DeWalt No. 10 Size Joining Biscuits (75 Count)

First impressions and setup

I reached for the DeWalt No. 10 biscuits on a week of cabinet builds and a couple of small furniture repairs—exactly the sort of mixed work where I lean on biscuits for quick alignment and added glue surface. The resealable 75-count bag is convenient in a busy shop. I could toss it in a drawer without repackaging and, more importantly, keep the contents reasonably dry between uses. Out of the bag, the biscuits looked like what you’d expect: compressed beech with that familiar diagonal grain that helps resist splitting and helps the glue spread.

I used them with a standard plate joiner and water-based PVA glues (both regular yellow glue and a slower-set variant). Slots were cut in maple, birch plywood, and soft pine, with a few test joints in walnut to push fit and color contrast.

Fit and dimensional consistency

On first use, the biscuits seated in my #10 slots with the right amount of resistance for a dry fit—snug enough to stay put, not so tight that I had to fight them. That’s the behavior I want before glue gets involved. After running through about half the bag, I did notice a bit of variance. Most were consistent, but a small handful were either slightly undersized (resulting in a looser dry fit) or showed minor edge chipping. A couple had enough corner damage that I set them aside rather than force a questionable piece into a joint that needed to stay precise.

Measuring a sample with calipers, thickness clustered right around the typical range for #10 biscuits, with a few outliers on the thin side. It wasn’t pervasive, but it’s worth noting if you’re aiming for ultra-tight, repeatable alignment across a long production run or if you tend to mill your slots on the tighter end of the tolerance window.

Glue-up behavior and swelling

Where these biscuits earned their keep was during glue-up. The compressed beech did exactly what it should: resist swelling while dry and then expand once the water-based glue hit it. After about five minutes, I could feel joints tighten up, and by clamp time (8–10 minutes in my shop’s conditions), things were locked in. That predictable swell gave me the extra mechanical grip I expect from biscuits—especially helpful when aligning long panel glue-ups and face frames.

I didn’t see premature swelling from humidity in the shop, which tells me the stock is sufficiently dry and the bag does its job. If you work in a very humid environment, it’s still smart practice to seal the bag and consider moving biscuits into a sealed container with a desiccant packet for belt-and-suspenders insurance.

Real-world tests

• Cabinet carcass alignment in prefinished birch ply: The biscuits slid cleanly into the slots and made it easier to keep the faces flush on the long edges. Glue squeeze-out behaved normally, and I didn’t notice telegraphing through the thin top veneer. No swelling issues or blowouts.
• Edge-joining 4/4 maple for a tabletop: I used a biscuit every 6–8 inches for alignment, more than strength. Joints were straight and stayed in plane during clamping. After cure and a light pass with a hand plane, I couldn’t find a lip.
• Repairing a broken chair rail in walnut: I used a couple of biscuits as internal splines. The color difference wasn’t a factor since they’re hidden, and the expansion during glue-up helped stabilize the repair.

In all cases, the biscuits performed predictably once glue was applied. The only annoyance came from the few pieces that were out-of-spec or chipped—easy enough to weed out, but it adds a few minutes of sorting.

Material and build quality

The beech stock is compressed uniformly and the diagonal grain does what it’s meant to do—improve strength across the biscuit and encourage even glue distribution. The faces have a dependable texture for glue bite. I didn’t run into oiliness or surface contamination that would interfere with adhesion. The sustainability claim (harvested from well-managed North American forests) is a plus for anyone trying to be more mindful about consumables.

Packaging and storage

The resealable bag is simple but useful. It’s not a shop-tough container—drop a heavy clamp on it and you’ll wish it were a plastic tub—but it reseals reliably and keeps moisture at bay. If biscuits are a daily driver for you, transferring them to an airtight bin is still the best practice. For intermittent use, the bag is fine.

Compatibility and use cases

These are standard #10s, so they fit slots from every plate joiner I tried. They shine for:

• Panel glue-ups where you need assistance keeping faces flush
• Cabinet construction in plywood and MDF
• Face frames and quick alignment tasks during assembly
• Light reinforcement in repairs where a full spline or domino would be overkill

Like any biscuit, they’re not a replacement for a true structural joint when high load paths are involved, but they add meaningful glue surface and make assemblies faster and more predictable.

Where they fall short

The weak point is consistency. The majority of the bag was good-to-go, but the scatter of undersized and chipped biscuits undercuts confidence if you’re used to premium-grade consumables. If you’re doing fine furniture work where every joint must be identical and you’re queuing up dozens of biscuits in a production setting, the extra sorting time is a nuisance.

Another minor ding: there’s no warranty coverage here (typical for consumables), so if you happen upon a bag with a higher-than-normal defect rate, you’re relying on retailer return policies rather than manufacturer backing.

Tips to get the best results

• Sort before you start: Give the bag a quick pass—set aside any biscuits with chipped edges or obvious size anomalies. It takes two minutes and prevents surprises during glue-up.
• Dry fit selectively: On critical joints, dry fit a biscuit or two per edge to confirm slot size and biscuit fit.
• Mind humidity: Keep the bag sealed. If your shop is humid, toss the biscuits into an airtight container with a desiccant pack.
• Use the right glue: These are tuned for water-based adhesives. If you switch to polyurethane or epoxy, you won’t get the same predictable swell.
• Cut clean slots: A sharp blade on your joiner and a steady hand reduce tear-out that can make a borderline biscuit feel too loose.

Value and alternatives

Price-wise, these typically land in the middle. The bag size is practical for small to medium projects. If you prioritize absolute consistency, there are premium options that tend to ship with tighter tolerances—and you’ll usually pay a bit more for that privilege. If you mostly use biscuits for alignment on casework and shop projects, the occasional cull from this bag won’t move the needle on cost or time.

The bottom line

These DeWalt No. 10 biscuits do the core job well: they stay stable in the bag, fit standard slots, and swell predictably with water-based glue to create aligned, strong joints in lumber and plywood. In my shop, they made cabinet assembly and panel alignment faster and more repeatable, which is why I reach for biscuits in the first place.

Would I recommend them? Yes—with a caveat. For general woodworking, cabinetry, and everyday alignment tasks, they’re a reliable, convenient choice that behaves exactly as a compressed beech biscuit should during glue-up. Just expect to cull the occasional piece for size or chipping. If you’re chasing top-tier consistency for fine furniture or production runs where every second counts and every biscuit must be perfect, consider stepping up to a premium alternative. For most of us doing a mix of casework and small builds, these are a solid, practical consumable to keep on hand.