Best Biscuit Joiner for the $$$ ?

[Bad Jackson]

Who makes the best Biscuit Joiner for the money?

I am a mechanic, that does a (very) little carpentry once in a while.

I want to build some "Built-Ins" in my house.

I would guess Porter Cable or Milwaukee, but I have some Ridgid tools that I like...

Keep in mind, I am OCD/****.

Thanks,
Munsk

 

[oldwino]

I got a Craftsman conversion kit years ago to modify your 4-4 1/2" angle grinder to a biscuit joiner. Not sure if these are still available, but did a pretty good job. Took 10 minutes to convert angle grinder to biscuits and about the same to return to grinding.

 

[srmofo]

Depending on what your plans entail, you might want to check out a kreg jig system
http://www.kregtool.com/pocket-hole-jigs-prodlist.html
very versatile tool

 

[rsanter]

I have the dewalt and it works great
Done a few hundred biscuts with it so far

Bob

 

[thooks]

Hit the woodworking forums for their swap and sell forums.

Don't buy new.

 

[TireTracks]

You can also get router bits that will do it, if you have a router. Cheaper than buying a whole machine.

 

[JASTECH]

I have a Porter-Cable, chose it over DeWalt for quality and ability. At this time the best/strongest is the Domino system.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Depending on what your plans entail, you might want to check out a kreg jig system
http://www.kregtool.com/pocket-hole-jigs-prodlist.html
very versatile tool

My BIL does some woodworking/cabinetry. He has parked his biscuit joiner and uses the Kreg Pocket Screw Jig exclusively. He says it is faster and easier.

I saw a hutch he made for my SIL. The face frames were all picket screw joined as was the top (about 8-10 2" wide boards).

And he is OCD when making furniture/cabinets.

 

[cowboy73]

I picked up a lightly used Ryobi at the flea maket for $15. I wouldn't spend alot on one unless you plan on using it a whole lot.

View media item 10637

 

[msnow]

I have a PC also and it used to be top of the line and could be had relatively cheap. Now the best thing out there is the Festool Domino however it is super pricey. I would recommend looking at Kregg Jigs, I would say I use it 95% of the time over biscuits. Not because it is much better but hell of a lot faster and easier to install. For stuff around the house the kregg jig is definitely the answer in my opinion.

 

[shoot summ]

Man you guys would suggest the highest priced system(Festool) for a guy that stated:

"I am a mechanic, that does a (very) little carpentry once in a while.

I want to build some "Built-Ins" in my house."

Doesn't seem to fit well with the application, lot's of folks get by with much less than the top end equipment.

If this is occasional use then the Ryobi or a router would work just fine with minimal investment.

Pocket hole set ups are really great, and would work well for building "built ins". They do not completely replace a biscuit joiner though.

I have a Dewalt biscuit joiner, works just fine, most of the others will work fine as well, move up the quality scale the more you intend to use it. I do alot of woodworking and I use mine 5-6 times a year on projects. My current project has 100+ biscuits in it.

 

[PCO6]

I have a Freud JS102 and it works well. I also have a Craftsman biscuit joiner attachment for my Craftsman router which I do not like using at all. Since buying my Kreg pocket hole jigs I have been using my biscuit joiner a lot less. I agree though that it doesn't totally replace a biscuit joiner.

 

[nev]

I have a dewalt one I bought from a friend for £100

 

[Mmfh]

I will say again that the Kreg jigs are very cool, especially for making cabinets face frames, but its not the do all end all tool for attaching two pieces of wood.

I picked up a used PC off of CL and have used it many times with great results. Just because I bought it used doesn't mean I'm not picky. I'm an OCD from hell when it comes to my tools. You can find some used stuff that is as nice as new if you look, and save a bunch of money too.

Like you I mainly work with metal, cars and engines, but I also love woodworking. Buying any of the better known brands and taking care of it will do you just fine.

By the way, those Kreg jigs are expensive. You can do what the jig does by hand if you want too, its just very quick and accurate, and Kreg has their special, expensive screws that work very well.

 

[boiler7904]

I will say again that the Kreg jigs are very cool, especially for making cabinets face frames, but its not the do all end all tool for attaching two pieces of wood.

I picked up a used PC off of CL and have used it many times with great results. Just because I bought it used doesn't mean I'm not picky. I'm an OCD from hell when it comes to my tools. You can find some used stuff that is as nice as new if you look, and save a bunch of money too.

Like you I mainly work with metal, cars and engines, but I also love woodworking. Buying any of the better known brands and taking care of it will do you just fine.

By the way, those Kreg jigs are expensive. You can do what the jig does by hand if you want too, its just very quick and accurate, and Kreg has their special, expensive screws that work very well.

Same here except my PC biscuit jointer was bought new at a great price with a mail in rebate for a free sander. Also have the Kreg jig. Both have their places and are not always interchangeable.

