Detail Biscuit Jointer vs. FF Biscuits

[Snap Marc]

Are "mini" biscuits or detail biscuits the same as the size FF biscuits?

I just ordered this Craftsman 17550 Detail Biscuit Jointer today from Sears...
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...17550&sLevel=0

It gets a great review and is perfect for the miters on the jewelry boxes I've been building. I'm pretty sure this is the Ryobi with the Craftsman label. Anyone know more?

Also, if I need extra biscuits for this, Sears seems to have three products, one of these could be what I need. They don't specify the size, but the QTY and the product numbers are different.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit

I think the third link may be what I need. It shows there are 110 biscuits in the package. Also, the third link has (1 review) from a customer who writes "They are the only place to get them anymore." So I assume he's talking about the smaller, hard to fine biscuits.

Also, Porter Cable sells these:
http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-5.../dp/B0000222ZC

Will these FF's work with this Craftsman 17550

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Marc

[kramer katt]

I got that cman jointer last year to connect a lot of bull nose corners on base board moldings. Worked OK but was a bear to keep parts aligned during cutting.
These use a special biscuit that is available in 3 sizes. Not compatible with any other jointer that I have seen other than the old Ryobi version of the same thing which is no longer made. The cutter is a smaller diameter than even the FF PC
PS paid $40 on clearance although I have seen lots of them in stock in the year since.

[kramer katt]

I got that cman jointer last year to connect a lot of bull nose corners on base board moldings. Worked OK but was a bear to keep parts aligned during cutting.
These use a special biscuit that is available in 3 sizes. Not compatible with any other jointer that I have seen other than the old Ryobi version of the same thing which is no longer made. The cutter is a smaller diameter than even the FF PC
PS paid $40 on clearance although I have seen lots of them in stock in the year since.

[Snap Marc]

Thanks for the info. So where do you get the extra biscuits for this Cman? These are three different products with the same description.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...eyword=biscuit

I'll repeat myself and say...
"I think the third link may be what I need. It shows there are 110 biscuits in the package. Also, the third link has (1 review) from a customer who writes "They are the only place to get them anymore." So I assume he's talking about the smaller, hard to fine biscuits"

[cgallery]

The detail biscuit jointers do three different sizes. If you look at the manufacturer's part # (I think the Sears pages has those) for each biscuit, you can find the sizes by googling those #'s + "Wolfcraft".

[Snap Marc]

Thanks for the guidance. I was able to find this...
http://www.wolfcraft.com/product_detail.cfm?id=47

Question, are we sure these wolfcraft biscuits are really for this Cman Detail biscuit jointer?

Why doesn't Sears show the required biscuits for their tool?

Uuugh.

[cgallery]

Thanks for the guidance. I was able to find this...
http://www.wolfcraft.com/product_detail.cfm?id=47

Question, are we sure these wolfcraft biscuits are really for this Cman Detail biscuit jointer?

Why doesn't Sears show the required biscuits for their tool?

Uuugh.

You're looking at the R1, R2, and R3 biscuits on the bottom of the page, right? Those, I believe, are the ones that the detail jointers use. When I was at my local Sears store they had those biscuits (even said Wolfcraft on the package) for the detail jointer. They just didn't have the tool itself.

The Sears site, like a lot of others, is prepared by people that don't necessarily understand the products they are selling.

[Snap Marc]

Yes, R1, R2 and R3 is what I was referring to. Okay, so this detail jointer can do all three sizes? R1 is guess is the smallest.

Very cool. I'll await the arrival of the jointer and then I'll grab some extra biscuits.

So Sears doesn't make biscuits for their own jointer. I guess it's really a Ryobi tool with the Cman name.

[kramer katt]

Thats right the detail jointer uses the R1,R2,R3 small to large
Diameter of blade and curve of biscuits is fixed just the depth of cut varies to create the three size biscuits. Similar to a Dewalt/PC style but smaller
The adjustments of the cut depth is definitely not as easy to set as on these others (dewalt/pc)
It's fiddle and test cut several tries until its right then cut all you need because reproducting the exact cut is no small feat. Remember the vertical dimension of a slot cut is the only one neeeding to be accurate. Horizontally is never going to be close on any jointer. plus or minus 1/8''. so you can just line to a pencil mark by eye. These detail joiners also have a fence that is fixed at either 90 or 45 degrees and the 45 is only one direction (in other words 135 degrees not possible)
I think the lower price Freud had this limitation also.
BTW not too long ago there were still some NOS and used ryobis seen on ebay