Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-1, страница 47

Three representative machines:

Biscuit joiners are available in a wide range of models and prices. Here are three that run the gamut of what you'll will find on today's market.

| Lamello Top 20:

I. $800

Lamello invented the plate, or biscuit, joiner. Their exceptionally high quality models are made in Switzerland for professional and advanced hobbyists.

n Ryobi JM82K:

L. $100

3Porter-Cable _# $200

557:

Ryobi tools are not aimed at professionals. Their pricing and manufacturing choices are more in line with the "DIY" market.

Used in professional and hobbyist shops across the country, the Porter-Cable 557 is representative of the heart of the biscuit joiner market.

Woodworker's Journal February 2008 47

Contributing editor George Vondriska is the proprietor of the Wild Earth School, where he teaches woodworking.

Switching from a large to a small blade allows you to use undersized biscuits for smaller work, like face frames and picture frames.

blade and smaller biscuits. You can't just put the small blade on any biscuit joiner. The plunge mechanism on the machine has to be able to work with the smaller blade. If you want the flexibility of using smaller biscuits, make sure your joiner can be retrofitted as needed for this purpose.

A biscuit joiner will add speed, accuracy and strength to your joint-building jobs. If you're like most woodworkers I've talked with over the years, once you own one, you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.

To be truly useful, the fence should be easy to adjust up and down, and it should track parallel to the blade.