I am working on my first big furniture piece, a built-in desk for my home office. The design is an “L” shape to fit into a corner. I am preparing to set the top, two pieces of 1″ plywood, 24″ wide, each 6′ long. In joining the factory edges would you recommend I use biscuits or pocket screws?
Thanks!
Replies
I use biscuits to join plywood. I don't trust the screws to "bite" properly in the plywood.
FREE SPONGE BOB,SANCHO PANTS!
Beat me by one minute ya rat..LOL
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Both. Pocket screws don't always grab real well in the plies, and biscuts and glue makes up for that weakness.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
The biscuits will keep the faces of the ply in alignmnet, the pocket screws will keep them from pulling apart.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Sounds like overwhelming eveidence to use both, I will proceed as instructed.
Thank you gentlemen!
Experienced, but still dangerous!
I've done both and prefer pocket screws in cabinet grade plywood (more plies mean better screw holding)
Everyone else nailed the original question. I have to respond to something else:
"In joining the factory edges..."
Hopefully this is a sub-top. No way the factory edges are good enough for a tight glue line. OK, that's one more reason to use the pocket screws - LOL.
I aggree. The first thing that caught my eye was <factory edge>Factory edges on panel products are only used against a saw fence ,or dust cut on a beam saw or cnc.. When panels are sanded at the mill the edges vary do to the pressure wheels of the sander and inconsistancy of sub veneers.. I would use a straight edge and a 1/2" 3 flute flush cut router bit. If you want a super tight joint , build a jig that would allow you to route both pieces at the same time.A slotting bit and splines are time tested. Pocket screws have a certain amount of shift that can be sanded with solid wood, not with veneer plywood. I think bisquits are the best for edge to edge glue-ups in solid woods.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
I'm going to suggest one other thing which is better then both bisuits or pocket screws!
Dog bones/tight joints, route the pocket for them on the underside like counter tops and pull them together, not going to have to wait for the glue to dry like a biscuit or have allignment problems like the pocket screw.
Its a counter top guys, why not use what works best on counter tops!
Doug
Good call.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Just a lucky guess! :)
BTW, I have to take a picture of this place near where I'm working for you tomarrow.
There is an old farm house that is being torn down, looks to be just your ordinary old farm house, they get to tearing the roof off and peel away part of the sidding and what do they revel? A log cabin underneith it!
Two stories high, dont know what they plan for it but its plenty old, thought it was pretty cool. They stopped tearing it down, hopefully to consider what to do with it. May be the oldest settlement in the little town nearby.
Doug
Sounds like Historical Socity Review.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
That is often the case around here. Lof homes were sided with bevel edge or german drop siding, all Poplar. It became a sign of affluence if you had siding. Hides a lot of termite activity tho'.
That is why I had to tear out the whole SW corner, eaten beyond repair.
Keep me posted.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
I have irriatable Vowel syndrome.
Same - biscuits and bow-ties.
<!----><!----> <!---->
Phill Giles<!----><!---->
The Unionville Woodwright<!----><!---->
bow-ties.
Never heard them called that, fitting though.
Doug
Biscuits all day, you will gain more rigidity with biscuits on that wide of surface.
How about doubling up the plywood so the top seam and bottom seam are in different places. Instead of using 1" ply, you could use 1/2" ply doubled for the same overall thickness. If I were doing it, I think I would use 2 layers of 3/4".
I did some L-shaped closet shelves this way (2 layers of 1/2") and they're strong enough that I don't need any inside corner support. I used white glue and screws to assemble the layers.
-Don