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#1
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the
cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim |
#2
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
"TimR" wrote in message
I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? With cabinet doors, stick with M&T. A few hundred years of a tried and true joinery method is to be ignored at your own peril, IMO. -- www.e-woodshop.net Last update: 10/01/06 |
#3
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
"TimR" wrote in message news:Wg7_g.33437$tO5.29953@fed1read10... I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim I vote for m&t or cope and stick. IMO biscuit joints don't have enough glue surface. Your gluing end grain to long grain in a door. |
#4
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
Doors of any kind take an huge amount of stress over time. If you go
with cope and stick you'll have sufficent glue area to hold it together. If you are talking mitered or butted then M&T is the way to go. I've seen studies where biscuits do add some strength similar to tennons but no where near the same strength. I consider them only valuable for alignment. TimR wrote: I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim |
#5
Posted to rec.woodworking
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
TimR wrote:
: I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. -- Andy Barss |
#6
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
Andrew Barss wrote: TimR wrote: : I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. -- Andy Barss Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html |
#7
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
"RayV" wrote:
Andrew Barss wrote: TimR wrote: : I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. -- Andy Barss Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html That's surprising. In fact, I don't believe it. I guess I will have to buy the mag to read about their testing. VERY hard for me to believe that the long-grain to long-grain gluing, even over the small area of a biscuit, is not a big improvement over end-grain to long-grain gluing of a plain butt joint. Maybe the problem is my impression of the weakness of end-grain gluing. I've always accepted that as an article of faith, but never tested it. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#8
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
I think the problem lies in the structural nature of the biscuits. The
fiber structure seems to have been purposely crushed as part of the manufacturing process and they are very porous so to be able to absorb the glue and expand. Their shape also minimizes their strength with the full width only at the center and minimal width even just 1/2" away from the center. Now a true spline or floating tenon on the other hand is as good as or better than classic M&T alexy wrote: "RayV" wrote: Andrew Barss wrote: TimR wrote: : I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. -- Andy Barss Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html That's surprising. In fact, I don't believe it. I guess I will have to buy the mag to read about their testing. VERY hard for me to believe that the long-grain to long-grain gluing, even over the small area of a biscuit, is not a big improvement over end-grain to long-grain gluing of a plain butt joint. Maybe the problem is my impression of the weakness of end-grain gluing. I've always accepted that as an article of faith, but never tested it. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#9
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
"SonomaProducts.com" wrote:
Their shape also minimizes their strength with the full width only at the center and minimal width even just 1/2" away from the center. good point. And thinking this way, two dowels relatively near the outside of the joint would do a much better job of resisting typical non-linear (e.g. twisting or racking) forces. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#10
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
alexy wrote:
That's surprising. In fact, I don't believe it. I guess I will have to buy the mag to read about their testing. I guess you will! G They went to an actual materials testing lab and used widely accepted, calibrated test equipment. The article is quite well written, and the testing methods make sense. |
#11
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
Just goes to show, you shouldn't believe everything you read.
"RayV" wrote in message ups.com... Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html |
#12
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
I'd love to hear your critique of the testing methodology that Wood used.
todd "CW" wrote in message hlink.net... Just goes to show, you shouldn't believe everything you read. "RayV" wrote in message ups.com... Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html |
#13
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
Here it is: They're full of ****.
