No comments about HEAVY DUTY BISCUIT JOINER 900 WATT.

1 comments about Professional Woodworker 4" Biscuit Jointer.

1. I should have expected this tool to be worthless. My wife says you get what you pay for and she is right, at least about this tool.It does not work.It does not cut deep enough and the motor is not strong enough to cut a clean cut.It is a ripp off disguised as a biscut joiner.

1 comments about Factory-Reconditioned Porter-Cable 557R Professional Plate Joiner Kit.

1. A great tool. I have made table tops, cabinets, and frames using the PC Plate joiner. I believe the fence is the best on the market. The fence angles both directions so you can cut slots dead center in frames and box corners. The fence adjustments are easy and accurate because of the screw adjustment. I comes with 2 cutter heads, one for #0-#20 and one for FF (face frame). The small one is very useful for joining the rails and stiles on face frame cabinets. It may cost a little more, but well worth the price difference. You can't go wrong with this one.

5 comments about Freud JS100A 5 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. I purchased this as a first plate jointer to get some experience with how they can be used in my projects. I haven't experienced the issues with noise that several reviewers have noticed. Considering many of these jointers can go for double the money, and that my projects are relatively basic, this seemed to be a good match. I think this is a great unit for beginners or as a backup unit.



2. Almost since the moment this thing came out of the box, I wished I had spent the extra money to get the Porter Cable 557. As other reviewers have pointed out in their colorful fashion, the 2 main failure points of this tool in my opinion are: 1. The fence very poorly designed. While trying to buscuit boards for a table top, the fence (which I thought I had tightened to the point of near over tightening) gradually slipped across 7 buiscuits, each cutting at it's own special height. Very dissapointing! So I re-aligned it and tried again on scrap. This time really reefing the fence lock down. Slipped again. Thrird time I used some channel locks for leverage to tighten the fence. Worked fine with no slippage. #2 problem: The dust port (as mentioned in other reviews also) is awful. Cutting red oak, ash, and cherry with the bag *OFF* allowing material to free flow (since it was plugging up with the bag on) the unit would only get through 1-2 cuts without jamming up. The problem was a baffle in the middle of the dust port. While it is probably there for strength, it catches the shavings and proceeds to completely block the chute every time! I solved this one with a rotary tool and cut the baffle out and it works fine now. The other more minor complaints like the noise and ergonomics are minor compared to these major problems. There is no easy solution I can see for the fence problem. Save your coins a little longer and buy the Porter Cable. Just don't buy the PC biscuits for either machine as they have over a 40% failure in the batch of 1000 I just bought!!



3. This biscuit joiner has a lot going for it. Inexpensive price tag, nice blade, fairly stable base for biscuit jointing smaller stock (NOT requiring the adjustable fence). Even with those nice features, this tool causes a LOT of aggravation. The most irritating thing about this tool is the fence! It uses a single screw on the side to create enough pressure to hold the adjustable fence in place. There is a flaw to this simple system -- IT DOESN'T WORK. If you are able to achieve a square fence adjustment and you have just about stripped the screw to get the fence to stay in place; after 2 biscuit slots being cut, it will start slipping on you. It doesn't take much pressure at all to get it to slip, either. The other irritating feature about this biscuit joiner is the sound the motor makes. I would spring for the Porter Cable or DeWalt joiners.



4. I too made the mistake of buying this tool. The annoying noise and the dust collection system I can live with but the slipping fence is totally unacceptable. I did do a quick fix to the fence which worked and the rating jumped from a 1 star to 3. I just drilled and tapped two holes on the face of the fence opposite the existing tightening lever and put in a set screw in each and now no slippage. One hole probably would have worked just fine but the aluminum fence is soft and doing two holes was no problem so what the heck.



5. I've made a few bookcases using screw fasteners, and wanted to clean up the connections. This thing is the cat's meow.
   Its simple to use and works great. Move over Norm, I have at least ONE of your Yankee workshop gadgets now. :-)

5 comments about Freud JS102 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner with Tilting Fence.

1. I purchased the JS102 few years ago and the others cost about 50% more at the time but with more features. First there was no oil in the oiler - the plastic cap cracked and I had oil all over inside the plastic case. The plastic case is blow mold and never closed right, like my cheap Chinese tool cases. Initially the I thought the cutting blade was missed aligned or too wide since the biscuits fit very loose in the slots even with plenty of glue in it, but now, after a few years, its ok, nice and tight with the same box of 1,000 biscuits I purchased elsewhere. The stick-on angle scale came off but the factory gave me a new one - never needed it anyway, all my cuts are at 90 degrees. If you have different thickness boards, the height adjustment on the fence could be a PIA since there are no fine adjustments like the other biscuit cutters. You need to make a few test cuts to make sure the slot is in the middle of the board or where you wanted it - I don't trust the scale. I have no problems with the dust bag, just empty it every 10 cuts - yes, lots chips form those slots.
   
