Sy

"Sammy"

11/10/2003 2:37 PM

Edge Gluing Boards, Part II: Biscuits?

Thanks for your responses re: edge gluing boards. seems like the consensus
AFA jointing both edges is "yes."

Here's another question: Do you use biscuits, or simply glue the edges?

Back in HS (the 70's) we simply glued the boards. Now I see a lot about
using biscuits, as well. One of the boards on my coffee table base from the
70's eventually warped and broke its bond. Would a biscuit be able to
prevent that?





This topic has 4 replies

gG

[email protected] (Gfretwell)

in reply to "Sammy" on 11/10/2003 2:37 PM

11/10/2003 4:15 PM

I am starting to like biscuits. My last glue up is coming apart
(was:why does gorilla glue suck)
It was s4s hard maple, using the directions on the bottle. (moisten one side,
glue the other) I have had 3 of the joints starting to separate.
Using red oak I have had lots of luck simply clamping them together with yellow
glue.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "Sammy" on 11/10/2003 2:37 PM

11/10/2003 2:56 PM


"Sammy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for your responses re: edge gluing boards. seems like the consensus
> AFA jointing both edges is "yes."
>
> Here's another question: Do you use biscuits, or simply glue the edges?
>
> Back in HS (the 70's) we simply glued the boards. Now I see a lot about
> using biscuits, as well. One of the boards on my coffee table base from
the
> 70's eventually warped and broke its bond. Would a biscuit be able to
> prevent that?


Check back for my reply on why you "ideally" should not run the cut edge
through the jointer. I think my reply was after your post here. You do not
need to use biscuits to make this joint stronger in this application. If
you joint failed, you probably had a bad glue joint or the finish did not
prevent moisture from getting in to the wood. Biscuits do strengthen some
joints but do not help a lot in others except for alignment purposed.
Generally, properly gluing 2 boards edge to edge should yield a strong joint
with out biscuits unless the joint is starved for glue or the boards are not
straight.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to "Sammy" on 11/10/2003 2:37 PM

11/10/2003 8:13 PM

On Sat, 11 Oct 2003 14:37:44 GMT, "Sammy" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Thanks for your responses re: edge gluing boards. seems like the consensus
>AFA jointing both edges is "yes."
>
>Here's another question: Do you use biscuits, or simply glue the edges?

Generally I use biscuits every 8 to 10 inches. It helps with the
alignment to avoid steps in the panels. For thin panels, I may use a
glue joint or just a butt joint.
>
>Back in HS (the 70's) we simply glued the boards. Now I see a lot about
>using biscuits, as well. One of the boards on my coffee table base from the
>70's eventually warped and broke its bond. Would a biscuit be able to
>prevent that?
>

Broke the bond? The glue joint should be stronger than the wood, at
least with yellow carpenter's glue.

Mj

"Morgans"

in reply to "Sammy" on 11/10/2003 2:37 PM

11/10/2003 6:20 PM


"Sammy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks for your responses re: edge gluing boards. seems like the consensus
> AFA jointing both edges is "yes."
>
> Here's another question: Do you use biscuits, or simply glue the edges?
>
> Back in HS (the 70's) we simply glued the boards. Now I see a lot about
> using biscuits, as well. One of the boards on my coffee table base from
the
> 70's eventually warped and broke its bond. Would a biscuit be able to
> prevent that?
>

How wide were the two boards that had the joint between them?

It has been my experience, that if a board wants to warp, or cup bad enough,
there is nothing that will stop them.
--
Jim in NC


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