Satisfied? "todd" wrote in message ... I'd love to hear your critique of the testing methodology that Wood used. todd "CW" wrote in message hlink.net... Just goes to show, you shouldn't believe everything you read. "RayV" wrote in message ups.com... Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html |
#14
Posted to rec.woodworking
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
RayV wrote:
: Andrew Barss wrote: : Latest issue of Wood magazine rates biscuits as _barely_ stronger than : butt joints in all directions. Dowels were second in strength to M&T. : http://store.woodstore.net/november173.html Interesting. There have been two previous studies (first one in FWW, second maybe also there) which showed M&T at the top, with biscuits very closely behind. Dowels, if I recall, were nowhere near as strong. -- Andy Barss |
#15
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
Andrew Barss wrote:
TimR wrote: : I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. I agree. Although my personal bias is in line with Swingman's, I think you have the right practical answer. Data point: I built a "doggie gate" from 5/4 SYP (heavy) that was 48" long (much longer torque arm than the OP will have on kitchen cabinets) that a 40-poind puppy liked to climb over (OP should shoot anyone who hangs from his kitchen cabinet doors). And my customer and wife was more interested in having it NOW than in my having a fun woodworking project. So I built it with doubled #20 biscuits, and it has held up just fine. I'd challenge anyone to break a cabinet door built with biscuits, while it is hanging on hinges. Unless you use a really heavy piano hinge with long screws, my money is on the hinges giving out first. RayV brings up an interesting article, though. Worth checking out for additional info. P.S. This weekend, I will chop the mortises for the M&T panel doors for a cabinet I'm building. But it is more a neander thing than a sense that I really NEED to. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#16
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
In 10 years of the door banging shut the M&T will outperform the
biscuits IMNSHO alexy wrote: Andrew Barss wrote: TimR wrote: : I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the : cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the : biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I : go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? I wouldn't hesitate to use biscuits. They're plenty strong enough for this application. I agree. Although my personal bias is in line with Swingman's, I think you have the right practical answer. Data point: I built a "doggie gate" from 5/4 SYP (heavy) that was 48" long (much longer torque arm than the OP will have on kitchen cabinets) that a 40-poind puppy liked to climb over (OP should shoot anyone who hangs from his kitchen cabinet doors). And my customer and wife was more interested in having it NOW than in my having a fun woodworking project. So I built it with doubled #20 biscuits, and it has held up just fine. I'd challenge anyone to break a cabinet door built with biscuits, while it is hanging on hinges. Unless you use a really heavy piano hinge with long screws, my money is on the hinges giving out first. RayV brings up an interesting article, though. Worth checking out for additional info. P.S. This weekend, I will chop the mortises for the M&T panel doors for a cabinet I'm building. But it is more a neander thing than a sense that I really NEED to. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#17
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
"SonomaProducts.com" wrote:
In 10 years of the door banging shut the M&T will outperform the biscuits IMNSHO Well, there is no question in my mind that it is stronger; just whether the difference is relevant. -- Alex -- Replace "nospam" with "mail" to reply by email. Checked infrequently. |
#18
Posted to rec.woodworking
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
TimR wrote: I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim If you have a router table, I'd seriously suggest buying a door rail and style set.. It's maybe around $60-80 (haven't bought in a long time). Since you are doing a whole kitchen, it will save you tons and tons of time. Mortise and tenon is ok for just doing a couple doors, but a whole kitchen? That would take forever. In addition, they will look better, since they cut a decorative edge on the inside of the door. (IMO, of course). |
#19
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
in 1322212 20061020 210007 "bf" wrote:
TimR wrote: I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim If you have a router table, I'd seriously suggest buying a door rail and style set.. It's maybe around $60-80 (haven't bought in a long time). Since you are doing a whole kitchen, it will save you tons and tons of time. Mortise and tenon is ok for just doing a couple doors, but a whole kitchen? That would take forever. In addition, they will look better, since they cut a decorative edge on the inside of the door. (IMO, of course). Seconded. I bought the Freud set at 100 GBP and have done dozens of doors quite painlessly. Router table is home made (requirements are minimal) and router is a big (2200W) cheap (60 GBP) job. |
#20
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
In article Wg7_g.33437$tO5.29953@fed1read10, TimR wrote:
I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim Are your rails going to be wide enough for a biscuit? If so, IMHO it will be OK. You said "flat panel" if you use plywood you can glue them in to the frames & they will be plenty strong. -- No dumb questions, just dumb answers. Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland - |
#21
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cabinet doors - biscuits vs tenon
On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:01:17 -0700, "TimR" wrote:
I am thinking of making my own kitchen flat panel doors...and refacing the cases. I have a good biscuit joiner and would like input on whether the biscuit techniques is strong enough for kitchen cabinet doors...or should I go with the traditional mortise and tenon assembly ? Also..anyone know of a good site for detailed instructions/examples of a good quality kitchen door assembly ? Thanks, Tim M&T will outlast biscuits. Kitchen cabinet doors get a lot of use (and sometimes abuse). There are thousands of books on making doors--take a look at Taunton Press books. Here, you'll be far ahead with a good set of Bessy K-body clamps and corner blocks. |
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