Woodworker's Journal 2002-26-3, страница 12

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DeWalt's DW682K Biscuit Joiner

By Rob Johnstone

there were biscuit joiners. And, while it is a bit embarrassing to admit my early penchant for curmudgeonly behavior, I was an early and vocal critic of the invention. To me, it seemed the woodworking equivalent of the electric can opener. Sure, it did what it was designed to do ... but so what. It accurately aligned pieces of wood while you were gluing them up. I knew about 50 tricks to get my laminated stock to line up. I also knew a few for what to do when I couldn't quite get that to happen. If you were making face frames, my double-headed Newton horizontal borer ($1,500.00 at the local industrial woodworking supply wholesaler) was obviously a better choice. Then I moved out of my father's cabinet shop and had

to start woodworking like most of the planet does. All of a sudden, a good sturdy biscuit joiner seemed to be a much better and more practical tool than I had previously thought. Still, I kept my new appreciation tightly held ... due to my previous proclamations.

Small Shop Stand-By

The DW682K is a tool that the small shop person will find to be the answer to many woodworking questions. One of the things I like about it is that, while DeWalt does provide a manual with the tool, I have never had to read it to use the tool. (This is a confession of fact, not a recommended style of use ... it is always best to read the documentation provided with any

As one of a crowded field in our December 2000 Biscuit Joiner Roundup, the DW682K stood second to its newly introduced cordless cousin (the DW932K) in our review. It lacked the "NEW" hot button. But in the intervening year and a half of heavy-duty work, quality has shown its value over the cool new idea of the moment. Durability, accuracy and elegant simplicity have earned the DW682K its selection as a Woodworker's Journal Tool that Endures.

new tool.) Its use is intuitive and the dials, adjustment knobs and other features are well located and easy to use. The machine is also not finicky. Pull it off the shelf (somehow I never quite get it back into its handy carrying case), blow the dust off, and you're ready to slice some slots for biscuits.

You do need to take a moment and decide what size wafers to use and where to place them in your stock ... but that is hardly rocket science. And that, I suspect, was the real reason for my initial skepticism. If biscuit joiners were so useful, how could they also be so simple? Well, due to my biscuit joiner I don't need nearly as many tricks these days to align my stock. And without access to a double-

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June 2002 Woodworker's Journal