   Now the most erratic part: the motor/gear box sounds like it has a bunch of loose parts inside, sounds like they forgot to grease the gear box at the factory or it has broken teeth in gear box. Sounds worse than my Craftman 4.5" grinder. Other than that it feels solid and it does cut well after its set up. If only they would put in one dollar more for a better case, two dollars more for a fine adjustment and a little better quality control.



2. I had been looking at this joiner for a while and finally bought it when it was on sale for $83.99 + 10% off + free shipping (marked down from $119). I am very happy with it so far, a satisfied customer. I just used it to build an entryway bench for the Mrs and it came out great.
   
   Since I like to know the downside of items I buy on amazon, here are the things I would change about this joiner if I could. None of them are deal breakers:
   - The on/off switch is slightly clumsy.
   - The dustbag does not stay on. I solved this problem by wrapping some tape around the dust port a few times.
   - Dust collection is very marginal. Hooking the shop vac up to the dust port completely solved this problem.
   - Setting the fence height is slightly difficult. The scale on the front isn't super accurate, so a few test cuts in scrap wood helped get things lined up before making real cuts.
   - There is no angle scale on the tilting fence. I probably will not be making too many cuts that are not 90 or 45 degrees, so no biggie once again.
   
   Overall, I am quite happy with this joiner and feel like I got a great deal on it.



3. I have used this tool for over a year now to do a wide variety of projects. I first noticed that the fence 'slipped' when I was doing some fine work. The fence slips when you rest it upon your work (when you measure the biscuit slot from the top of the fence plate). This happens no matter how hard I tighten the fence. The solution for this tool is to only use it resting flat and then to only use the fence as a guide. Since I do the kind of work that requires more precision, I will be moving up to the Porter Cable 557 in a few months. This tools is good for a novice that is not sure whether they will use biscuits or not. Pros should start with a better model.



4. This is a very good quality item. I originally bought Freud because I trust the name. I wasn't disappointed. This is a versatile tool that is built to last.



5. The quality, fit and finish of this joiner are excellent. It is easy to setup, all the important parts are solid cast metal and no flimsy fit here. the issue with the fence slipping is one minor annoyance but can be dealt with easily by either replacing the rubber washer that gets pinched between the fence and the body or by tightening (ever so slightly) with pliers.
   
   If you are having fit problems with the thickness of the slots, look at the biscuits you are using and not at this machine. This joiner cuts extremely accurate and consistent slots but biscuits can vary in thickness if they are of poor quality or if they have been exposed to the air and have absorbed some moisture. The best biscuits I used have been the Bosch ones but they are usually significantly more expensive than the Porter Cable ones. If you use the lower quality biscuits, make sure you check them for fit before assembly time. You will end up throwing some biscuits (maybe 5%-10%) but that is not bad considering the price difference. However, if you are doing some fine work, go with the high quality biscuits because the difference may show then.
   
   Adjustment is very easy and cuts are very accurate. I don't know what was the issue encountered by the person who could not adjust the blade but all the tools that came with the joiner fit fine on mine but I would use my higher quality tools when I work on machinery rather than the inferior ones that come with the machines with very few exceptions. If you are doing woodworking and using a plate joiner, you must have a few tools around to take care of minor adjustments.
   
   Dust collection is practically non existent unless you connect a shop vacuum to the unit in which case you will not get any external dust. All the biscuit joiners (and for that matter all woodworking machinery) will have dust problems if you decide to use the built-in collection mechanisms.
   
   The noise level is high but that is the case with almost every machine in a woodworking shop so you better be wearing your ear plugs. The placement of the switch could be better as one reviewer pointed out but you get used to it after a while.
   
   Bottom line, you can not beat what this joiner gives you for the money and you can get excellent results if you use it right.

3 comments about Lamello 101053UHMZ Top 20 S3 4 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. Consumer report said "machine is the best, the wood case it comes with is destined to break in the back of a pickup" Well I like to buy the best of everything when I can so I bought the "Lamello Top 20" Sure enough the machine is top end, everything is crisp, clear easy to read and supper tight,no slop. I have never used a better plate jointer. The bad? Well my case was broke when I took it out of the delivery box. The wood case is so cheap it belongs with a kids Christmas toy. Kinda ruins the whole package. Plan on an alternate means of transporting this tool.



