NEXT MEETING

Harland Johnson's Shop
124 Pine Avenue
Madisonville
985-845-3468

Demonstration: In lieu of a formal demonstration, members will be asked to solve problems (concerning tools, materials, or finishing) brought in by others. Additionally we will have a "stump the experts" contest -- anyone bringing in a tool or woodworking-related item that cannot be identified by the group will win a $15 Lowe's gift certificate.

Gahn planned to use biscuits to edge join three pieces of mahogany (approx 1"x4"x12") that would be typical of a small table or cabinet top. But first he used one similar piece to go through the preparation stage of planing and jointing to get the piece flat and the edges square.

The workpiece was fastened to the workbench with end clamps and small shims were inserted wherever the piece did not lay flat. These shims were super-glued in place so they would not shift.

Then Gahn used a router mounted in a purpose-built sled that could be moved forth and back over the workpiece, tkaing off small increments of material as required. Any straight bit can be used but in general the larger the diameter, the fewer passes needed. Dick emphasized here and all through his demo the desirability of "taking your time" and not rushing the steps.

After a few finishing touches with a metal scraper, the result is a "perfectly" flat surface. ("Perfectly" is used in the practical sense since, as Gahn pointed out, there is no such thing as a "perfectly" flat, square, or true surface.)

The workpiece was then run through to the jointer with the flat surface against the jointer fence to produce one edge that is at "perfect" right angles to the flat surface. At this point one could rip the piece to desired width on a table saw and thus produce the other square edge, but in this case the piece was already sized, so the other edge can be run through the jointer to be squared up. Then the piece can be run through a planer to produce the desired thickness and the second flat surface, which will be parallel with the first one.

With this introduction, Gahn showed three pieces he had previously prepared with flat surfaces, and marked them with a woodworker's triangle mark (barely visible in the photo above left, which shows the three pieces stacked vertically). to allow correct reassembly later in the process. The middle piece was then turned over, and an "X" mark placed on the surfaces of all three pieces. When the three pieces were subsequently run through the jointer, the X side whould be placed against the jointer fence, and then later the three pieces could be ressembled for joining using the triangle as a guide. The reason for having the middle piece run through the jointer with the opposite edge against the fence goes back to the difficulty of achieving perfection in the squareness of the edges. Gahn showed a diagram in which the imperfection was exaggerated, and showed that by reversing the middle piece, the final joint would be true even if the edges of individual pieces were slightly imperfect.

Next Gahn used his biscuit joiner to cut the biscuit grooves into the edges of the workpieces. For this demo, he cut three grooves in each edge to be joined.

Next he assembled the pieces together in a dry fit to check the surface flatness of the three pieces to be joined. Then it was time to apply glue, insert the biscuits, and clamp the pieces together.

Finally, Gahn showed that biscuit joining is not restricted to parallel edges. He used mitre-cut 2"x4" pieces to show how biscuits could be used for 45 degree beveled joints and even 90 degree butt joints. by adjusting the joiner to cut at the appripriate angle.

For extra strength it is possible to use two biscuits if the material is thick enough.

Biscuit joining is definitely a technique that belongs in every woodworker's portfolio. Thanks, Dick, for showing us how it's done!