About biscuits
Most biscuits used for woodworking, craft projects or repairs are made of wood. Some biscuits are compressed so they are stronger. When any water based glue is applied to the biscuit, the biscuit will swell within the joint and will hold quite well.
How biscuit joint slots are cut
Biscuits joint slots are cut with a biscuit cutter, a small round blade that cuts wood quickly and sharply. You can also cut the slots with a plate joiner or by putting a slot cutter bit on a router, but the plate joiner works almost everywhere. The straighter the hole, the better the fit.
Using biscuits in woodworking
You can put together a wooden shelf on your own by using wooden biscuits or dowel pins to attach the pieces. Many people prefer using wooden biscuits rather than nails or screws. With the natural look that is coming back in decorating, biscuits are popular with the antique remakes and thrift store repairs done on many chairs and tables.
Where to buy wooden biscuits
Biscuits are available at a number of home restoration stores or online. A good place to shop for biscuits online is www.caldowell.com. They have a wide variety of different sizes and types of biscuits.
By Virginia Zignego