Lamello makes a connector for almost every joint in a cabinet or piece of furniture, and the names are easy to mix up. This guide explains what each one does, how thick your panels need to be, and which one to pick for the job in front of you. All thicknesses are Lamello’s published minimums. We list millimetres first because that is how Lamello specifies them, with the nearest inch size beside it.
Have a job you want to talk through? Call us at 403-250-3399 or send us the details.
Lamello connector chart
| Connector | What it does | Glue? | Comes apart? | Min. panel for an edge joint | Groove or recess |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clamex P-14 | Detachable connector for carcasses, mitres and shelves | No | Yes, with a 4 mm hex | 12 mm (15/32 in) | P-System groove |
| Clamex P-10 | Smaller detachable connector for thinner material | No | Yes, with a 4 mm hex | 12 mm (15/32 in) | P-System groove |
| Tenso P-14 | Self-clamping glue connector, no clamps needed | Yes | No | 12 mm (15/32 in) | P-System groove |
| Tenso P-10 | Smaller self-clamping glue connector | Yes | No | 12 mm (15/32 in) | P-System groove |
| Bisco P | Alignment only; holds panels flush | Optional | Yes, if no glue is used | 12 mm (15/32 in) | P-System groove |
| Divario P-18 | Invisible slide-in connector for shelves and dividers | No | Yes | 12 mm (15/32 in) shelves, 18 mm (23/32 in) dividers | P-System groove |
| Cabineo 8 | One-piece cabinet connector with an integrated screw | No | Yes | 12 mm (15/32 in) | Recess machined in the panel face |
| Cabineo 12 | Cabineo with a longer screw for thicker panels | No | Yes | 12 mm (15/32 in) edge, 13 mm (1/2 in) face | Recess machined in the panel face |
Source: Lamello product data. “Edge joint” means the connector goes into the edge of one panel and the face of the other, as in a cabinet corner. Mitres and centre (dividing) panels need thicker material; see each connector below.
What is the Lamello P-System?
The P-System is a family of connectors that all sit in the same groove. The groove is milled, not drilled, either with the Lamello Zeta P2 or on a CNC machining centre. It is 7 mm wide and has a profile that the connectors lock into, so the joint holds mechanically instead of relying only on glue.
Clamex P, Tenso P and Bisco P all use this groove, so once your shop can cut it you can switch between a detachable joint, a glued self-clamping joint and a simple alignment joint without changing tools. Divario P-18 also uses a P-System groove.
Cabineo is different. It is part of Lamello’s drilling system: a one-piece connector that presses into a recess machined in the face of the panel, usually on a CNC, and a screw draws the joint tight. It does not use the Zeta P2.
P-System or classic biscuits?
Classic beech biscuits (No. 0, No. 10 and No. 20) sit in a 4 mm slot and swell when they meet glue, which makes a permanent joint. They are cheap and good for aligning and strengthening glued panels and frames. P-System connectors cost more per joint, but they lock mechanically, Clamex and Divario need no glue at all, and Tenso clamps itself while the glue sets. If the piece needs to come apart, or you want to skip clamps, P-System wins. If it is a simple glued panel, biscuits are hard to beat on cost.
Clamex P: the detachable joint
Clamex P is a two-part connector that locks with a small lever. You turn the lever through a 6 mm access hole with a 4 mm hex key, and you can open and close the joint again and again without damaging the panels. No glue is needed. It works at angles from 22.5 to 180 degrees, so it handles mitres as well as butt joints.
Use it for furniture and cabinets that have to be shipped flat and assembled on site, shop fixtures, exhibit pieces, and anything a customer might need to take apart later.
| Clamex P size | Edge joint | Surface | Mitre | Centre panel | Tensile strength in particleboard / beech |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-14 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 15 mm (19/32 in) | 18 mm (23/32 in) | 29 mm (1-1/8 in) | 1,070 N (240 lbf) / 1,870 N (420 lbf) |
| P-10 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 11 mm (7/16 in) | 15 mm (19/32 in) | 19 mm (3/4 in) | 540 N (121 lbf) / 900 N (202 lbf) |
Figures from Lamello. For standard 3/4 in (19 mm) plywood carcasses, the P-14 is the usual choice. The P-10 suits thinner material and narrower parts. We stock Clamex P-10 in 80 pairs and 1,000 pairs, Clamex P-14 in 300 pairs and 1,000 pairs, and the Clamex P-14/10 Flexus.
Tenso P: the self-clamping glue joint
Tenso P has built-in springs that pull the joint tight while the glue sets, so you don’t need clamps or a press. You put glue in the joint, push the parts together and move on; the piece can be machined further or shipped right away. Once the glue is set the joint is permanent, so test-fit first.
