Replies

1. 
   brownbagg | Dec 11, 2003 03:45am | #1

   I got the ryobi and friend has the portercable but this is really a question for over at KNOTS

   The best employee you can have but you wouldn't want him as a neighbor " He the shifty type"

1. 
   AdamB | Dec 11, 2003 10:00pm | #11

   KNOTS   ??????Christmas is coming..... should I buy the wife that new tablesaw ....hmmmm

2. 
   DougU | Dec 11, 2003 04:08am | #2

   You might try "plate jointer" in your search. Or spell "bisquit" different, try biscuit. I'd do it for you but I never use the search deal.

   Depends on how much you will use one but the Lamello is the best and then after that I would opt for the PC.

   Doug

3. 
   Lateapex911 | Dec 11, 2003 04:57am | #3

   Yes, this was gone over recently.  keep looking. the consenus was...well, there was no consensus!  The Lamello was said to be the cream of the crop, but above most budgets.  I have the Dewalt, and like the gear driven plate.  Much cheaper, too!

   Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

4. 
   NickNukeEm | Dec 11, 2003 05:11am | #4

   I have the Freud and the Porter Cable.  The Freud hangs around in the truck waiting on emergencies, the PC is what I use when biscuits are required.  Just ran through about 30 earlier this evening.  The PC also can cut the faceframe biscuits, which is nice for cabinet making.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
5. 
   JeffBuck | Dec 11, 2003 05:11am | #5

   depends what you'll use it for ...

   but ...

   I did lotsa soul searching then decided the DeWalt ... plus the Kreg Jig .... was a better bet for me instead of the "do it most" PC.

   Very happy with my decision.

   Got the biscuit cutter I thought was a bit better ... and got the face framer I knew was better.

   To me .. about the only thing the PC had over the DeWalt was the FF biscuits

   Jeff

   Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

        Artistry in Carpentry                

6. 
   ravenwind | Dec 11, 2003 06:41am | #6

   I bought a craftsmen (120.00) a few years ago and it is the sh-tist tool ive ever bought. the blade cuts are too wide /not long,thick so the bisquits flop arround to much in the groove and dont swell up that much for it to tighten up soon. by the looks of it, it looks like ryobe makes it so I wouldnt buy that too. dewalt looks o.k.   it seems fine hombuilding or fine woodworking wrote somthing awhile ago recomending bisquit joiners, read,  if you cant find somone to show you theres ,  ha!

            dogboy   woof

7. 
   DennisS | Dec 11, 2003 09:13am | #7

   Learn -

   I opted for the Porter Cable after borrowing my neighbor's Dewalt. His Dewalt was/is a good machine but it seemed a bit more ackward to use than the PC - I need all the help I can get when it comes to power tools! (grin). His Dewalt, in his hands, did fine. It's a great tool and lots of pros are seen using it - that's one measure of a tool's worth in my view. But the PC wasn't that much more, like I say, it felt (and actually is) easier to use, and the fence offers some angle adjustments the Dewalt doesn't.

   I didn't think I'd have much use for this tool beyond the cabinet face frames I'm working on but now that I have it, I'd imagining all sorts of projects where it will come in handy!

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   BillHartmann | Dec 11, 2003 06:12pm | #9

   I don't have one yet, but I have played with them a couple of times at the shows.

   One think that no one has mentioned, but you might have found without realizing it is that the front handles are drastically different on the PC and the DeWalt.

   On the PC the handle is on the fence and is fixed in relation to the work. One the Dewalt the front handle is attached to the body of the tool and moves as you make the cut.

   For ME it seemed like the Dewalt would be alot harder to hold into position while plunging.

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Dec 11, 2003 07:35pm | #10

   The front handle doesn't even exist, as far as I'm concerned, except to move the thing from one location to another.  Even with the PC, I keep the left hand on the horizontal part of the fence to lock it down when I make the plunge.  I've found I get better results that way. 

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

8. 
   shedhappens | Dec 11, 2003 06:01pm | #8

   the Lamello has 2 bisquit joiners.  expensive and really expensive.

   I have the expensive one and it is excellent for precision. (that is what we want in a plate joiner, after all)

   I also have a couple of Porter Cable plate joiners, and they are adequate for all round and field joinery since they adjust the depth of the bisquit -- the basic Lamello is set at 3/8" to center the bisquit in a 3/4" stock.

