Q: I just got the DW682K biscuit joiner. I made some test slots with the depth adjustment set for #20 biscuits. I put #20 biscuits in the slots and then I noticed that I could slide the two boards almost 1.5 inches in either direction from the centerline! I then measured the width of the slot that was cut. It was 3" wide. I was under the impression that #20 slots should be only 2 5/8" wide, allowing the boards to slide no more than about 1/8" from the centerline in each direction. My question is: do I have a defective 682K, defective #20 biscuits, or is this much side to side play normal for the 682K. If its normal, how do I fix it?

A: It sounds to me like this unit is slightly out of adjustment. The cut slot should actually be about 2 7/8 inches long for a #20 biscuit. (This is the distance between the two outside red lines on the bottom of the base of the unit also. They are there to show how far a #20 slot goes.) The slot width is easily adjusted by changing the depth of plunge which is adjusted with the "depth stop" screw which can be seen in a hole in the front right side of the unit. (you may have to move the fence up to see the hole.) The slot will appear a little larger than you would expect as the beachwood biscuits will swell considerably with a water based glue. Biscuits are made of Beachwood because it swells very consistently. You should have no concern about the strength of your joints with a 2 7/8" slot.

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