Was Norm Abram Wrong to Use This DeWalt Tool on the New Yankee Workshop?

Woodworking crafts, woodworking iNthacity Network January 18, 2025 0 Comments

Can you believe it’s already been four years since we last talked about biscuit joiners? Time flies, doesn’t it? Now, before you click away thinking this might be the most boring subject on YouTube, give me a chance. After you see what I’m going to show you, I think you might end up fighting over one of these the next time you see one at a yard sale or flea market. Why? Because the biscuit joiner is one of the most misunderstood tools in the shop. It’s much more valuable than you may think—if you know what it can do and, equally as important, what it shouldn’t be used for.

Let’s dive into the world of biscuit joiners, inspired by the legendary Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton), who breaks it all down in his signature no-nonsense style. If you’ve ever wondered whether this tool is a gimmick or a game-changer, you’re in the right place.

The Biscuit Joiner: A Tool of Legend (and Misuse)

I’ll bet 80% of the biscuit joiners sitting in shops and garages today were bought during the run of The New Yankee Workshop on PBS. Norm Abram, the show’s host, loved his biscuits. He used them in nearly every project, and he used them for some things that nobody should even attempt to do. But was he wrong? Is the biscuit joiner a useless gimmick, or is it a valuable piece of woodworking equipment that you should consider adding to your shop?

Let’s get one thing straight: I don’t sell biscuit joiners, but I do use them. So, let me give you an unbiased assessment. Biscuits are stronger than some people give them credit for, but they shouldn’t be confused with loose tenons (like those little dominoes) or even a good dowel joint. Biscuits aren’t strong enough to connect legs to tables and chairs, for example. But where they shine is in edge-gluing panels or assembling casework boxes for cabinets and chests.

What Biscuits Are Great At: Alignment, Not Strength

In these applications, the biscuit adds a little bit of strength, but what they’re really great at is assisting in your assembly. Well-cut biscuit slots will help your parts go together perfectly flush, preventing them from slipping out of alignment when you add glue and clamps. That can mean faster, stress-free glue-ups and a lot less sanding later.

Notice I said well-cut biscuit slots. If your biscuits fit too loosely and wobble in the slot, they’re not going to help you align anything. Biscuits are meant to absorb glue and swell for a tighter fit, but even without glue, a biscuit should not fit too loosely in the slot. Poorly fitting slots are usually caused by a bad biscuit joiner. The cutter may not run true, or the fence may not remain rigid, creating a slot that’s wider than the thickness of the blade and the biscuit.

The Biscuit Joiner’s Dirty Little Secret

Another problem may be the biscuit itself. These little guys can shrink or expand based on the climate, so you have to keep them in a sealed container or bag. If your biscuits usually fit well but for one project they seem extra loose or dry, spritz them with a little water to swell them up a bit—especially if you don’t intend to use glue to swell them inside the slot. On the flip side, if it’s a humid day and your biscuits have to be hammered into the slots, throw them in the microwave for a minute or two of drying.

Of course, I’m not saying biscuits should be used in every joint. There are other ways to align your workpieces, and most of the time, you probably don’t need them. But they can be really helpful in a lot of situations, such as large glue-ups like big casework or giant panels for counters and tabletops.

When Biscuits Save the Day

A while back, we were edge-gluing thick walnut planks for some counters, and without the biscuits, it would have been really difficult to force out the bows and get everything together before the glue started to set up. The biscuits didn’t replace clamps to keep the panel flat while it dried, but they made things a lot easier to align and get clamped up.

Of course, there are also some downsides to using biscuits. For one thing, if you cut a slot too close to the outer surface of a panel, over time, the biscuit can shrink more than the panel itself. If the biscuit was glued in that slot, as it shrinks, it can pull down the wood fibers and create a visible indentation on the finished surface. So, on things like tabletops, you might want to install them closer to the bottom surface than to the top surface.

The Danger Zone: Safety First!

Now, here’s something I see people do from time to time—and yes, even Norm Abram was guilty of this in an early episode of The New Yankee Workshop. The cutter in a biscuit joiner is a small saw blade, and just like a table saw, it can bind in the curve and kick that piece of wood out of your hand, leaving nothing between you and the cutter. I know the blade is designed to retract back into the machine, but dirt and corrosion can slow that spring mechanism. Do you really want to see if your hand gets to that blade before it’s fully withdrawn?

A biscuit joiner is a useful tool, but you must remember: a biscuit is not a tenon. Think of it like a spline. It’ll help you align project parts, but it’s not going to add a lot of strength to the joint. Is that enough to justify buying a biscuit joiner? I don’ think so—at least not at full price. These things are expensive. But it is enough to justify borrowing one from a friend once in a while. Just make sure he has a good one. A cheap biscuit joiner is worse than none at all.

Should You Buy a Biscuit Joiner?

If you find yourself using it a lot, then offer to buy it from your friend because he’s probably not using his at all. Or track down a used one. If you can get a good brand that’s in good shape for under a hundred bucks, jump on it. Eventually, you’re going to be glad you had it.

Bottom line: a biscuit joiner is a tool that can be very useful if it’s used properly and fits into your workflow. That’s why Norm liked it, and it’s why I do too. Of course, I do use mine a lot less now that I own a domino joiner, but that’s another subject for another day.

Watch the Original Video

Before you go, check out the original video from Stumpy Nubs for a deeper dive into the world of biscuit joiners:

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Was Norm Abram WRONG to use this on the New Yankee Workshop?

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Final Thoughts: Is a Biscuit Joiner Worth It?

So, is a biscuit joiner worth the investment? It depends on your workflow and the type of projects you tackle. If you frequently work on large panels or casework, it can be a lifesaver. But if you’re more into small, intricate joinery, you might not need it. Either way, it’s a tool that deserves a second look—especially if you can snag a good deal on a used one.

What do you think? Do you swear by your biscuit joiner, or is it collecting dust in your shop? Let me know in the comments below. And if you’re not already part of the iNthacity community, what are you waiting for? Join the "Shining City on the Web" and become a permanent resident today. Like, share, and let’s keep the conversation going!

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