Best Biscuit Joiner Reviews: A Comprehensive Guide
To get finesse in your woodwork projects, standard nuts, bolts and screws may not be the best option, especially at difficult angles. A seamless joint not only looks better but also serves well without the hassle of changing loose nuts or hammering poking nails from time to time.
An excellent alternative to traditional methods can be a biscuit joiner that uses a saw to cut a groove between two kinds of wood pieces, which are then joined with a dry piece of wood called a biscuit to create a subtle, clean and strong joint. In this article we've listed the best biscuit joiner reviews to help you make your decision.
Unlike nails or screws, working with a biscuit joiner does not require you to be absolutely accurate as the slots have space for readjustment after they are cut. This makes it a go-to tool for not only professionals but also amateur DIYers.
What to Look For?
When you browse the market for the best biscuit joiner, you would be spoiled for choice among the numerous variants available with several different features. We will be doing a number of biscuit joiner reviews below to help you make your decision.
As a consumer, it is important for you to identify your skill level, the frequency of use and budget when buying such a tool (just as it would with any other type of tool like a cordless drill for example). It would be advisable to buy a smaller model if you are a construction enthusiast as bigger, professional models pack way too much power than you may utilize and will end up costing you more for no good reason.
As a professional, you should look for sturdiness and number of features offered with your product to get the best out of your deal.
When buying a biscuit joiner, other than the above, keep in mind the following few pointers to find the tool that suits you best:
- Power: A 500 to 650 W motor can cut through most types of wood. A 700 w motor will smoothly go through all types of hardwood. As a hobbyist or DIYer engaging in small projects, this amount of power is ample. You will need to step-up only if you are going to do a professional construction job that requires more strength from your biscuit joiner.
- Blade-type: One of the most crucial components that a biscuit joiner relies on is the blade of its saw. The blade faces the most action as it bears incredible friction while cutting through hardwood.You should look for a blade made of high-quality, durable material that does not lose its edge easily. The High-Speed Steel blade is a popular choice as it is designed to stand rough and tough use while maintaining its optimum condition. Another excellent option can be a carbide-tipped blade.The Carbide tip adds sturdiness and lends a razor-sharp edge to the blade which produces cleaner cuts.
- Depth setting: Depth size refers to the size of wooden biscuits. Look for a joiner that allows you a range of biscuit sizes or depth settings, in other words. There are a number of biscuit sizes available in the market suited to different joining requirements. The usual range is of 00, 10, 20, detachable biscuit, furniture hinge and wood biscuit S6. The depth settings about these sizes are settings 0, 10, 20, S, D and Max. Biscuit joiner models offer 3, 4 or all 6 of these depth settings.If you know your exact requirements, you can easily choose your pick. However, it is advisable to choose a model like provides all 6 settings as it adds more value and versatility to your tool. Moreover, you never know when you feel like doing a different project than your usual!
- Fence placement: Another important feature to consider while buying a biscuit joiner is the fence placement.This feature will determine at which angles you can work your tool, whether you can register your machine the outside edge and whether you can use it to do flush cutting. Overall, the flexibility of fence placement in your joiner will make it suitable for a number of tasks.A standard 45-degree tilt is enough for straight cut jobs. To create a neat miter cut, a 90-degree tilt is essential. Biscuit joiners usually cover a range of 0-90-degrees in fence placements making them suitable for ordinary jobs. Some joiners also allow the fence placement to be extended to 135-degrees, which allows you to cut both outside and inside the edge of the wood piece.This is setting is beneficial when joining pieces of varying sizes as it helps maintain uniformity of the outside edge without having to adjust the fence. Another angle to consider can be the 0-degree setting as it enables flush cutting. The joiner you pick should be able to deliver accurate results at this setting to ensure the accuracy of the joint.Some joiners feature a height modification system that alters the height of the fence to deliver precise results.
- Additional features: An anti-slip feature will assist you greatly when working with wood. Biscuit joiners come with a pad, two-pins or silicon pad anti-slip device. The pad or the silicone pad is the most favorable out of these.Look for a model that allows for blade change, as you may need to change your blades according to the job at hand.A sturdy, attached dust bag is as essential to the accuracy of your result as is the blade. With a large amount of stray sawdust flying around as you carve the wood, a lot of it can get stuck in the groove making it difficult for the biscuit to insert properly. This can result in an unstable joint and mar your project. Therefore, a dust bag is a must-have with your biscuit joiner.A rubber coating around the grips on your tool greatly increases comfort and helps create a firm grip by preventing slippage. It also helps while working long hours as the sweat generated does not become a bother with the rubber coating.
Top 5 Biscuit Joiners
There are some biscuit joiners from a variety of brands sporting a range of features, available today. To make the process of picking out the best with the relevant features that offer the most value for money, we have rounded up some of the best in business:
Product | Price | Rating |
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TruePower 01-0102 Biscuit Plate Joiner with Carbide Tipped Blade, 4" | $$ | |
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1. TruePower 01-0102 Biscuit Plate Joiner with Carbide Tipped Blade, 4"
This machine from TruePower is true to its name. It truly packs incredible power with a 1010 W, 11000-RPM motor. It operates at a standard adjustable fence placement of 0-45-degrees, making it suitable for all ordinary woodwork. This device from TruePower is capable of carrying out conventional caliber jobs with high quality as it features 3 depth settings- 00, 10, 20.