It is the connector for joints that are awkward or impossible to clamp: five-sided mitred boxes, mitred cases, tabletops and long mitres. Tenso P-10 comes with a preload clip that makes the parts easier to push together; on the P-14 the clip is optional.
| Tenso P size | Edge joint | Surface | Mitre | Centre panel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-14 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 11 mm (7/16 in) | 18 mm (23/32 in) | 19 mm (3/4 in) |
| P-10 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 9 mm (3/8 in) | 15 mm (19/32 in) | 16 mm (5/8 in) |
Lamello doesn’t publish load figures for Tenso P, because the strength comes from the glue. We stock Tenso P-10 and Tenso P-14 in several pack sizes, plus the Tenso P-14 starter set.
Bisco P: alignment only
Bisco P is a plastic insert that fits the P-System groove and holds two parts in line by friction. It doesn’t clamp or lock. Shops use it three ways:
- Alternating with Clamex P, so only every second position needs a locking connector.
- For a dry test-fit before a Tenso joint, since Tenso is hard to undo once it is in.
- With wood glue, as a permanent joint, the same way you would use a biscuit.
Minimum thickness is 12 mm (15/32 in) for an edge joint and 15 mm (19/32 in) for a mitre. We stock Bisco P-10 and Bisco P-14 in 80 and 300 pieces.
Divario P-18: invisible shelves and dividers
Divario P-18 is a slide-in connector for shelves and dividing panels. It clamps itself, needs no glue, and comes apart again, so it suits flat-pack furniture, wall units and built-in partitions. It can be combined with Clamex P or Tenso P on the corners of the same piece.
Shelves need at least 12 mm (15/32 in) and dividing panels at least 18 mm (23/32 in). Tensile strength is about 740 N (166 lbf) in particleboard and 1,070 N (241 lbf) in beech, per Lamello. We stock 80 pairs and 300 pairs.
Cabineo: the fast cabinet connector
Cabineo is a one-piece connector that presses into a recess in the face of one panel. A screw built into the connector is driven into a 5 mm hole in the mating panel with a cordless drill and a 4 mm hex bit, pulling the joint tight. Only the panel face is machined, so it works well on 3-axis and nesting CNCs, and the joint can be taken apart again.
Lamello lists it for kitchen cabinets that come apart for transport, shopfitting and displays. Cover caps hide the connector on visible faces.
| Cabineo | Edge joint | Surface | Centre panel | Tensile strength in particleboard / beech |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabineo 8 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 9 mm (3/8 in) | 16 mm (5/8 in) | 520 N (117 lbf) / 1,530 N (344 lbf) |
| Cabineo 12 | 12 mm (15/32 in) | 13 mm (1/2 in) | 24 mm (15/16 in) | 820 N (184 lbf) / 2,250 N (506 lbf) |
We stock Cabineo 8 (500 pieces), Cabineo 8 dividing panel connectors, Cabineo 12 in 500 and 2,000 pieces, the Cabineo 8/12 starter set with 80 connectors, bit and covers, and white cover caps.
Which Lamello connector for which job?
- Flat-pack or ship-and-assemble furniture: Clamex P on the carcass, Divario P-18 for shelves and dividers.
- CNC-built kitchen and shop cabinets: Cabineo 8, or Cabineo 12 for thicker panels and more strength.
- Mitred boxes and cases you can’t clamp: Tenso P with glue.
- Cabinets a customer may move or rebuild later: Clamex P, which opens and closes without damage.
- Lining up glued panels and frames: Bisco P with glue, or classic No. 10 and No. 20 biscuits.
- Mixed joints in one piece: Clamex P at the corners with Bisco P in between to save cost.
Tools for the P-System
The Zeta P2 plunges like a biscuit joiner, then a built-in drive moves the cutter sideways to mill the P-System profile. Switching between connectors means changing the depth setting, not the cutter. It can also cut standard biscuit slots with an optional 4 mm blade.
The cutter comes in two versions. Carbide can be re-sharpened and suits dense hardwoods. Diamond lasts the longest in MDF, plywood and particleboard, which is why production shops working in sheet goods usually choose it. We stock the carbide set, the diamond set, the cordless kit and a replacement carbide groove cutter.
If you run a CNC, you don’t need a Zeta P2: Lamello publishes the P-System groove for CNC machining centres too.
Lamello connector questions we get
Can I use P-System connectors without a Zeta P2?
Yes. The P-System groove can be milled on a CNC machining centre instead of with the Zeta P2.
Which Lamello connectors can be taken apart?
Clamex P, Divario P-18 and Cabineo come apart and go back together. Tenso P is a glued joint and is permanent. Bisco P comes apart only if you use it dry.
What should I use in 3/4 in plywood?
For an edge joint in 3/4 in (19 mm) plywood, Clamex P-14 for a detachable joint or Tenso P-14 for a glued one. Both handle mitres in that thickness too.
Can the Zeta P2 cut regular biscuit slots?
Yes, with the optional 4 mm biscuit blade fitted and the depth adjuster set to off.
Ordering Lamello from IBEX
We stock Lamello connectors, biscuits and Zeta P2 kits in Calgary and ship across Canada, or you can pick up at Unit 208, 2835 23 St NE. For larger quantities or a connector we don’t list, call 403-250-3399 or request a quote and we’ll confirm current availability. See the full range on our Lamello page.