Dowel or Biscuit

[deema]

I don't own a biscuit cutter and have used dowels for joining bits and pieces together. Does any one know which is the stronger solution? I.e. A single 10 or 8 mm dowel or a single biscuit?

I appreciate that setting out and installing biscuits is far quicker than dowels, but is it stronger? I'm contemplating whether I need a biscuit jointer and the crux of the decision is on whether the biscuit is stronger.

Appreciate your help.

 

[Baldhead]

I have used both dowels and biscuits, it is my understanding that they are used to keep the timber you are joining inline, although biscuits do expand when the glue is applied.
Given a choice I would use biscuits, only because they are quick.

Baldhead

 

[marcros]

Have a look here

https://www.canadianwoodworking.com/get ... owel-joint

 

[Flynnwood]

Have a look here:

https://woodgears.ca/joint_strength/dowel.html

https://woodgears.ca/joint_strength/index.html

 

[monty46]

I use the joint genie dowel system more than biscuits and find it quite simple . www.jointgenie.co.uk

 

[MMUK]

Depends entirely on the application for me. Sometimes dowels are more suitable, sometimes biscuits.

 

[deema]

I really appreciate the links, they are really helpful. I am particularly looking at jointing sheet materials such as ply, where standard solid wood joints are not really relevant. I had thought like Baldhead that biscuits were predomiantly used for alignment rather than strengthening joints. However....reading points on this and other forums I started to wounded if besides alignment they would be superior in strength than dowels.

I'm going to stick to dowels thanks to your help and save my pennies for a nice veritas and lie nielson no 6 plane.

 

[Silas Gull]

I think there's a definite distinction between dowels and biscuits. Whilst biscuits are a great aid to assembly of a project, they don't add much strength on their own. Dowels joints on the other hand can be really strong.
Funnily enough, I was experimenting yesterday with dowels as a demonstration of this. Using 2 6inch lengths of 2x1 pse, I made a mitre joint which I glued and clamped. Then I drilled 2 10 x50mm holes positioned 20mm apart straight through the mitre, applied more glue and tapped in a pair of dowels.
Today, I was able to stand on joint which bore my entire weight without even creaking, and I weigh 13.5 stone.

 

[Woodchips2]

I use the joint genie dowel system more than biscuits and find it quite simple . http://www.jointgenie.co.uk

+1. This is a beautifully engineered bit of kit that is simple to use and provides very strong joints providing you cut your timber square and true. Since getting rid of my machinery have found how beneficial a shooting board is =D>

Regards Keith

 

[shed9]

I use the joint genie dowel system more than biscuits and find it quite simple . http://www.jointgenie.co.uk

+1. This is a beautifully engineered bit of kit that is simple to use and provides very strong joints providing you cut your timber square and true. Since getting rid of my machinery have found how beneficial a shooting board is =D>

Regards Keith

What has glucosamine got to do with joining wood?

Perhaps you refer to this little wonder of (over) expensive metal;

http://www.joint-genie.com/

 

[blackrodd]

I don't use my biscuit joiner very much but find it a lot easier to slide and adjust, whereas the doweling has to be accurate and I hate too many gadgets and gismos lurking, unemployed in the workshop to buy a doweler gismo.
I would guess that the biscuit, itself, is pretty tough, as is the "proper" fluted dowels.
Short answer would be a fairly even match! Regards Rodders

 

[Woodchips2]

I use the joint genie dowel system more than biscuits and find it quite simple . http://www.jointgenie.co.uk

+1. This is a beautifully engineered bit of kit that is simple to use and provides very strong joints providing you cut your timber square and true. Since getting rid of my machinery have found how beneficial a shooting board is =D>

Regards Keith

What has glucosamine got to do with joining wood?

Perhaps you refer to this little wonder of (over) expensive metal;

http://www.joint-genie.com/

:lol:
Expensive but just feel the quality (hammer)
Regards Keith

 

[Silas Gull]

I have a Joint Genie and it is a seriously well-made bit of kit that works a treat. My son will inherit it, as will his sons, and as future suns rise over their sons, there will be the JointGenie, waiting by the cradle, etc etc

 

[nabbers]

Biscuit for me

 

[Grahamshed]

Chocolate hobnobs are tastier than dowels.


I have used both and both are good but ( someone has to say it ) I guess both are being taken over by the dreaded domino

 

[pcb1962]

I have used both and both are good but ( someone has to say it ) I guess both are being taken over by the dreaded domino

Apart from the price of admission to domino world why would it be dreaded? Surely it combines the best of both worlds, or have I been falsely taken in by all the youtube videos?