biscuit jointer

Discussion in 'Carpenters' Talk' started by mailee, Mar 16, 2004.

  1. mailee

    mailee New Member

    I have recently purchased a Ferm biscuit jointer and find the slots it cuts to be very slack. I have made sure the machine is held firmly before you ask and in fact even tried clamping it down to the wood, just in case I was moving it without knowing and it is still slack. Do you think a good quality blade might be the answer?.
     
  2. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    There are other post about this biscuit jointer.
    One that I have seen is that the blade may not be fully tightened allowing it to wobble slightly. This will cause over size slots. I believe I read instructions on doing this on another forum a while back.
    Here is the recent topic about the same tool.
    http://www.screwfix.com/talk/thread.jspa?threadID=4008&tstart=90
     
  3. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    quicker o the draw than me dewy
    biccies are made from compressed beech
    and will swell in contact with glue
    i have the ferm jointer some times it is a bit loose
    but in general wood glue has filling capacity of about
    1mm not ideal but ok for diy or light use

    big all
     
  4. mailee

    mailee New Member

    I have used biscuits before but normally use the router for them and found a good tight fit with no play. I am using the same biscuits that I use with the router but there is a hell of a lot of play in them. Hoping the glue will take up the excess is a bit of a tradeoff especially if you want a flat tabletop don't you think?.
     
  5. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    My first use of the Ferm bickie jointer had slots at different heights making it impossible to get a flat table top. I learned from this mistake & cut them again between the existing slots only this time holding the fence firmly down with the left thumb.
    Perfect alignment this time.
    As said before.
    Check the blade for slackness or out of true.
    Biscuits expand about 50% when wetted with the glue. They are only really for alignment but pva glue makes them swell giving a tight joint.
    I've often gone back to a biscuit cutting bit in the router to get in places the bickie jointer wont fit & also in the router table where I can make sure all cuts are the same height.
    Its just a bit of practice needed. If you release the left thumb pressure while withdrawing the cutter the slots will be over size.
     
  6. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    helloo mailee slightly oiled so if its not clear ask again
    tommorow first point if possible you can put both bits of
    wood to be grooved back to back extra support the jointer
    wont need the support but it gives you more to rest on
    [zoom down one side back down the other] stop short of
    final end positions to stop buiscuts showing
    you can use battons clamps over the joints to pull them
    together if an edge is to high or low just put a slither
    of wood to pull the two edges together[between the batton
    at the top or bottom as required
    ps didnt use spelling check so if its right ill be amaized

    hope this helps big all
     
  7. mailee

    mailee New Member

    Hi big all, I see what you are saying but surely the biscuits should fit snug to start with and not need shims or fiddling with to make them fit, after all they are supposed to speed the job up aren't they?. For those replies that mention holding the machine face plate tight to the timber, I did mention that I even tried it with clamps holding it down to the work and still it cut oversize!. I have checked the fit of the blade to the spindle and it seems to be fine. As I stated I have used a router biscuit cutter in my Elu for many years and had no problems at all. Maybe it is just a case of a cheap tool and I need to spend more on a good quality one?.
     
  8. woodsmith

    woodsmith New Member

    mailee, biscuits should be a good fit when dry, then expand to make a very tight joint. If they are loose when you put them in the joint will never be strong.
     
  9. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    Remember that recent topic about slack biscuits Keith?
    They were between 3 & 4 mm thick apparently.
     
  10. woodsmith

    woodsmith New Member

    Yes I find some biscuits variable in thickness. I recently bought a large box of Lamello biscuits, I was surprised to find that they were not sealed in plastic, just loose in the box?
     
  11. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    I know Matt said to keep them in a plastic airtight box but I keep opened bags in a large coffee jar with a silica gel bag inside to absorb the moisture.
     
  12. glen-uk

    glen-uk New Member

    Hi
    Like you I came across this problem.In the end I thought I would remove the blade and with the coarse side of the oil stone took a little bit off both sides of the blade.It means taken blade out two or three times.Use a off cut of hardwood or MDF will do,Just to test on.
    PS hope this works for you
     
  13. mailee

    mailee New Member

    I do keep my biscuits in a biscuit tin surprisingly with a bag of silica jel, and they are Lamello ones I use. I tried them in a slot cut with the router cutter and they fit snug as a bug in a rug. :)
     
  14. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    mailee i agree with you entirely the should be a snug to
    tight fit i was just trying to assure you that though not
    ideal it would be an acceptable finnish at the price
    [better to get used to tools so you know how much use
    you think you could find for it]

    big all
     
  15. Blunt chisel

    Blunt chisel New Member

    Hi,
    I get the opinion that the ferm joiner is not worth its salt, Would a higher quality machine produce better results? Any personal recomendations?? I want to use it for mitre corner jointing.
     
  16. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    that jointer works well for DIY use but my original question about the slackness of the blade, which would cause wobble, wasn't answered.
    The link I posted was about the same problem & someone said how to tighten the blade when tuning the tool.
     
  17. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    helllooo dewy ive just looked at my ferm bicki cutter if you turn the guide round till its parallel with the
    machine there seems to be a tiny bit of play between the
    plastic part and the guide again between the guide and the
    base plate and again a tiny bit play between the base
    plate plunge rods all together they make probably up to
    1mm deviation between cutter blade and guide wouldn't
    have though this was enough to cause a problem

    think i will experiment tomorrow to see exactly what
    width the groove on my machine is

    big all
     
  18. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    sorry meant to say no play in blade and heres where any
    play is
     
  19. Dewy

    Dewy New Member

    my play tends to be about .8 metres off the ground. ;)
     
  20. big all

    big all Screwfix Select

    right people ive been playing took out the plastic insert
    round the blade opening it has serration for grip
    [pull lightly with you nail in the center]
    then remove the other bit of plastic by gently
    unclipping the ears in the center
    spray with ptfe blade spray [blade an bearing surfaces
    where the plastic used to be]not essential but makes it
    even smoother

    now i find its a much smoother easier to use machine
    dare i say more acurate machine!!!
    can you try this and let me know

    don't forget to readjust the fence

    cheers big all
     

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