save some time with biscuits.Do you think biscuits would be strong enough using such thick and wide stock.Even the larger biscuits wouldn't have the glue area of a large 1/8" thick and very deep spline.I really need to reduce the time it is taking to make these frames to stay in business and I am considering all possiblities.Thanks for any help.Roland.
P.S.
I don't presently own a biscuit joiner but I have one on its way.Thanks again.
I use biscuits for primarily for longitudinal grain glue-up - an example would be gluing up 6 inch stock to make a table top. Some folks say that biscuits are great "locators" for glue-ups implying that structurally they may not be that strong. There have been some articles in old FWW issues about miter joints and strength levels of various methods including biscuits. Do a search on the FWW site.
Although I don't have the data to support my opinion, what your are currently doing clearly gives a very secure joint and I feel it is much stronger than biscuits. What you need to do is think through your process and determine what needs to be done to minimize machine set-ups (probably one of the biggest cost factors in manufacturing is set-up times - they add no value what-so-ever to the process). Find a good, reliable industrial supplier of blades and talk to them about what you are doing. Buying the right blade may solve many of your problems.
Roland...
Clearly we have hit on a subject to which there is much controversy and varied opinion.. and have brought a dead thread back to life.. it is not my goal to tout one method over the other.. only to offer an opinion and my experience.. you didn't say if your frames have a profile.. nor what they're used for.. I assumed they're picture frames.. the use of a #20 biscuit or double #20 biscuits (one biscuit cut from each face about 3/16" from each face.. if the profile will allow) in my opinion would be plenty strong for your application.. and they certainly would be much faster.. so unless you want the look of the feather spline, I'd use the biscuits..
I mainly use biscuits for alignment or to stabilize the glue joint when clamping.. I do use them for strength in picture frames where you basically have only end grain to end grain gluing.. and I have had great success in all applications..
I use the splined miter in a music/jewelry box I make for the look and strength, as well as alignment of the sides in gluing.. they can be seen on http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/projectphotoes.html near the bottom of the page click on the photo of the open box to see the mitered spline.. I and some picture frames at the bottom of http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/jewlbox.html Dave² http://www.homestead.com/DaveWoodshop/
Thanks for the excellent input everyone.
Dave you've sold me on biscuits.Sign me up.
Thanks tons guys,Roland.
I've tried both and prefer the spline. It is too hard to line up and cut the biscuit joints accurately, especially if you are using thinner stock. Also splines in a contrasting wood help distract the eye from the poor miters I usually make. I made a sled-jig for the table saw and can cut spline slots in all four corners of a box or frame in a couple of minutes, just turning the workpiece without having to re-set up the tool.
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