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Thread: slot for biscuits to attach face frame

  1. #1
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    slot for biscuits to attach face frame

    I just saw new yankee and Norm used a router to put a slot it the front edge of a cabinet carcase to receive biscuits. That way the spacing on the face frame is not critical.

    I thought that was a good idea. Thought I would pass it along to anyone who didn't watch the show.

  2. #2
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    Yeah, looks good, Keith. I wonder what size cutter you need and how accurately you have to be in getting the groove in the right place.
    18th century nut --- Carl

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by Carl Eyman View Post
    Yeah, looks good, Keith. I wonder what size cutter you need and how accurately you have to be in getting the groove in the right place.
    I saw him do it on several carcasses .. and I guess I would have to experiment with set up. The face frame biscuits would have to line up with the grooves, but once you get that set the first time, you are golden ...

  4. #4
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    I saw that episode and couldn't help thinking - you've got the router set up to slot the edge. Why not just slot the face frame too and use splines instead? I dunno Something about removing wood and leaving a void there just feels wrong to me though I'm sure I have no good reason for feeling that.
    Use the fence Luke

  5. #5
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    I would think if the grove was centered in the case edge and the inside edge of the face frame was flush you would set the biscuit jointer fence to cut 1/2 the thickness of the case material at the center of the blade and cut slots from the inside edge of the face frame. You could test it by putting the plate joiner up against the the carcase edge and see if the blade slides into the slot. If the face frame hung over the inside of the case you would add that much.

  6. #6
    Quote Originally Posted by keith ouellette View Post
    I would think if the grove was centered in the case edge and the inside edge of the face frame was flush you would set the biscuit jointer fence to cut 1/2 the thickness of the case material at the center of the blade and cut slots from the inside edge of the face frame. You could test it by putting the plate joiner up against the the carcase edge and see if the blade slides into the slot. If the face frame hung over the inside of the case you would add that much.
    That sounds logical. You posted it as I was thinking it !!!

  7. #7
    That's a pretty popular application and I sell a fair amount of the Whiteside kits. I always wondered about alignment but I guess people are doing it.


  8. #8
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    Not owning a plate joiner or router, I use a 5/32" inch slotting cutter in the shaper for face frame applications.

    regards, Rod.

  9. #9
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    That would be my thought

    Quote Originally Posted by Doug Shepard View Post
    I saw that episode and couldn't help thinking - you've got the router set up to slot the edge. Why not just slot the face frame too and use splines instead? I dunno Something about removing wood and leaving a void there just feels wrong to me though I'm sure I have no good reason for feeling that.
    To cut a slot and leave it empty just removes gluing surface. I'd think this is a pretty weak way to attach a face frame. Either doing biscuits in the conventional way(perhaps elongate the slot a little with a second plunge for less fussy alignment or use splines as Doug says.

  10. #10
    Slot on the carcass, slot on the face, who needs biscuits? Just cut and insert a spline - for free.
    "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning".
    Robert Duval in "Apileachips Now". - almost.


    Laserpro Spirit 60W laser, Corel X3
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  11. #11
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    Yes, this can be a great technique, not just for the flexible alignment in the "classic" sense, but also if you need to scribe one side. It makes clamping the face frame on much easier and with the convenient lateral movement with vertical alignment, you come up a winner.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  12. #12
    If anybody has been watching the current season on PBS, they'll have see in episode 1 where he visited a cabinet factory that does puts slots all the way around the cabinets so the builders don't have to worry about lining up all of the biscuits. Norm has adopted this method since that first episode.

  13. #13
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    I like sommerfeld's method. t&g the sides to the front, glue and pocket screw. no clamping and waiting to dry. nice flush fit every time.

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