Groove and glue or biscuits?

[DamoF]

Hi guys, I'm currently planning a large storage unit for a customer. It'll be made with 18mm birch plywood and will be simply made with upright pieces with a top and bottom with shelves inside. I'll add doors too but my question is about joining the plywood together. I can't decide what would be best between routing a groove on the face of the boards for the end grain of the ply shelves etc to seat into or whether to join it all up with biscuits.

I've attached a very rough drawing, the joins would be where the uprights marked with an (A) attach to the top and bottom, and also I will add shelves inside these uprights.

Thanks in advance for any help given.

Damo

 

[deema]

I’d use biscuits. I’d also adjust the end panel (430) so that the it joints into the top and bottom. Ie make it linger and the top and bottom shorter. It’s a stronger joint for the forces on the bottom shelf.

 

[DamoF]

I’d use biscuits. I’d also adjust the end panel (430) so that the it joints into the top and bottom. Ie make it linger and the top and bottom shorter. It’s a stronger joint for the forces on the bottom shelf.

Thanks, I should also add that this is just half of it, the left half. The right half will be its mirror image and there will be a hanging rail in the middle space. It wouldn't get in the room otherwise and will get screwed together on site and a couple of wide birch ply braces spanning the gap at the back to stiffen it all up.

 

[Jones]

A groove or biscuits will help with alignment and a bit with strength. I would also screw through from top and use pocket screws in base. The sides should go to the floor with the bases in between which will allow for uneven floor. A piece screwed and glued in the top will hold it square and provide a fixing back to the wall at the top so it won't topple.