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BUTT JOINTS
See Figure 13.
This type of joint is made by mating the end grain of one
board with the edge grain of another. It is one of the weak-
est joints in woodworking,
and the bonding of glue on this
type of surface is poor. However, by using biscuits you
can create a stronger joint that has a mortise-and-tenon
effect.
BUTTJOINTS
BISCUIT(S)
BISCUIT
SLOT(S)
CENTERLINE
MARK(S)
MULTIPLE
BISCUITSSTACKED
Fig. 13
MAKING
BUTT JOINTS
•
Unplug the tool.
•
Place the two pieces of wood to be joined on a level
workbench. Align them against each other in the ar-
rangement in which they will be assembled.
•
Using a square, determine the location of each biscuit
spline joint and mark the center of each joint by draw-
ing a line across the edges of the two boards.
•
Set the fence angle at 90 °.
•
Loosen the height adjustment knobs, then pull and
slide the fence up or down until the indicator point is
aligned with the desired dimension on the scale.
NOTE: The scale indicates the height of the fence from
the center of the blade.
•
Tighten the height adjustment knobs securely.
•
Select the correct depth of cut setting to match the
biscuit size you are planning to use. If possible, make
a test cut in a scrap piece of wood from the same
workpiece.
•
Clamp the workpiece securely so that it will not move
during the cut.
•
Plug the detail biscuit joiner into the power supply and
prepare to make your first cut. Grasp and hold the tool
securely with both hands.
•
Place the fence against the board and align the indica-
tor marks on the fence with the centerline mark(s) on
the board.
•
Depress the switch trigger and let the motor build to its
maximum speed, then gradually push the biscuit joiner
forward to extend the blade into the wood.
•
When the base assembly bottoms out against the
depth of cut adjustment knob setting, pull back, releas-
ing pressure on the spring. The blade will retract from
the biscuit slot.
•
Repeat this procedure for cutting the slot in the mating
workpiece.
•
Once all biscuit slots have been cut, place a biscuit
in each joint and dry-assemble the workpieces.
Make
sure each joint lines up and fits.
•
Disassemble the workpieces and place a bead of glue
in each slot. Spread a bead of glue over the entire
surface of the joint. Reinsert the biscuits and assemble
the workpieces.
•
Clamp the workpieces together until the glue sets.
OFFSET
BUTT JOINTS
See Figure 14.
The rails of a table or workbench
are often offset from
the front of the table legs. When offsets are required, it is
necessary to cut the slots in the rails first, then re-adjust
the fence to cut the slots in the legs.
The procedure for cutting offset butt joints is identical to
the procedure for cutting butt joints.
For example, if a 1/4 in. offset is desired, you would mark
the centerlines for cutting a butt joint as mentioned in the
procedures for cutting butt joints, and cut the slots in the
ends of the rails. Next, you would raise the fence t/4 in. to
the desired offset and cut the slots in the legs.
OFFSETBUTTJOINT
BISCUITSLOT
BISCUIT
CENTERLINE
MARK(S)
Fig. 14
15
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