1. 
   reinvent | Dec 12, 2003 01:46am | #15

   The expensive one is called the Classic2($330). The really expensive one is the Top20($620)

9. 
   mikerooney | Dec 11, 2003 10:15pm | #12

   I use both the PC and Dewalt - have to give it to Dewalt. It's lighter and less cumbersome. I don't think I've even used the fence. Pocket holes for the face frames.

10. 
    dumfounder | Dec 11, 2003 11:20pm | #13

    The PC has been accurate enough to keep me happy to this point (admittedly only a couple months).  Fast & powerful too.  My only complaint is the dust collection - it is obscenely bad.  The bag port immediately clogs and it ends up blowing shavings out all over the place.

    regards

    dumfounder

1. 
   NickNukeEm | Dec 11, 2003 11:51pm | #14

   When I have room, I flip the dust bag upside down to allow the 'cavity' in the bag to be in the down position, allowing the bag to hold more shavings prior to needing to be MT'd.  But even with that, I MT the bag every 15-20 cuts, depending on the biscuit size.  Could be worse, my Freud has no dust collection and the stuff flies everywhere.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!

11. 
    reinvent | Dec 12, 2003 01:52am | #16

    IF you are only going to use a bisquit joiner once or twice a year , then a dewalt or PC should be fine. If you plan on using it more often(you will find other uses for it) then I highly recomend the Lamello Classic2($330).

1. 
   ronbudgell | Dec 12, 2003 03:20am | #17

   I like the Makita, even though I don't generally care for Mak tools. One of my partners has had one for more than 10 years and it still works. That, if you knew him, would be 'nuff said.

12. 
    CarpenterJC | Dec 16, 2003 07:30am | #18

    I have a Dewalt...I have used and absolutely love the Lamello but cant really justify the cost...the Dewalt has good options and versatilty..I mainly use it for building Eurostyle cabinets....Have used the Portercable as well but seems a bit big and bulky..hope this helps...also..just a side note about Biscuits..there are a few different types..I read an extensive article on this awhile back but cant for the life of me remember where it was..was pretty interesting..anyway..I use the Lamello biscuits only and the Dewalt Biscuit joiner..hope this helps..

                                                                                                 JC

13. 
    rwj47 | Dec 16, 2003 08:20am | #19

    I got a refurbished DeWalt from Tool Crib and I really like it.  I am a DIY'er and am building my first and only residence.  I used it on the door trim casing head joints so they wouldn't pull apart.  My casing is red oak three inches wide and 34" thick, the sample I made up was so strong I couldn't pull it apart!  I used titebond II glue. 

14. 
    MrPita2 | Dec 16, 2003 11:48pm | #20

    You didn't say what you're considering a BJ for.  But, I have and like the DW.  PC seems to be a nice mahince as well, but only held at store, never used.  Was undecided between the PC and DW, until I found the DW at a great bargain here (Thanks, Jim!)  Only ever saw pictures of Freud and Lamello brands.

    Among other projects, did a large-ish EB-TY decking project with bro last spring.  I had my DW, he went and (against my advice) bought the Ryobi for 1/2 price of new DW.  His argument was he needed it only to do this project, why spend $.  By end of first day, he was getting frustrated, fence would go out of parallel to the blade every 6 boards.  By end of 3 days, he'd have to re-adjust it every 1/2 board (~30 cuts per board).  By end of project, we'd abandoned it in favor of working at 1/2 speed w/ just the DW, but also working at 1/10 frustration made up for lack of speed. 

    In other words, stay away from Ryobi.  (I'm a DIY, so rarely have chance to compare tools working side by side w/ other brand.  This episode most clearly showed me the lesson about buying inferior tools, even for an "I'm never going to use this again..." purchase.)

    If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.

1. 
   YesMaam27577 | Dec 17, 2003 11:14pm | #22

   Conserning the Ryobi, I strongly agree with hat Mr. Pita said in his post. It will not be useful for more than the first twenty slots. After that, the slots are not paralllel to the face of the board.

   I have the Porter Cable, and I like it a lot.

   And if you really insist on the Ryobi, let me know. For half the price of a new one, I'll ship my old one to you.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.

15. 
    steve | Dec 17, 2003 11:10pm | #21

    i use the portercable joiner, works great

    caulking is not a piece of trim