(Disclaimer, I know nothing about wood working).

I'm installing a new butcher block kitchen countertop (oak) and will
be butt joining 2 sections in the corner (90 degrees, no miter).

I had planned to reinforce with biscuits (although I've never used
them before). Not for strength, but more for alignment and a tight
joint.

Is there any other mechanism that would make more sense for butt
joining butcher block countertops? I was going to rent a biscuit
joiner and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it.

Thanks!

wrote in message
oups.com...
(Disclaimer, I know nothing about wood working).

I'm installing a new butcher block kitchen countertop (oak) and will
be butt joining 2 sections in the corner (90 degrees, no miter).

I had planned to reinforce with biscuits (although I've never used
them before). Not for strength, but more for alignment and a tight
joint.

Is there any other mechanism that would make more sense for butt
joining butcher block countertops? I was going to rent a biscuit
joiner and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it.

Thanks!

countertop connector

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...=3,41306,41308

On 22 May 2007 11:09:53 -0700, wrote:
(Disclaimer, I know nothing about wood working).

I'm installing a new butcher block kitchen countertop (oak) and will
be butt joining 2 sections in the corner (90 degrees, no miter).

I had planned to reinforce with biscuits (although I've never used
them before). Not for strength, but more for alignment and a tight
joint.

Is there any other mechanism that would make more sense for butt
joining butcher block countertops? I was going to rent a biscuit
joiner and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it.

Thanks!

I would think that vertical alignment should be taken care of by
carefully leveling the cabinets.

A biscuit is a form of loose tennon. There are other ways to do
essentially the same thing, where the shape of the tennon (and its
mating mortices) varies. Dowels used in this way are another example.
If, instead of multiple small tenons you have one long one, it would be
called a spline.

An alternative would be to use hardware made for the purpose of joining
countertop sections. There are a few variants, but basically they are a
threaded rod with a nut and washer at each end. You would make a recess
on the underside of each piece a short distance from the edges to be
joined, and place this device into the recesses. Tightening the nuts
draws the pieces together. By itself, this might not do much to provide
alignment. But with a little care, good alignment is obtained. Lee
Valley (http://www.leevalley.com) sells them. I'm sure you can find
similar things at other places.

--
Art Greenberg
artg at eclipse dot net

"charlie" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
(Disclaimer, I know nothing about wood working).

I'm installing a new butcher block kitchen countertop (oak) and will
be butt joining 2 sections in the corner (90 degrees, no miter).

I had planned to reinforce with biscuits (although I've never used
them before). Not for strength, but more for alignment and a tight
joint.

Is there any other mechanism that would make more sense for butt
joining butcher block countertops? I was going to rent a biscuit
joiner and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it.

Thanks!

countertop connector

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...=3,41306,41308

This is true. Assuming you have no other way of cramping or pressing you
_must_ use this type of connector if you want a close joint.

Use biscuits if you wish.

Use a PVA glue which will allow some movement in the join.

Do not not not not not not use a fast glue like polyeurethane.

Tim w

You really dont want to glue that joint. The grain will be running in
opposite directions and seasonal movement will cause splitting or breakage.

I would use something like this:

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...=3,41306,41308


wrote in message
oups.com...
(Disclaimer, I know nothing about wood working).

I'm installing a new butcher block kitchen countertop (oak) and will
be butt joining 2 sections in the corner (90 degrees, no miter).

I had planned to reinforce with biscuits (although I've never used
them before). Not for strength, but more for alignment and a tight
joint.

Is there any other mechanism that would make more sense for butt
joining butcher block countertops? I was going to rent a biscuit
joiner and practice on some scrap to get the hang of it.

Thanks!




--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Stephen M" wrote in message
.. .
You really dont want to glue that joint. The grain will be running in
opposite directions and seasonal movement will cause splitting or
breakage.

I would use something like this:

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/pa...=3,41306,41308

Pocket hole joinery if you can hide it on the back side:
http://www.kregtool.com/
--
NuWave Dave in Houston