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Sloppy-Fitting Biscuits Question
Forum Responses
From contributor D: I also have the DeWalt biscuit cutter. I get my biscuits at Home Depot, which are made by Porter Cable and fit a little loose. I was concerned at first, so I did some sample pieces. You have to make sure you get glue into the biscuit cut out on both pieces. After the joint cured overnight, I ripped it on the table saw right down the joint. Sure enough, those things do expand and make a good, tight joint. From contributor J: I also have the DW and PC biscuit machine. I use the PC biscuits also. Once I have them in shop for a short time, I wind up having to sort them because bunches wind up tight. Usually I pile them up and then chuck them in the microwave for about 20 seconds or so, so they dry out a little and fit better. From contributor I: I find the Lamello, Kaiser, and Virutex brand biscuits are more consistent and of a better fit. From contributor L: Nuke 'em, eh? I've got to try that. I separate my biscuits into loose and tight depending on the type of fit I need for a particular job. Thanks for the insight. From contributor J: The other thing I found that helps is to keep the biscuits in a Ziploc bag. This helps keep them dry. I use the cheap plastic food containers to hold the baggies, which really does keep them under better control. From contributor C: I'm in hot and humid Florida (well, most of the year). I store my biscuits in zip-lock bags in the air-conditioned office, and also nuke them when necessary. Just be careful with the microwave. Those biscuits really get hot when the moisture boils out! From contributor H: I have started using a Kreg pneumatic pocket cutter and my biscuit machine is collecting dust. I have not found an application where it cannot be substituted. From contributor J: Biscuits sure as heck make alignment of parts to pocketscrew together nice and easy, especially glueups. From contributor R: I had the same problem with a DeWalt biscuit cutter. I had my saw man take a little off the sides of the cutter, and they all fit perfectly now. I'm thinking that the DeWalt must have a little more runout than it should, since we had the same problem with two DeWalts. I still like the Virutex better. I bought one when they first came on the market, and it still works well. Would you like to add information to this article? Interested in writing or submitting an article? Have a question about this article? Have you reviewed the related Knowledge Base areas below? 
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