Grizzly C1098 User guide

Biscuit joining produces very strong joints for edge -to-edge joining and for edge-to-face joining. You can
use your new C1098 or C1102 Slot cutting router bits in your portable router to cut the pockets for the stan­dard size #0, #10 and #20 biscuits rather than investing in an expensive biscuit joining machine. All you
need is a simple fixture to locate and cut the biscuit
pockets in your project.

The fixture can be easily constructed using the
instructions below. The fixture is simply a

1

⁄4" piece
of plywood or Masonite™ with a solid strip of wood
attached to the lower front edge which acts as a
guide to locate against the workpiece. A semi-circu­lar cutout in the fixture acts a guide for the router bit.
The size of the slot which will be cut is determined
by the distance between the bottom of the circular
cutout and the workpiece. Generally it is best to
make a separate fixture for each biscuit size you will
be using.The vertical positioning of the slot on the
edge is controlled by the depth of cut on the router.
A sight hole aids in the alignment of the center of the circle with the registration line drawn on the work­piece.

BBUUIILLDDIINNGG TTHHEE FFIIXXTTUURREE

11..

Start with a solid piece of wood measuring approximately 8" long by 4"
wide. approximately 1" thick. This piece will become the guide runner which
will locate against the
edge of the workpiece.
With a compass or cir­cle template, draw a cir­cle with a 2

7

⁄8" diameter
at the edge of the
board, centered along
its length (

SSeeee FFiigguurree

22))..

Use a hole saw,
band saw or jig saw to
cut out the circle. Don’t

be concerned about maintaining perfect circle
dimensions on the portion of the circle near the edge,
as this will be cut away in a later step.

22..

Determine which biscuit size you plan to use with the
fixture. Measure the appropriate distance as indicated in Figure 2 from the edge of the circle, and draw
a line. Rip the length of the piece along that line.

33..

Do a second rip cut parallel to the first which goes through the approximate center of the 2

7

⁄8" diameter

circle. This does not need to go through the exact center of the circle, but make sure the cut leaves no

IINNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONNSS FFOORR BBIISSCCUUIITT JJOOIINNEERRYY FFIIXXTTUURREE

FFOORR CC11009988 AANNDD CC11110022 SSLLOOTT CCUUTTTTIINNGG RROOUUTTEERR BBIITTSS

© May 2003 Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

525403622

FFiigguurree 11..

Biscuit fixture in use (clamps not shown for clarity).

FFiigguurree 22..

Laying out guide runner.

Fixture

Workpiece

Registration Lines

• Unplug shaper before
installing or adjusting cutter.

• Keep all guards and anti-kick­back devices in place.

• Double check bit to insure i t is
tight and secure in spindle.

• Always inspect lumber and other
wood materials for cracks,
knots, or other imperfections
that could cause lumber to kick
or shatter while milling.

5

1

⁄2'' MIN

1
3

2 7⁄8 '' DIA

⁄16 '' - #0
⁄4 '' - #10
⁄16 '' - #20

RIP CUT #1

4'' MIN

8'' MIN

RIP CUT #2

more than a half-circle shape in the runner.

44..

The pattern is the surface which the router plate will
sit on. Take a piece of plywood or Masonite™ which
is approximately

1

⁄4" thick and measures 8" wide and
is the same overall length as the guide runner made
above. Attach the guide runner to the edge of this
piece with two or more flush mounted wood screws
and wood glue. (

SSeeee FFiigguurree 33))

Make sure the front

edge is flush with the edge of the guide runner.

55..

Use a flush trimming bit in your router to cut the semi­circular arc in the pattern, using the runner as a
guide. You can also trim all the other edges so they
are flush.

66..

Drill a sight hole through the pattern about

5

⁄8 - 3⁄4" from the apex of the circular cutout. This hole will be

used to line up the fixture on the positioning mark in your workpiece.

77..

Attach the fixture to the edge of a scrap piece and clamp it securely in place. With the slot cutting bit
installed in your router, make sure the depth is set so the slot will be cut in the middle of the thickness
of the guide runner. Carefully ease the router into the runner and, with the bit’s guide bearing, follow the
curvature of the circle. Slot all the way around the circle, and about halfway along the straight length of
the runner. You may want to adjust the depth of cut up or down and take successive cuts so the slot in
the fixture will be wider than the slot you are cutting in the workpiece.

CCUUTTTTIINNGG AA BBIISSCCUUIITT PPOOCCKKEETT

11..

Install either the C1098 or C1102 slot cutting router bit into your router. Follow the router manufactur­er’s instructions for mounting the router bit and be sure to follow all safety instructions.

22..

Align the two pieces which are to be joined using biscuits. Mark a line across both pieces perpendicu­lar to the face where the slot will be cut. The number of biscuits required to join two surfaces will depend
upon the size of the biscuit being used and the type
and condition of the wood. Generally, though, spac­ing between biscuits should be about 6" to 12".

33..

Align the fixture along the edge of one of the pieces.
Use the sight hole to center the fixture with the line
you made in Step 2. Clamp the fixture to the work­piece so it will not move while routing.

44..

Set the router depth of cut so the cutter will be
approximately centered on the edge. It is not neces­sary that it be precisely centered, as long as the slots
for the mating surfaces are cut from the same side of
the workpiece.

55..

Set the router base plate onto the pattern top and turn
the router on with the bit free of contact with the guide runner. With a firm grasp on the router, ease the
router into the slot until the guide bearing of the slot cutting bit contacts the edge of the fixture.

((SSeeee

FFiigguurree 44))

Start the cutting process at the left side of the arc and work around the circle to the right until

the bit exits the fixture. Turn the router off and reposition the fixture for the next cut.

FFiigguurree 33..

Attaching upper pattern guide.

FFiigguurree 44..

End view of router and fixture.

PPeerrffoorrmmiinngg tthhiiss pprroocceedduurree hhaass tthhee ppootteennttiiaall ttoo pprrooppeell ddeebbrriiss iinnttoo tthhee aaiirr wwhhiicchh ccaann ccaauussee eeyyee iinnjjuurryy.. AAllwwaayyss wweeaarr
ssaaffeettyy ggllaasssseess oorr ggoogggglleess wwhheenn ooppeerraattiinngg eeqquuiippmmeenntt.. BBee cceerrttaaiinn tthhee ssaaffeettyy ggllaasssseess yyoouu wweeaarr mmeeeett tthhee aapppprroo--
pprriiaattee ssttaannddaarrddss ooff tthhee AAmmeerriiccaann NNaattiioonnaall SSttaannddaarrddss IInnssttiittuuttee ((AANNSSII))..

Sight Hole

© May 2003 Grizzly Industrial, Inc.

525403622

End View

Pattern

Workpiece

Guide Edge

1

/4''

6 - 8''