It contains a dust port with a dust bag that keeps your workspace as well as cuts, clean. Weighing 8.4 pounds, the product comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Things We Liked
- Carbide-tipped blade provides enhanced sturdiness and sharpness.
- Powerful motor; suitable for professionals.
Things We Didn't Like
- Limited fence placement
- Only three preset depth settings
2. DEWALT DW682K 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner
The DW682K Biscuit joiner model from DeWalt has a high-performance motor with more than 700 W and 10,000 RPM of power. It packs a robust carbide blade that makes cutting through a variety of hardwood, easy. The adjustable fence has a tilt range of 0-90 degrees to deliver all standard cuts. The machine comes with three present depth settings- 0, 10 and 20, suitable for carrying put all common purpose carpentry jobs.
The machine enhances accuracy by including a dual rack and pinion fence that ensures that the blade stays parallel to the board at all times. It boasts of additional features like retractable anti-slip pins, which allow flush cutting without the hassle of removing the fence and a strong aluminum shoe to keep the joiner in place while doing stationary work. An attached dust bag allows efficient dust collection, keeping the edges of the cut, clean.
The product weighs around 10.5 pounds and has a 3-year limited warranty, one year of free service and 90-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- Comes in a sturdy case that assists in storage and transportation.
- Powerful motor makes it fit for professional jobs
Things We Didn't Like
- Only three preset depth settings
3. PORTER-CABLE 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit
This is a versatile equipment from Porter-Cable that features all six depth settings, making it suitable for cutting through a variety of hardwoods. A powerful seven amp motor, powers the joiner making it fit for not only hobbyists but also professional contractors. Apart from the standard 0-90 degrees, the fence placement extends to the 135-degree angle adding to the flexibility of the product, regarding what you can achieve with it.
A robust 4” blade, rotating at10000-RPM smoothly cuts through all types of woods to make precise grooves. A blade cover and spindle lock mechanism make blade changing easy and safe. Apart from the standard 4” blade, the design of the Porter-cable biscuit joiner also allows for a smaller 2” blade required for working with smaller objects like photo frames.
It weighs a mere 7.5 pounds and comes with a carrying case and a dust bag. The product has a 1-year warranty and 90-day money back guarantee.
Things We Liked
- Adjustable stop at 90-degrees.
- Handle is attached to the blade rather than the motor for stable handling.
- Micro-height adjustment knobs to increase precision.
Things We Didn't Like
- User-dissatisfaction with the quality of the dust port.
- Plastic fence pivots may become problematic for long-term use.
4. Makita PJ7000 Plate Joiner
The PJ7000 biscuit joiner from Makita has a strong 5.6 amp motor that functions at 11000 RPM, suitable for cutting through a range of woods. It features Six depth settings with stops at standards 0, 10 and 20. The fence placement ranges from 0-90 degrees with positive stops at 0 degrees for flush cutting, 45 degrees for standard cuts and 90 degrees for miter joints.
The body of the machine is formed in cast aluminum to increase durability. The fence of the joiner can be adjusted with a rack-and-pinion mechanism to achieve accuracy while a tool-less blade cover allows for quick and safe blade change. The device also has a non-marring shoe made of rubber to prevent the material from slipping.
Ergonomically designed, it weighs around 8 pounds and comes in a sturdy; Makita marked case. The product has a 1-year limited warranty.
Things We Liked
- Ergonomic design for increased comfort.
- Large grip for easy handling.
Things We Didn't Like
- The dust bag may prove to be too small and may require frequent unloading.
5. Ryobi ZRJM82GK 6 Amp Biscuit Joiner Kit
This biscuit joiner from Ryobi is powered by a 6 amp motor that delivers 10, 000 RPM power and glides through a range of hardwoods. It features a fence placement range of 0-135 degrees with positive stops at 0, 45, 90 and 135 degrees making it versatile enough for use in homes as well as professionally.
It has three present depth settings at 0, 10 and 20 for standard biscuit sizes. The rack-and-pinion system allows fence adjustment to increase accuracy. The product weighs at 10 pounds and comes with a warranty of 3 years.
Things We Liked
- Over-mold design for comfort in use.
- Includes a storage case.
Things We Didn't Like
- Only three depth settings available.
Conclusion
All five biscuit joiners enlisted are offered by the best-in-the-trade brands which ensure quality and user satisfaction. However, when pitted against each other on grounds of features, value-for-money, pros and cons, two of them stood out. The final contenders are Porter-Cable 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit and Makita PJ7000 Plate Joiner.
Power
The Porter-Cable with its incredible 7 amp motor wins this round by a tall margin against Makita’s 5.6 amp motor.
Weight
There is no appreciable difference between the weights of the two machines. The Makita is only ½ a pond heavier than the Porter-Cable, so this round ends in a tie.
Fence Placement
Porter-Cable offers an extended 0-135 degree fence placement range that gives it a definite edge over Makita, which has a fence placement range of 0-90 degrees. This feature is imperative for both professional and amateur users, and therefore Porter-Cable gets another point.
Depth Settings
Both Porter-Cable and Makita features all six depth settings.
Price
Porter-Cable is priced a few hundred dollars above the Makita. But given the number of features it packs and the quality that it promises, the investment will be worth your while. Porter-Cable takes this round.
On analyzing five essential features to seal a beneficial deal, Porter-Cable wins three rounds and two ends in a tie. In a close competition between high-performing, quality power tools, Porter-Cable 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit emerges the winner.