which biscuit joiner

[poolhound]

I just got a $40 voucher for amazon for my birthday and want to use it for a biscuit joiner. Amazon currently has the Freud JS102 for $139 and the Dewalt for $149.

Any opinions on these two tools or would you go for something else completly?

[pacwind3]

Dewalt

I have the Dewalt and it works great. I have used the Porter Cable and it is also very nice, but I think it's like $50 more then the Dewalt. I wouldn't see any reason to spend the extra on it.

[bigstick509]

I have been happy with this one, as I recall others here had good things to say about it also.
http://www.amazon.com/OMalley-OM595K.../dp/B000F9XQ6Q
Sorry, I did not notice they are out of stock.

[dealweb]

Omalley biscuit jointer

I have the Omalley biscuit jointer also and the for the price it is not a bad tool. FYI though that Omalley no longer makes their own tools and they now just sells other tool brands.

[cgallery]

I like the Makita. It has a R&P fence that stays put.

[Uncle Cracker]

Love my PC 557...

[LinuxRandal]

I have the Dewalt and it works great. I have used the Porter Cable and it is also very nice, but I think it's like $50 more then the Dewalt. I wouldn't see any reason to spend the extra on it.

I have never seen the DeWalt, but from what I have read, the main difference between the DeWalt and the PC, is the angles the PC will handle. I have read forums where people do odd projects, where they wish they had the PC, and I have read where they don't get enough use out of it, they wish they spent less and bought the DeWalt.

I thought I did horrible. When it was posted about Lowe's closing them out, my store had the last one NIB on closout for $159 (high rent area, few bargains). Recently, I have been seeing them on my local CL, USED going for $150. Now I don't feel so bad.

[messmaker]

I have the Omalley biscuit jointer also and the for the price it is not a bad tool. FYI though that Omalley no longer makes their own tools and they now just sells other tool brands.

I think O'Malley Tools bit the dust.

[Gator95]

Two schools of thought on a Biscuit Joiner:

1) It cuts a sloppy hole for a loose fitting piece of compressed sawdust. It's not a precision instrument. Pretty much anything that isn't total crap will work fine- like Ryobi, Craftsman, etc... in $100 range will be good enough. Paying more for a Dewalt or PC is only really a good idea if you're going to be using it a lot (like more than 5+ hours a week) and tool longevity is a factor.

2) More $ buys you a more sturdy, accurate fence and a better tool. Biscuits aren't rocket science, but if you want to do anything other than zero and 90* biscuits then it pays to get a better joiner. The price difference between a PC557 and a $100 Ryobi is less than what it would cost you in time/labor and materials for one project that might get blown because the biscuit fence angle isn't bang-on.

Personally, I'm in camp #1 and use my neighbors Ryobi when I feel the need to use biscuits... BUT I pretty much just use them to reinforce zero and 90* glue joints and only use the big biscuits. If you want to get fancy and do face-frames, etc... then get the PC557.

[SARGE..g-47]

I don't use a biscuit joiner often, but with that said I just sold a DW (which is very good) and purchased a PC which is very good. Why...?? It seems that the rare occasion I want to use a biscuit it is the tiny one's that the DW doesn't have a setting for and the PC does.

Other than that feature... I think both are very good cutters. If you do picture frames or small detail.. that should be a consideration you should consider IMO. BTW.. biscuits don't necessarily have to be loose fitting. If you cut your own you would be surprised just how tight they can fit.

[cabinetman]

I have the DeWalt. I use it rarely, and prefer to use loose splines if there is a choice. I don't use it with the intent that biscuits insure alignment, because they don't.
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[poolhound]

Interesting feedback. I already have a biscuit slot cutting bit which fits in my router table, obviously this only works with straight angled cuts. I have a project comming up where I can see the need to cut a lot of biscuits, thats why I was considering a dedicated tool. Now I think about it all the slots I will need to cut are straight however some of the pieces will be rather larger to manipluate on the router table. just cutting slots and using splines may also be an option.

I guess its hard to resist the temptation to buy a new tool

[cgallery]

I have the DeWalt. I use it rarely, and prefer to use loose splines if there is a choice. I don't use it with the intent that biscuits insure alignment, because they don't.
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Don't you feel that they at least provide alignment in a single plane? When I use them for a 90-degree butt or for aligning flat boards for glue-up, they always come out spot-on. I still have to align the ends, but the faces are exactly where I want them.

I once had a Ryobi and the slots it cut were so sloppy I could never get the faces in alignment. The Makita has been perfect.

[LCHIEN]

i have the dewalt, not perfect but i got it for the fence.

works pretty well.

[cabinetman]

Don't you feel that they at least provide alignment in a single plane? When I use them for a 90-degree butt or for aligning flat boards for glue-up, they always come out spot-on. I still have to align the ends, but the faces are exactly where I want them.

I once had a Ryobi and the slots it cut were so sloppy I could never get the faces in alignment. The Makita has been perfect.

For flat board glue ups, cauls and clamps are the way to go. With good edge prep, biscuits/splines aren't really needed for long grain. As for the biscuit itself, I would trust my selection of a wood specie for a spline as a better material. IMO, If splines/biscuits insured alignment there wouldn't be any room for glue.
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