2. The only thing I can really say is...buy the best & forget the rest...you won't regret it.
   
   Or you can do like I did. First buy a cheaper biscuit joiner, find out you get what you pay for, then spend even more money to buy what you should've bought in the first place.
   
   Just a superb biscuit joiner. Very nice soft start. Zero slop & I do mean zero. Pinpoint setting adjustments. Dust bag is OK, but it's a dust bag. Hook it up to a shop vac for complete dust control.
   
   If you want to use the Lamello Top 20 to join face frames or use it for other small applications, get the H-9 cutter head & applicably sized biscuits.



3. My old Dewalt was aging so I replaced it with the Lamello. The Lamello fully mature product after many decades of perfecting the design. This tool is so well built that you have to use it and see it to believe it. The build quality is just off the scale. My wooden case arrives in perfect shape and well built. I gather that can vary from previous customer reviews. Other places are charging 150-250 more than Amazon. It is expensive but Amazon eases the pain of the price. Every cut perfect - the first and repeated. Superb accuracy. As expensive as this tool is presently - the the EURO vs the US dollar will drive the price even higher in the near future. I also own the Domino - also a incredible machine - the Lamello reminds me of Starrett quality of many decades ago! This tool is not over priced - the only question whether one can afford or needs the quality.

5 comments about Makita 3901 5.6 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. I am a 30 year carpenter of which the last 15 have been nothing but finish work. I had done some research on these biscuit joiners before buying the Makita.Great decision!This thing is so simple in design and function that the direction booklet is not even necessary.It's effortless! I jumped in full bore today.8 six foot 1 by 4s of mahogany for a table top went together quite easily thanks to about 50 perfectly alligned biscuits.I don't bother with the dust bag so I can't really comment on that but what a sweet tool.The fence allignment was spot on and the cam lock height adjustment is so user friendly that it makes this tool fun to use.
   I guess the only reason I did not give this tool a 5 is because the fence sort of shrouds the biscuit location marks on your project. It's not that big of a deal but you do have to extend your marks to about a half inch on each side of desired biscuit location.
   The blade left very little tear-out and cut effortlessly! I have tried almost every biscuit joiner out there with the exception of the Lamello[WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!] and all in all this one gets my vote for top tool for the price!
   I would recommend this tool to all you journeymen as well as apprentices out there wondering which one. Trust me on this one guys!



2. This was a good buy, we did a whole kitchen with it and we are really happy with the joiner.
   It's tuff and worked REALLY well. A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+A+



3. The Makita Plate Joiner is adequate. It cleanly cuts space for bisquits and stock can certainly be joined. However, the switch does not permit finger control. You turn on the machine, then position it and cut. My old Porter Cable overcame this disadvantage and was easier and more accurate to use as a result. I wish I had bought the Porter Cable model again (mine was stolen).



4. When you buy a Makita tool, you know that you are getting quality and this is no exception. I am probably an intermediate woodworker so the higher end guys may frown on using biscuits, but this a style issue that transcends this tool. The joiner cuts clean holes and has great safety features. The biscuit cut depth is adjustable so it can work with almost any stock. I use it all the time to do 90% mock-ups of all my cabinets, etc before final glue up. I can not express how great biscuit joints work and how easy they are to cut with this product. Another great one from Makita.



5. nice and much more precise joiner than my Dewalt, however the motor is a bit noisy.

4 comments about Lamello 101252 Classic C3 5 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. own a dewalt and heard the lamello was more accurate . i found the portacable and dewalts in the stores all had the same amount of wiggle as the one i owned .purchased the c-3 and found i now own a totally different machine .with this everthing lines up every time ,all the slots are the same size .cost more but the old one could not do what the c-3 does.



2. my former plate joiner was a porter cable and needed a replacement.
   i chose the Lamello because of name recognition. i was amazed by the simplicity and accuracy, well worth the extra money. i highly recommend this item. make sure you use the biscuits from lamello as well.



3. I have used thousands of biscuits; I have owned a Virutex plate joiner and after I wore it out I bought a Dewalt which i just gave a way. I decided to splurge (I am a professional woodworker) and i wish i had bought the Lamello years ago, they used to be over $600 I think. With discounts and the simplified design (no biscuit height adjustment in relation to the base) this one was "affordable", Thanks Amazon! It does everything precisely with a smooth slide action, fairly quiet motor and gears, and the blade change is price less. You do not have to dis-assemble half the fence and lose the little screws and springs as was the case with the other ones. It doesn't quite align in biscuit height with the others so you will want to start on a new project, not in the middle of one. It also is probably metric machined so it is a bit off center in a piece of 3/4 ply, referenced from the base. But I can live with this. Life's too short don't deny yourself.



