trying to build a stair tread

[Tom7227]

I am trying to build a stair tread for an area that has 1/2 plywood all the way across. It is 16 inches deep and 72 inches wide. I bought 3 red oak 8 foot 1x6 boards. I am going to biscuit and glue them. How close together should the biscuits be? I have some that are #10 and some that are #20. Which should I use?

Thanks for your time.

Tom

[Surface Tension]

Can't say because I don't think a good glue joint needs them.

What do you think about ripping the 1x6 in half, jointing the edges and gluing it up.

Stagger the end grain like this and celebrate the difference in the wood tone and grain.

|////|\\\\|////|\\\\|////|\\\\|////|\\\\|

Just thinking because your depth divided by 3 isn't that great for eye appeal plus warp factor.

[PurpleFloyd]

You can use them as often as you want to. IMHO their greatest benefit is for alignment as you clamp them together. I have glued up miles of boards in my life without biscuits for everything from table tops to door panels to stair treads and risers and if you have a good, clean joint, use enough glue and clamp it then you will not have a failure.

So just use your judgement if you are going to use them, I would say every 8-12 inches would be more than enough.

[CAMAN]

Biscuits in your situation will only really aid in alignment of the boards during glue-up. Cutting down on the amount of sanding needed afterward. Size doesn't really matter either. Personally the only time I use the smaller ones is when I've got a piece that is thinner and could possibly cut through it.