N
Glam Journal

How do you cut biscuit joints

Author

David Craig

Updated on April 18, 2026

A plate jointer, also known as a biscuit jointer.A saw.Measuring tape.Square.Wood glue/ Carpenter’s glue.Clamps.Lumber.

What tools do I need to make a biscuit joint?

  1. A plate jointer, also known as a biscuit jointer.
  2. A saw.
  3. Measuring tape.
  4. Square.
  5. Wood glue/ Carpenter’s glue.
  6. Clamps.
  7. Lumber.

What can I use if I don't have a biscuit cutter?

Some common substitutes include an upside-down cup or glass, commercial product tins and cans, or a cookie cutter. If a perfectly round shape isn’t a priority, you may also use a knife or pizza cutter to shape your biscuits.

Can you biscuit joint a Mitre?

A biscuit-reinforced miter is as strong as a full table saw-cut spline, but biscuits can be hidden within the miter for a cleaner-looking joint. (With the table saw, you cut the spline from edge to edge.) … When the fence is set to 135°, you can squeeze the joiner against the miter as you cut the biscuit slot.

What is the purpose of a biscuit joiner?

A biscuit joiner or biscuit jointer (or sometimes plate joiner) is a woodworking tool used to join two pieces of wood together. A biscuit joiner uses a small circular saw blade to cut a crescent-shaped hole (called the mouth) in the opposite edges of two pieces of wood or wood composite panels.

Are biscuit joiners worth it?

Biscuits joints serve best as a quick and easy way to keep glue-up parts in alignment, and that they add appreciable pull-apart to strength joints that would be otherwise too weak to stand on their own – like butt joints and miter joints.

What can a router table do?

  • Working with long, narrow or small stock.
  • Edge trimming and template work.
  • Using a router table as a jointer.
  • Grooves, dadoes and slots.
  • Stopped cuts.
  • Dovetail and box joinery.
  • Making raised panel doors.
  • Lock-miter, drawer lock, and finger joints.

How far apart do you put biscuit joints?

The biscuits should be about 6″ apart. Spread the boards apart. Using a biscuit joiner, cut a slot at each mark, making sure to center the cuts according to the marks (Image 2). Apply a little bit of wood glue along the length of the edge to be joined as well as inside the slots.

Why does the grain of a biscuit run diagonally?

Biscuits are made from compressed beech wood. The grain runs diagonally across the biscuit. The biscuit is weakest along this grain line. When you install two biscuits in a joint, put them in with the grains running in opposite directions.

What is the difference between a plate joiner and biscuit joiner?

A plate joiner is the same as a biscuit joiner and are used to create an oblong hole in two matching pieces of wood. After the joiners have created the hole, a biscuit is glued, inserted and typically clamped until the wood is dried.

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Do you really need a biscuit cutter?

You don’t necessarily need a biscuit cutter—you can make biscuits square, like Kelly Fields does, and avoid this problem entirely. (That also helps you from overworking the dough by rolling it out over and over to cut round shapes from it.)

Can I use a glass as a biscuit cutter?

Reaching for a glass when you don’t have a biscuit cutter seems like a sensible solution, but according to King Arthur Flour it’s not the best choice. Rather than cutting through the dough cleanly, the dull edge of the glass will compress and seal the sides — not optimal when it comes to rising.

How deep does a biscuit joiner cut?

When adjusted properly, the biscuit joiner will cut a slot 1/32″ deeper than half the width of your biscuit. The additional 1/32″ provides a little wiggle room, as well as room for glue. If it is set too deep, the biscuits will be too far embedded on one piece, and won’t deliver the holding power that we want.

What's a biscuit cutter?

: a circular device for cutting out biscuits from rolled dough.

What is a slot cutter bit?

Slot-cutting bits are used much like saws, creating small grooves and slots for joinery and biscuits. … A slot-cutting bit can also be used to turn your router table into a biscuit joiner.

How can I cut a slot without a router?

  1. Cutting a Slot in Wood with a Jigsaw.
  2. Cutting a Slot in Wood with a Circular Saw.
  3. Cutting a Channel in Wood with a Table Saw.
  4. Cutting a Channel in Wood with a Dremel Tool.
  5. Cutting a Keyhole Slot in Wood with Mixed Tools.

Why should you clamp the wood down before using the router?

Clamp a piece of scrap wood along the edge of the stock you’re routing. The side grain on your woodworking project is protected by the scrap wood. The scrap board will splinter instead of your project. This gives the wood the support it needs at the base.

What direction do you feed the wood when using the router table?

Feed Direction For Router Tables On a router table, bits spin counterclockwise. For routing the outside edges of a work- piece then, you’ll feed the wood from the right side of the table to the left side. Doing this forces the bit to push the wood back against you.

What is a half lap joint?

In a half lap joint or halving joint, material is removed from both of the members so that the resulting joint is the thickness of the thickest member. Most commonly in half lap joints, the members are of the same thickness and half the thickness of each is removed.