SPINDLE LOCK PIN
FIG 1
TIGE DE VERROUILLAGE DE L'ARBRE
PERNO DE SEGURIDAD DE LA FLECHA
ADJUSTABLE
0
FENCE
GUIDE
RÉGLABLE
GUIA
AJUSTABLE
FIXED SHOE
ANTI-SLIPPAGE PIN
PATIN FIXE
TIGE ANTIDÉRAPAGE
ZAPATA FIJA
PERNO ANTIDERRAPANTE
AUXILIARY HANDLE
POIGNÉE AUXILIAIRE
MANGO AUXILIAR
DUST EXHAUST PORT
BOUTON DE VERROUILLAGE EN MODE
DE FONCTIONNEMENT
PUERTO DEW ESCAPE DE POLVO
FIG 2
1/2"
(12.7 mm)
2 3/8"
(60 mm)
#20
(BISCUITS PLATS)
(LENGÜETAS PLANAS)
biscuit size to suit most applications. After selecting the biscuit size, set the depth adjust-
ment knob to the corresponding size (see Controls section). Also, be sure the fine depth
adjustment is correctly set by first testing in a scrap piece. This is extremely important as
you do not want to discover during glue-up that your biscuit slots are not quite deep
enough.
2. BISCUIT LOCATION AND LAYOUT
Generally, biscuits may be spaced and located at your discretion. For edge joints, a good
rule of thumb is to space biscuits every 6-10 inches on center. It is further recommended
that biscuits be placed so that the centerline of the end biscuits is 2-3 inches from the end
of the workpiece. When joining face frames or picture frames where the workpiece is nar-
row, you may have to choose the smaller biscuit sizes to keep from "breaking out" on the
end of the joint. Breaking out should be avoided if possible, but if not you can assemble
the joint and trim off the exposed biscuit tip after the glue sets (see Figure 13). When
working with material up to 1" thick, we advise to use a single biscuit located in the
approximate center of the material thickness. If thicker stock is to be joined, you may
choose to use 2 biscuits across the thickness for greater strength (see Figure 14). Biscuit
locations should be marked by first positioning the mating pieces exactly as they are to
be assembled. Next, make a mark at 90° to the joint interface across both pieces at the
desired biscuit locations (see Figure 15). See Application section for more specific infor-
mation on joint layout. The marks you make will then be aligned with one of the center
registration marks on the tool, again, depending upon your specific application.
3. MAKING THE CUT
Prior to making any cut, be sure that all fence adjustments are set and lock knobs are
tight. Also, be sure you have selected the proper depth setting. Clamp your workpiece
firmly and align the plate joiner's center registration mark with your layout mark. Turn on
the tool and let the blade come up to full speed (approximately 1 second). Grasping the
switch handle and auxiliary handle and positioning the fence firmly and squarely against
the workpiece, plunge the blade until it bottoms against the stop. Continuing to hold the
tool squarely and firmly, allow the return spring to retract the blade from the work and then
release the switch to shut the tool off. It will take some practice to obtain a "feel" for the
tool to produce accurate joints, so practicing in scrap wood first is advisable.
4. JOINT ASSEMBLY
After your joints are cut, you may wish to trial fit everything together before gluing. When
you are satisfied with your joints, evenly spread any good quality woodworking glue in
each slot as well as on the mating flat surfaces of your joint. Place biscuits in the slots,
assemble the joint and clamp until dry. For a biscuit joint to be most effective, it is impor-
tant that the biscuits themselves be in contact with the glue. This is because the biscuits
absorb the moisture in the glue and expand to form a tight joint.
Applications
1. EDGE TO EDGE JOINTS (See Figure 16)
This is the simplest to make and most common joint for the plate joiner. Follow the steps
below to produce this joint.
A. Prepare the workpieces and lay them on a work surface exactly as they are to be
assembled.
B. Spacing biscuits 2-3" in from the ends and 6-10" apart, layout the biscuit centers.
C. Set up the plate joiner by first selecting the proper depth setting. Set the fence to 90°.
Set the height adjustment to position the biscuit in the approximate center of the stock
thickness.
D. Clamp the workpiece and position the tool so that the center indicator mark lines up
with the first layout mark (see Figure 17). Turn on the tool and make the plunge cut.
Retract the tool and release the trigger to turn the tool off. Repeat for each layout mark.
E. Glue, assemble and clamp the joint.
F. For stock thicker than 1", you may wish to use double biscuits at each location. Set the
height adjustment to allow at least 3/16" of stock between the biscuit and the edge of
the work surface. Make all cuts at this fence setting before readjusting the fence for the
lower cuts. Again, there should be at least 3/16" of stock between the biscuit and the
outside wall and between the biscuits themselves (see Figure 18).
2. FRAME JOINTS (See Figure 19)
Frame joints are an ideal application for biscuit joinery. With the plate joiner you can cre-
ate a very strong, precise joint that is much faster to make than a dowel or mortise and
tenon joint. Figure 19 shows two types of frame joints. Follow the steps outlined below.
A. Arrange the workpieces on a flat work surface exactly as they are to be assembled.
B. Select the proper biscuit size based on the length of the joint. (If the frame pieces are
too narrow for a #0 biscuit, you will have to allow the biscuit tip to protrude slightly and
then trim it off after the joint is dry (see Figure 13).
