The Best Biscuit Joiner to Aid Your Large Projects
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Lamello Top 21 800-Watt Biscuit Joiner -
Festool 574432, XL DF 700 Domino Biscuit Joiner -
Makita 3901 5.6 Amp Plate Biscuit Joiner -
Porter-Cable 557 Kit Plate Biscuit Joiner -
DeWalt DW682K Heavy Duty 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner -
Buyer's Guide
Biscuit joiners, more properly called “plate joiners” are one of the most innovative woodworking tools to hit the market in a long time. While it seems like new power tools are popping up all over the place, none has had the impact of the biscuit joiner. Although originally frowned upon by die hard woodworking traditionalists, the fact of the matter is that this is such an effective joining system, that any serious woodworker who builds things bigger than a bird feeder needs to add one to their collection.
Before the invention of the biscuit joiner by Lamello (see our #1 pick) woodworkers had to use dowels for edge connecting boards together. If you’ve ever tried doweling boards together, especially without a horizontal boring drill (something very hard to come by), aligning it so that it comes out well is a real challenge.
The biscuit joiner uses a 4” diameter carbide tipped blade to precision cut a slot into the edge of the wood. The fence insures accurate positioning and depth, so that the boards will connect together at exactly the correct height. The actual connection is made with a pressed hardwood “biscuit” (hence the name) which is actually a pressed plywood disk. This provides for a very easy, yet strong connection.
By angling the fence, the same system can be used to invisibly join carcases (for dressers) and cabinet cases with mitered corners.
A good biscuit joiner needs to be of rigid construction, more than anything else. The fence needs to be solid, like with any power cutting tool, to ensure that it won’t move against the workpiece. Rails need to be well fitted with the bearings, so that there isn’t any wobble. Finally, the adjustment of the fence for angle, position and depth is important, to insure accuracy of your work.
Best Biscuit joiner in 2022 hit the market at about $800 dollars per unit. That pretty much put them out of the realm of anybody but professionals. While there are still professional units around that will cost that much, or even more as you’ll see in this list, others have simplified the design of the biscuit joiner, bringing the price down. Any of these tools shown will do a quality job for you. What you’re buying with a more expensive unit is life expectancy and adjustment accuracy, more than anything else. So, if you’re running a cabinet shop, you’ll want to buy a high-dollar biscuit joiner; but if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you may want to take a look at the less expensive units.
Best Biscuit Joiners Worth Considering in 2022
Lamello Top 21 800-Watt Biscuit Joiner - Best Biscuit Joiner Overall
Lamello invented the biscuit joiner and is still the standard that everyone strives for. They spare no expense to insure that they are providing the best possible tool, with heavy duty, precision everything. Everything from the fence to the bearings on this unit is heavy-duty, guaranteeing years of long life in any professional woodworking shop. Lamello’s unit has more detents and a finer adjustment for depth of cut and fence position than anyone else, with steps at 0.1mm; nobody else does that. They've also increased their motor size to 800 watts, making it the biggest motor ever put on a biscuit joiner.
Festool 574432, XL DF 700 Domino Biscuit Joiner - Runner Up
As usual, Festool puts out a top quality product. This is a larger version of their well-known Domino XL Joiner. It has a maximum tenon size of about five and a half inches. Like their other tools, this one is designed to work directly with a dust collection system. Considering how much dust a biscuit joiner can make, that’s a nice way to work. The cutting action on this one is a combination of rotating and oscillating, which makes clean repeatable mortise cuts every time. Easy adjustment of the mortise width at the turn of a dial. It comes with optional trim and cross stops for narrow stock and edge joining.
Makita 3901 5.6 Amp Plate Biscuit Joiner - Honorable Mention
Makita is one of the top professional power tool companies today. Their biscuit joiner lives up to everything one would expect of their quality tool design and manufacturing. The vertical fence comes with a rack and pinion adjustment, for smooth, accurate, repeatable adjustment. Adjustments are protected with cam locks. Six different preset depth settings are available. To protect the workpiece, they've installed a rubber strip in the fence, a nice touch.
Porter-Cable 557 Kit Plate Biscuit Joiner - Consider
At 7.0 amps, this Porter Cable biscuit joiner is the heaviest duty unit we’ve listed. Even Lamello’s 800 watt motor isn’t as powerful as that. The greater power should equal longer life, especially if you’re cutting hardwoods regularly. The fence tilts up to 135 degrees, with a stop at 90 degrees. There’s a micro adjustable knob for height adjustment and 7 depth stops, making it the top unit in that category as well. Oh, and Porter Cable wants to make sure you can keep on cutting, so they supply you with 2 blades, instead of the 1 that everyone else does.
DeWalt DW682K Heavy Duty 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner - Best Biscuit Joiner
When DeWalt started their climb to regain their reputation as a manufacturer of quality professional power tools, they knew they had their job cut out for them. Well, as far as I’m concerned, they've made it. The tools that DeWalt’s been putting out over the last several years, show careful design and robust manufacturing. Building tools that professionals can use with pride, and with the expectancy that they’ll survive the rough environment of the workplace. DeWalt is so confident about their quality that they've put a 3 year warranty on this unit. That says a lot in and of itself. It comes with all the standard features and a 6.5 amp motor, the most common size in these quality biscuit joiners.
