What does Menards have for bicsuit/planer joiners?

[cgallery]

I have a Ryobi JM80 biscuit joiner. This is a early model where the blade is approx. 1/32" wider than it should be, resulting in slots that are too wide. I didn't realize this when I purchased it several years ago. I've only cut maybe twenty slots with it due to alignment issues from slots that are too wide.

So I'm in the market for a better biscuit cutter. I'd like to purchase something locally. The Freud at Lowes, for $100, looks interesting. I found one review that said the fence slipped during cutting seven slots. This is a concern, of course. Other people have said it works well but is kinda noisy.

The Makita and DeWalt have R&P fences. So it looks like fence slipping would be a non-issue. I've read some reviews that indicate the DeWalt slots are a little wide. The scares me. I'd hate to make the same mistake twice. Also, I think I like the Makita/Freud closed fence style a little more. It seems like it would allow me to get biscuits closer to the corner w/o having to worry that the fence opening is going to cause non-parallel slots.

The Makita really looks pretty nice. Northern Tool apparently has them for $189, which is about the same as Amazon. But I don't know if they carry these in-store. The web site says it ships from the manufacturer.

Menards' web site doesn't stack-up to Home Depot or Lowes, so I can't tell what the stores carry. Anyone know? Anyone else have any input for a good biscuit joiner I can find locally in the Milwaukee area?

Thanks!
Phil

[SHADOWFOX]

Menards by me has the Freud and Makita biscuit jointer.

[Habe]

I have the freud from menards. Make sure that it is the model 102. It has a bit better fence. But it is not the best. You must make sure that you have it locked correctly. But it is a good machine and I would buy it again

[LYU370]

Aren't biscuits meant for vertical alignment and not horizontal? That said, I've got a Dewalt and am pleased with it's performance.

[Stormbringer]

I've read some reviews that indicate the DeWalt slots are a little wide.

The Makita really looks pretty nice. Northern Tool apparently has them for $189, which is about the same as Amazon.

Phil, that should be a non issue for the DeWalt. As LYU pointed out, your to be concerned with the height of the cut, not so much the width. A tight biscuit (height-wise) will ensure a flat joint. The biscuit swells to put pressure on the top and bottom of the cut, not the ends.

That aside, Amazon also has the $25 off $150 with free shipping and no tax. So you could get the Makita for $162. I highly recommend it.

Just a side note, HDT had the DeWalt on Sale for $95 this past Friday which is an insane deal. But I believe they are gone.

Good luck,
Greg

[cgallery]

I am the new owner of a Makita 3901. It was $162 at Menards. Pain because the first one was used, and I didn't find out until I got home. I don't know if some guy used it for a project and decided to return it or what. But I didn't want to find some hidden defect two weeks from now so I exchanged it right away.

The Freud was nice, but the Makita was reasonable and the R&P fence put it over the top.

Note about the DeWalt: I know the biscuits swell, but the kerf is supposed to be 5/32". The Ryobi was 6/32". Having already experienced a problem w/ the Ryobi, I wanted to avoid the DeWalt if there was even a chance of a problem. For the purposes of alignment I prefer a tighter fit.

[Stormbringer]

Congrats on the purchase Phil. You'll really like it. Give us an update after you've used it a few times.

Regards,
Greg