 

[PCO6]

Mmfh - Some of the larger Kreg jigs are pricey but I find myself using the smallest and simplest one more often than the larger one.

Kreg Mini Jig Kit ...
http://www.calibex.com/Kreg-Mini-Jig-Kit-564389084/cb2/prices-html

 

[Steevo]

I have had a Freud for 15 years or more, and it has done thousands of biscuit joints for me, accurately, easily and with no problems.
I bought my SIL a used Porter Cable unit and it works fine. Not quite as well made or as easy to use, but works just fine for cutting biscuit slots.

 

[msnow]

Man you guys would suggest the highest priced system(Festool) for a guy that stated:

"I am a mechanic, that does a (very) little carpentry once in a while.

I want to build some "Built-Ins" in my house."

Doesn't seem to fit well with the application, lot's of folks get by with much less than the top end equipment.

If this is occasional use then the Ryobi or a router would work just fine with minimal investment.

Pocket hole set ups are really great, and would work well for building "built ins". They do not completely replace a biscuit joiner though.

I have a Dewalt biscuit joiner, works just fine, most of the others will work fine as well, move up the quality scale the more you intend to use it. I do alot of woodworking and I use mine 5-6 times a year on projects. My current project has 100+ biscuits in it.

Sorry I was not trying to suggest the OP buy a festool anything I just thought he should know that as far as I am concerned before the Domino came out the PC biscuit joiner was the gold standard. So if you could find one used or pick one up at great price you would be getting a great tool.

Kregg jigs won't do everything but they are mighty good and while the screws do cost a little bit of money depending which model jig you get the initial investment is less then a biscuit joiner.

 

[jdcompman]

Man you guys would suggest the highest priced system(Festool) for a guy that stated:

"I am a mechanic, that does a (very) little carpentry once in a while.

I want to build some "Built-Ins" in my house."

Doesn't seem to fit well with the application, lot's of folks get by with much less than the top end equipment.

If this is occasional use then the Ryobi or a router would work just fine with minimal investment.

Pocket hole set ups are really great, and would work well for building "built ins". They do not completely replace a biscuit joiner though.

I have a Dewalt biscuit joiner, works just fine, most of the others will work fine as well, move up the quality scale the more you intend to use it. I do alot of woodworking and I use mine 5-6 times a year on projects. My current project has 100+ biscuits in it.

Geeze you need to chill out! I don't see anyone in this thread saying he needs to go buy a Festool. People were simply stating the different technologies.

 

[Monte]

Mafell

 

[bindernut]

I just got a Porter Cable. Dad bought it for me. Well, we traded, i got the biscuit joiner & he got a set of red Snap on hard handled scewdrivers, & a set each of standard & metric 1/4" drive SK universal sockets. I still have a set of black hard handles(plus a few loose) & a set of the original soft grips that came out in 98-99, and i also have SO 1`/4" standard universal plus the 1 or 2 metrics I needed when i worked on mowers for a living.

I've used a bit in a router to cut a slot for biscuits. It works ok but you can't set different depths for the various sizes of biscuits. A real biscuit joiner will have a depth stop on it.

 

[ricleh]

 

[GarageEnvy]

People will disagree but for a seldom used tool, go Harbor Freight. I just used a HF unit to glue up an octagon for a coffee table. The fence is crappy and it's typical low quality HF but the trigger is on for about 2 seconds to cut a small slot. I have used the router bit slot cutter and it's more time consuming and alignment can be more difficult.

 

[shoot summ]

Geeze you need to chill out! I don't see anyone in this thread saying he needs to go buy a Festool. People were simply stating the different technologies.

Thanks for your productive contribution to this thread.

 

[woody 73]

I would suggest the Porter Cable will do everything that you are looking for.

 

[Bad Jackson]

Thanks fellas,
I will also take a good look at the Kreg Pocket joint tool. I just read up on it in a Built-Ins Magazine, and was already considering purchasing one.

Thanks again.
Munsk.

 

[griff99]

I have no complaints with my Dewalt, I have had it for about 3 years and used it for many projects, mostly hardwoods, cherry, maple, etc. It still works as well today as it did the day I brought it home.

 

[hamon]

I have a Porter-Cable, chose it over DeWalt for quality and ability. At this time the best/strongest is the Domino system.

 

[amguttin]

I am a carpenter by profession. All biscuit joiners do the same thing. I am fond of the dealt because of the aluminum fence but there is nothing wrong with a HF, Ryobi, etc.

 

[ddawg16]

I have both....biscuits and pocket holes have different specific uses. I wouldn't use biscuits for face frames....but biscuits work great for joining the side of a cabinet to a face frame.....or joining two lengths of boards together to make a wider board.

Bang for the buck? Ryobi. Or any decent used one.