C. Lay out the biscuit locations.
D. Set up the tool by selecting the depth that corresponds to the chosen biscuit size. Lock
the fence at 90° and adjust the fence height to center the biscuit on the stock thick-
ness.
E. Clamp the workpiece and position the Plate Joiner to make the first cut (see Figure 20).
F. Turn on the tool and make the plunge cut.
G. Repeat for each layout mark.
H. Glue, assemble and clamp the frame.
3. CORNER JOINTS (See Figure 21)
Corner joints are another common and excellent application for biscuit joinery. Follow the
procedure below.
A. Arrange the workpieces exactly as they are to be joined.
B. Select the biscuit size and layout the biscuit locations.
C. Set up the tool by selecting the proper depth setting, adjusting the fence to center on
the stock thickness and setting the angle to 90°.
D. For this joint, you will make cuts into the edge of one workpiece and the face of anoth-
er. The edge cut is performed the same as for edge to edge joints. The face cut is
made by clamping the workpiece and aligning the tool as shown in Figure 22. Turn
the tool on, make the plunge cut and repeat for each layout mark.
E. Glue, assemble and clamp the joint.
4. OFFSET JOINTS (See Figure 23)
You may wish to have a deliberate offset between two workpieces. This is easily accom-
plished with your plate joiner by performing the following steps.
A. Arrange the workpieces as they are to be assembled and layout the biscuit locations.
B. Set up the tool by selecting the proper biscuit size and adjusting the fence angle to 90°.
Select the workpiece that will be set back and adjust the fence height to center the cut
within the thickness of that piece.
C. Clamp the workpiece, align the tool and make the plunge cut.
D. Next, adjust the fence up by an amount equal to the desired offset. Use the scale and
pointer located on the right side of the tool under the fence lock knob.
E. Clamp the second workpiece, align the tool and make the plunge cut.
F. Glue, assemble and clamp the joint.
LOCK ON BUTTON
BOUTON DE VERROUILLAGE
PERILLA DE SEGURIDAD
TRIGGER SWITCH
INTERRUPTEUR À DÉTENTE
GATILLO INTERRUPTOR
T
PLUNGE DEPTH ADJUSTMENT KNOB
BOUTON DE RÉGLAGE DE LA PROFONDEUR
PERILLA DE AJUSTE DE PROFUNDIDAD DE
PENETRACION
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT KNOB
BOUTON DE RÉGLAGE DE LA HAUTEUR
PERILLA DE AJUSTE DE ALTURA
LOCK KNOB
BOUTON DE VERROUILLAGE
BOTON DE ENCENDIDO
PERMANENTE
3/8"
(9.5 mm)
5/16"
(8 mm)
2 3/16"
1 13/16"
(56 mm)
(46mm)
#10
#0
(FLAT BISCUITS)
FIG 3
EDGE TO EDGE JOINT
"T" JOINT
45° FRAME JOINT
ASSEMBLAGE EN ABOUT
ASSEMBLAGE
EN T
ASSEMBLAGE À 45˚
POUR CADRES
ENSAMBLE A
MEDIA MADERA
ENSAMBLE EN T
ENSAMBLE A 45˚
PARA MARCOS
FIG 4
FIG 6
EL INDICADOR APUNTA LA MARCA DE 1/2"
CENTRE DE LA LAME – 12 MM (1/2 PO)
LINEA CENTRAL DE LA CUCHILLA 1/2"
FIG 7
FIG 8
FINE DEPTH ADJUSTMENT
RÉGLAGE DE PRÉCISION DE LA PROFONDEUR
AJUSTE FINO DE PROFUNDIDAD
FIG 9
ANTI-SLIPPAGE PIN
TIGE ANTIDÉRAPAGE
PERENO ANTIDERRAPANTE
FIG. 10
ROTATE ELBOW FOR DESIRED
EXHAUST DIRECTION
FAIRE TOURNER LE COUDE
DANS LE SENS
D'ÉVACUATION VOULU
GIRE EL CODO EN LA
DIRECCION QUE DESEA QUE
ESCAPE EL POLVO
FIG 11
VACUUM HOSE
CONNECTION
ADAPTATEUR POUR
BOYAU D'ASPIRATEUR
CONEXION PARA
MANGUERA DE
ASPIRADORA
EDGE
MITRE
JOINT
CORNER
JOINT
OFFSET
OFFSET JOINT
JOINT EN
BISEAU
ASSEMBLAGE À
EMBOÎTEMENT
DÉ CENTRÉ
JOINT DÉ CENTRÉ
ENSAMBLE DE
INGLETE
ENSAMBLE
DE ESQUINA
RELIEVE
ENSAMBLE CON RELIEVE
FIG 5
ADJUSTMENT KNOB
BOUTON DE RÉGLAGE
GUIA AJUSTABLE
LOCK KNOB
BOUTON DE RÉGLAGE DE LA HAUTEUR
AJUSTE FINO DE PROFUNDIDAD
POINTER POINTS TO 1/2" MARK
L'INDICATEUR MONTRE LA
MARQUE DE 12 MM (1/2 PO)
1/2" CENTERLINE OF BLADE
RED MARK
MARQUE ROUGE
MARCA ROJA