DeWalt No. 20 Size Joining Biscuits (75 Count)

A biscuit I can trust to behave

I judge biscuits by three things: consistency, fit, and how they behave once the glue hits. The DeWalt No. 20 biscuits check the right boxes for everyday cabinetry and panel glue-ups, and after several weeks of use across plywood and hardwood projects, they’ve earned a spot on my bench.

What stands out

These are compressed beech biscuits with a diagonally oriented grain—exactly what you want for predictable swelling and decent shear resistance. Dry out of the bag, they’re dimensionally stable and uniform, which matters because biscuit joints rely as much on that initial, predictable fit as they do on swelling with a water-based glue. With PVA, they expand as expected, locking in alignment without forcing joints apart or telegraphing through thin veneers when you use reasonable clamping pressure.

The bag is a modest 75 count and resealable. For a small shop or weekend projects, that’s a convenient size. I tossed a silica packet in the bag and had no pre-swelling issues, even in a humid week.

Fit and compatibility

I cut slots with both a DeWalt plate joiner and a Makita, then tested these biscuits across hard maple, white oak, and birch plywood. Dry fits were consistently snug without needing persuasion. Once glue was added, they seated with firm finger pressure and the occasional tap from a mallet—right where I like them. I didn’t run into the sloppy tolerance mismatches I sometimes get with bargain biscuits where a few feel undersized and rattle in the slot.

These are standard No. 20s, which are the workhorse size for 3/4-inch material. They’re ideal for:

• Edge-joining panels and tabletops
• Aligning face frames to cabinet boxes
• Reinforcing mitered corners in boxes and frames
• Registering shelves or partitions in carcass work

They are not a good fit for thin stock. In 1/2-inch material you risk blowout near the faces; that’s a limitation of the size, not the brand. If you do a lot of lighter work, keep #10 or #0 biscuits on hand.

In the shop: how they performed

• Panel glue-ups: On a maple countertop and a pair of veneered plywood panels, the biscuits did exactly what they should—kept the faces flush so I could clamp quickly without chasing alignment. They don’t add much tensile strength in long-grain edge joints—your glue bond does that—but they absolutely reduce the “skate” you get when you clamp boards.
• Mitered corners: I cut twin slots in 3/4-inch miters for small cabinet doors. The swelling helped lock the corners, and the diagonally oriented grain held up without crumbling in the thinnest parts of the oval. Miters stayed aligned with minimal fuss.
• Plywood carcasses: In birch ply, they registered shelves and dividers cleanly. I avoided cutting too close to the veneer and had no telegraphing after finishing.

I also ran a small batch in particleboard and MDF. The biscuits held as expected; alignment was spot on. As always, dust extraction and a quick brush in the slot make a noticeable difference in seating any biscuit cleanly in man-made panels.

Glue behavior and timing

These biscuits behave best with water-based PVA glues. The initial dry fit is controlled; then they swell enough to eliminate play. With polyurethane glues, the expansion is less predictable at the biscuit level, and you lose the “tightening” effect that makes biscuits so convenient. They’ll still work, but you won’t get that same wedging action.

One important workflow note: don’t rush sanding over the biscuit locations. With any compressed beech biscuit, you can sand a panel dead flush right after clamping, only to find a slight dip the next day as the swollen area equalizes. I let panels rest overnight before final sanding. With that, I saw no ghosting under film finishes.

Consistency and quality

In my bag, the thickness and outline were uniform, with a clean stamp and minimal fuzz at the edges. I culled two with chipped ends out of the 75—par for the course and better than many generics. None felt pre-swelled, which tells me the packaging did its job and the stock was properly dried and compressed before cutting.

The diagonal grain orientation isn’t just marketing; it matters when you’re loading the biscuit in shear (miters, corner joints) because it resists splitting along the long axis. In practice, that translated to fewer broken tips when tapping them home.

Packaging and storage

The resealable bag is useful, though I’d still recommend throwing in a desiccant and keeping it closed between glue-ups. Biscuits that soak up ambient humidity become a fight, and you risk blowout in tight slots. For high-volume work, a rigid tub is nicer, but for 75 pieces the bag is fine and takes up little space.

Limitations to keep in mind

• They’re alignment tools first: Biscuits add some mechanical resistance and help with racking in plywood, but they aren’t a substitute for dominos, dowels, or mortise-and-tenon joinery in high-stress applications.
• Size matters: #20s shine in 3/4-inch material. Don’t try to force them into thinner stock.
• Glue choice: To get the intended swelling, use water-based glues. If you’re married to polyurethane, expect a looser feel.
• Bulk users: If you chew through hundreds a month, the 75-pack isn’t cost-efficient compared to large cartons.

Tips for best results

• Mark and test: Strike clear centerlines and dry-fit your biscuits before glue. Correct any fence settings or slot depths then.
• Keep them dry: Store in the resealable bag with a desiccant. If a biscuit feels swollen, set it aside.
• Control dust: Vacuum or blow out slots in plywood and MDF. Fine dust makes seating inconsistent.
• Clamp smart: Use cauls for panel glue-ups; biscuits help alignment, but cauls keep panels dead-flat.
• Be patient: Let joints equilibrate before final flush trimming or sanding near biscuit locations.

Value and alternatives

These DeWalt biscuits sit in a sweet spot: more consistent than off-brand bulk bags I’ve tried, not as expensive as premium imports. The 75-pack is perfect if you’re tackling a few cabinets, a tabletop, or a run of frames and don’t want a thousand biscuits aging in your shop air. If you demand absolute zero variation, there are higher-priced options. For most woodworking, the consistency here is more than sufficient, and the convenience of a sealed small pack is a real advantage.

Sourcing from well-managed North American forests is a nice touch. It doesn’t change how they behave in a slot, but it’s good to see responsible material sourcing called out.

Bottom line

These No. 20 biscuits are reliable, consistent, and do what biscuits are supposed to do: make glue-ups faster and alignment easier without introducing surprises. I didn’t have to work around poor sizing or moisture issues, and their behavior with PVA was predictable across hardwoods and sheet goods.

Recommendation: I recommend these for anyone who regularly works in 3/4-inch stock and wants dependable alignment without stepping up to more complex joinery. They’re a solid, trustworthy choice for panel work, carcasses, and miters, with quality and consistency that justify them over the cheapest options—especially if you value the convenience of a sealed, right-sized bag.