 

[hamon]

I just got a Porter Cable. Dad bought it for me. Well, we traded, i got the biscuit joiner & he got a set of red Snap on hard handled scewdrivers, & a set each of standard & metric 1/4" drive SK universal sockets. I still have a set of black hard handles(plus a few loose) & a set of the original soft grips that came out in 98-99, and i also have SO 1`/4" standard universal plus the 1 or 2 metrics I needed when i worked on mowers for a living.

I've used a bit in a router to cut a slot for biscuits. It works ok but you can't set different depths for the various sizes of biscuits. A real biscuit joiner will have a depth stop on it.

 

[rlitman]

...All biscuit joiners do the same thing...

They are supposed to do the same thing, but the results will not be the same.

The ones with the "vertical" motor, like the Ryobi pictured above will give you bad results every time. They tilt as you push the cutter in, which widens the slot, giving you a too loose fit.

Do yourself a favor and stick with a biscuit joiner that has an inline motor. These go straight in, and make a well fitting slot. Suddenly biscuits will go from a lousy solution to a good one (in some uses).

Also, the plastic fences like you find on the HF model flex. If you have the HF, you can improve it by sticking a piece of sandpaper tape to the face so at least it does not slide around.

My Porter Cable was not that expensive. It has a great aluminum fence that drops to square reliably and does not flex. The measurement gauge is so-so, but I can deal with that. The dust collection is as good as it gets (nothing escapes). What's not to like?

I have both....biscuits and pocket holes have different specific uses. I wouldn't use biscuits for face frames....but biscuits work great for joining the side of a cabinet to a face frame.....or joining two lengths of boards together to make a wider board.

Bang for the buck? Ryobi. Or any decent used one.

Yep, biscuits and pocket holes are different tools for different uses. Domino is another one with little overlap.

Pocket holes are all nice and that, but are just about worthless in plywood.

Biscuits are good where you want a spline for either strength or alignment, but want it hidden.

Domino is a tenoning system (NOT a spline), and I can think of no places where a biscuit should be substituted for a Domino and vice versa.

 

[Carroll B]

I bought a HF biscuit joiner on sale for installing some shelves in my SIL's man cave. It worked great and it will only get used 1-2 times over the next 5-10 years. The money I saved will buy some more chrome for my Harley.

 

[bob15]

Holy ****..............another 6 year old thread brought back from the dead

 

[TNBurban]

The PC 557 is tough to beat. Really really great at what it was designed to do. Own one and never had an issue.

But the BEST joiner is by far the Festool Domino XL. Can do joints that support hundreds of pounds. But pricey. Probably a little over 2 grand to get the tool, tenons, and the accessories needed to make it very versatile.

 

[TNBurban]

Man you guys would suggest the highest priced system(Festool) for a guy that stated:

"I am a mechanic, that does a (very) little carpentry once in a while.

I want to build some "Built-Ins" in my house."

Doesn't seem to fit well with the application, lot's of folks get by with much less than the top end equipment.

Festool is the "Snap On" of woodworking. A lot of threads here, when someone says "hey I need a ____" people throw out Snap On real quick. No different.

 

[dnschmidt]

The best is of course Lamello, the inventors of biscuit joinery. The DeWalt works fine.

 

[cheechi]

Man you guys would suggest the highest priced system(Festool) for a guy that stated:

Keep in mind, I am OCD/****.

You deleted the most important part of what you quoted. OCD/**** == Festool. Like it or not, cost being considered, there is no more **** woodworking power tools period.

My suggestion would be to find a lightly used one no matter the brand, a lot of guys bought these, used once or a few times, then they sit for decades. I have seen essentially brand new ones sold for $30-40 and the seller is happy to get rid of it. Usually with TONS of biscuits tossed in for free. It may not be every day, but of the 5 biscuit joiners I've held 4 of them changed hands this way.

I don't like Festool's elitist air and their minions are like mindless zealots but the Domino is one hell of a nice tool.

 

[dnschmidt]

Cheechi, if you think the Festool guys are mindless zealots try Felder owners. Nothing is as bad as a Felder zombie. They sir are in a class by themselves.

 

[ddawg16]

They are supposed to do the same thing, but the results will not be the same.

The ones with the "vertical" motor, like the Ryobi pictured above will give you bad results every time. They tilt as you push the cutter in, which widens the slot, giving you a too loose fit.

Do yourself a favor and stick with a biscuit joiner that has an inline motor. These go straight in, and make a well fitting slot. Suddenly biscuits will go from a lousy solution to a good one (in some uses).

.......

I disagree.

Mine has a metal fence that I can put down on the material and it insures a straight cut every time. The handle is in line with the blade so there is no reason for it to tilt.

And I've actually had to go back and 'enlarge' a cut just slightly to get the biscuit to fit. They can't be so tight that it wipes the glue off.

And....the glue will cause the biscuit to swell just slightly and fill up the space.

But, for that biscuit to work right, you need to have glue on all surfaces.