Popular Woodworking 2000-11 № 118, страница 23
and you get continuous adjustment from 0 to 45 to 135 degrees. Look for a fence that's easy to adjust and accurate. It should stay put when locked down. The fence should lock parallel to the blade, otherwise the biscuit will not align across the joint. The ease of adjustment to the fence and depth stop is a major consideration. Check the knobs to see if they're easy to turn. Make sure they stay set when tightened. If you can't get the fence and depth stop to adjust correctly, it might as well be a paperweight. Also check out the size of the fence. Large fences make it easy to make a perfect cut. The last thing to consider on the fence is the way the blade opening is held firm against your work. Here are your options: two tiny pins that make small holes in your work, which are covered up when the joint is glued together. Or there are rubber nibs or a material like sandpaper to accomplish the same goal. We're partial to the rubber and abrasive faces. Biscuit Sizes The work you do determines the kind of biscuit you will use. If you build a lot of face frame cabinets, there is a special biscuit for you. If you do picture frames, you need a tool that cuts slots for "mini biscuits." For joining flat surfaces like table tops, almost any tool will do. There are only three original sized biscuits: #0, #10, and #20. These range in size from 13/4" for the #0 to 21/4" for the #20. The face frame biscuits currently sold by Porter-Cable are smaller than the #0 at 11/4". Ryobi makes mini-biscuits for its small joiner. They are numbered #1, #2, and #3. Their sizes are and 1". Big biscuits are great for large, edge-to-edge applications, such as tables. Porter-Cable's mid-sized biscuit is made for face frames. Ryobi's small-sized joiner is great for craft projects or special applications. The next feature to look at is dust collection. Most joiners have a bag to collect the chips flying out the side of the machine. Take a fitting from your shop vacuum and see if it fits the model you're looking at. Don't get too worked up about amperage. There's less than a 2 amp difference between all the major brands. Lastly, noise is a consideration. The motors can be loud. Repetitive sustained noise from any machinery can cause hearing damage if done for sustained periods. PW PW OmmenKo: The following biscuit joiners have been tested or used by the editors of Popular Woodworking and have earned their recommendation. Occasional User The Freud JSI00 is a utilitarian joiner limited to 45 or 90 degree cuts, but is solid, easy to adjust and inexpensive. Serious Home Woodworker The Freud JSI02 is the economy leader in this category but the DeWalt DW682K, Makita 3901 or Craftsman 27730 offer an upgrade. Advanced Woodworker or Professional The Makita and DeWalt will do fine in a pro shop, however we think the Porter-Cable 557K is the most versatile tool today. Its ability to cut face frame-sized biscuits makes it a solid recommendation. For the Rolls Royce of biscuit joiners, look to the Lamello Classic C2. Honorable mention goes to the Ryobi DBJ50 and Craftsman 17550 mini-biscuit joiners for their affordable face-frame cutting option for a pro, or entry-level option for a beginner
KEY:Anti-slip device: RU: rubber facing; RP= retractable pins; F=abrasive facing, ■ = PW Recommends KEY:Anti-slip device: RU: rubber facing; RP= retractable pins; F=abrasive facing, ■ = PW Recommends |