4. This is a tool that is meant for work! This company sets the standard for bisquit joiners.
   
   It is simple to operate, powerful and consistent. At first look it is deceptive, but look a little longer and you readily see the high quality engineering and design that went into this joiner. If you spend 10 minutes getting to know the tool when it arrives you will know what you need to to run this tool. It is sturdy and does the job with precision.
   
   It can be used in a vertical or horizontal positions with different sizes of biscuits. Changing from one size to another/and depth of cut is very easy.
   
   You can probably tell I like this tool. I wish all tools were made this well. I spent the extra dollars for the Lamello C3 hoping I would get what I was paying for. I have not been disappointed. Spend the extra bucks. It worth it and this joiner will save you the frustrations that I have experienced in the other named brand trying to replicate the Lamello.
   
   Highly recommend

5 comments about DEWALT DW682K Heavy-Duty 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. Here is my story...after two attempts to purchase this joiner, I went with the PC 557. Both of the Dewalt models I bought had their fences racked which caused the biscuit slots to be cut on an angle. Cutting a #20 slot was off about 1/8" from left to right. Plus, reports of the chute clogging are true. It was worth $30.00 more to get the PC.



2. This product is poorly built. The stop is made with flimsy pot metal about 1 mm thick. Mine broke after 1 use. Just looking at it you can see it is weak but I could not from the internet pictures. Harbor Freight, Makita,Hitachi, and Ryobi have a better products at less than half the price!



3. For a tool with the lowest price, I'm totally satisfied. My younger brother stole my last one, so I needed another joiner. No need to change what works !!



4. I purchased a factory reconditioned (with full warranty) DeWalt plate joiner. Not only was it missing a pin on which the miter swivels up and down, but the blade cut far too deep, no matter how much I adjusted it. I had to stick a 16p nail in the missing hole to keep the miter from flopping around while working. It was a good thing I made many test cuts since it cut far deep. For example, on setting "0" it cut so deep that a "0" biscuit completely disappeared in the cut. I was finally able to crank the fine depth adjustment down so that on "0" setting I could use a "10" biscuit. I normally purchase DeWalt by default since I have never had anything but good luck with them, but boy did I get screwed on this one. Fortunately the retailer is taking it back based on the 90 day money back guarantee. I am honestly not sure I want to chance another DeWalt joiner at this time.



5. I order this tool for a special project and was ready to use it as soon I got it out of the box. I started to cut the first joint and the handle collasped forward and smashed by fingers. On closer inspection I found that the threads in one side of the handle were stripped completely out. With care I continued to use the tool to finish the project. Later I filled the hole with metal epoxy and re-threaded it. I am sure dewalt would have made it good but I didn't have time. Somewhat dissapointed but the tool works great if you keep your fingers "from between the bricks"

5 comments about Porter-Cable 557 7.5 Amp Plate Joiner.

1. You can really feel the quality of this thing when you take it out of the case the first time. Surfaces are machined very precisely and it has a good weight. Creating pockets in birch plywood and MDF is so smooth it almost feels like like cutting through butter.
   
   My only gripe is that it appears the blade isn't perfectly centered to cut a pocket in the middle of 3/4" stock. If both the wood and the tool are resting on a bench, the hole seems to be about 1/32" too high. This really isn't a problem as long as you note to cut both pieces you're joining from the same direction so that the 1/32" offset lines up -- otherwise they'll multiply and your piece could be off by double that! You can use the fence and adjust it to center perfectly, but then both the work piece and the tool need to be hanging off the edge of the table.
   
   This kit doesn't include any biscuits so make sure you pick some up at the same time.



2. Works great. Nicely balanced and has nice features. The bag cannot be used while the blade is sharp and new because the shavings clog the small port feeding to the bag. I suspect once the blade dulls that the debris will be more like sawdust and it will work.



3. porter cable must have taken a closer look at this tool and replaced alot of the plastic items. the whole angle bracket is made of metal as well as most of the tool. I have owned other biscuit jointer frued as well as used a friends dewalt and this pc blows them out of the water its smooth cutting and ease of use make this a great investment. especially when my only other option was a lamello for twice the price



4. No problems with this biscuit jointer. Excellent results every single time. If it's good enought for Norm, then it's good enough for me. If you don't know who Norm is, then you should not own this tool.



5. Absolutely the best on the market. My hired hands have tried to tear up the Joiner without success. The other brands that I tried were easy for my employees to break for burn up. Porter Cable has my confidence on their tools.