This is a perfect example of how a Shopsmith can be used to replace a jig or fixture.
Using a biscuits to join thick boards can be a pain in the neck. My original plan was to attach my biscuit joiner to a board and use shims. It took lots of patience to find the right combination of shims, and if I didn’t tighten the bolts equally the slot turned out crooked.
My next plan was to use the biscuit joiner in combination with my Shopsmith. By offsetting the tables, I could more easily cut biscuit slots in thick boards.
The real answer came when I bought a Shopsmith biscuit joiner. It has the most power and capacity of any biscuit joiner on the market.
The Shopsmith does all of the real work for you. The blade is exactly parallel to the table, so the cuts are always precise.
Joining thick boards requires a double-biscuit joint, so I’m going to slide this piece of plywood onto the Shopsmith table and cut a second slot.
There you have it—two slots that are exactly parallel.
The second board is thinner, so I’ll have make a quick adjustment. It only takes about thirty seconds to lower the quill and lock in place.
Cutting into the end grain of a 2 X 4 requires some side support. I’m locking the miter gauge in place with my Allen wrench. This is also a good way to set up for production work, even if you’re not cutting into end grain.
This is a quick test before I cut—everything seems okay.
After I cut the first slot, I slide the plywood in place to cut the second.
All four slots line up perfectly…
And we’re done!
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