Buyer's Guide
You should be aware that there are several options for biscuit joiners accessible on the market. And choose which of these choices to pursue is a challenging process. You may have already decided based on the thorough information we provided about the product and its characteristics. If you are still unsure, we have included a feature-packed buying guide below.
What are the features to look for in the best biscuit joiner?
Before making a decision, make sure you read the complete buying guide. Before purchasing a biscuit joiner, consider the following features:
Weight
When it comes to hand-operated power equipment, weight is always a consideration- the amount of effort required to drive the biscuit joiner increases when the tool's weight increases. On the other hand, a lightweight biscuit joiner will considerably minimize the effort necessary for the process. However, the weight of the machine is also determined by the motor or battery it employs. Consider purchasing a lightweight biscuit joiner if you plan on using the machine for an extended period.
Cutting speed
A biscuit joiner's cutting speed is frequently determined by the motor it uses. A quicker motor will cause the blade to spin faster, speeding up the process. On the other hand, a slower motor needs more time, resulting in difficulties such as overheating and incorrect cuts. The motors are usually rated at 10000 rpm. However, there are a few exceptions listed in our article that allow you to get motors with up to 11000 rpm.
Cutting depth
The depth of the incision determines the type of biscuits that may be used for the joint. A couple of biscuit joiners in this post will tailor the cut's depth to your specifications. You may either use a new blade or change the machine's depth settings. You may easily pick the biscuit size ideal for your joint since you can vary the depth of cut.
What are the factors to consider while buying a biscuit joiner?
You will learn about all of the required qualities of an excellent biscuit joiner, as well as their significance for making a thoughtful decision here.
Power type
Corded and cordless biscuit joiners are the two most common types of biscuit joiners on the market. The corded biscuit joiners will need a constant electrical source, but they will produce a lot of power. On the other hand, Cordless biscuit joiners run on batteries and are thus portable and do not require a constant supply. However, the power available on a cordless tool is limited.
Blade diameter
The supported blade diameter is one of the essential aspects of the biscuit joiner. It will be used to calculate the tool's cut dimensions. Biscuits are typically 4 inches long. To deal with them, you'll need a blade with a diameter of 4 inches. However, using the 4-inch biscuit isn't always practical. A 4-inch cut might break the wood into two pieces in some cases. In this scenario, a 2-inch blade will be required to make smaller cuts on the hardwood surface.
Reliability
When you purchase a biscuit joiner, you are making a significant investment in your tool inventory. As a result, you should think about the tool's dependability before purchasing it. The manufacturer's warranty is the greatest approach to assess a product's dependability. If the equipment has a long warranty period, you may be confident that it is of good quality. Even if it is damaged, the manufacturer will provide free repairs or replacement.
What are the different kinds of biscuit joiners?
Cordless vs. cordless
The argument over corded vs. cordless power tools occurs in the biscuit joinery sector, as it does with other power equipment. Choosing a style is frequently a matter of personal choice. Almost every biscuit joiner has a cord. Because most woodworking tasks are done in a workshop, there is typically plenty of electricity. Also, because climbing a ladder or working beneath a cabinet with a biscuit joiner isn't usual, portability isn't an issue. Because biscuit joinery places a significant burden on a battery, most manufacturers have opted out of cordless joinery. There are, therefore, a few cordless biscuit joiners on the market.
What are the advantages of owning a biscuit joiner?
Biscuit joiners will undoubtedly contribute to the authenticity of any woodworking project. Here's a short rundown of the benefits of having biscuit joiners.
Strength enhancement
When working on a woodworking project, one of the features you should strive for is the structure's strength and durability. Robust and long-lasting construction is not only valuable, but it also demonstrates the building's security. And a biscuit joiner provides that.
Helps to achieve an array of sizes
You may work on any timber project without worrying about its size if you use biscuit joiners. The tiniest biscuit joiners are a twelfth of an inch in diameter. There are a variety of sizes available, allowing you to do any work properly. You may acquire specialized equipment for your project, no matter how big or little it is.
Provides a professional outlook
Wood is one of the few materials that may help your project acquire a naturalistic appearance. Nevertheless, this is only feasible if the right tools are used. Biscuit joiners aid in the creation of a basic yet distinctive junction that does not detract from the overall appearance of the project.
Offers value for money
By purchasing biscuit joiners from a reputable manufacturer, you may work on various tasks without having to worry about changing your tool. However, if your tools are to withstand the hard-working circumstances, you must take good care of them.
Cut with confidence
The tools you choose will always influence how well your project turns out. Biscuit joiners will boost your self-assurance because they precisely accomplish the size and form you choose. Furthermore, using this tool is simple since it does not waste wood.
Best Biscuit Joiners FAQs
Q: Is it worthwhile to use biscuit joiners?
A: A biscuit joiner is worth investing in if you want a smooth finish with exact alignment. If you simply need strong joins, however, there is less costly equipment that can do the job just as well as the biscuit joiner.
Q: Is it possible to use a biscuit joiner on plywood?
A: Making a junction on plywood might be challenging; nevertheless, you can obtain a desired, clean, and unexposed joint by utilizing a biscuit joiner.
Q: How big should the biscuits be?
A: The stronger the joint, the greater the biscuit size. However, the size of the piece of wood should also be considered. Choose a biscuit that will not be exposed to the elements.
