Amazon.com Review

Though this Porter-Cable tool is priced higher than comparable DeWalt and Makita models, the 557 is Amazon.com's top-selling plate joiner. Its success is perhaps due to its very powerful 7-1/2 amp motor--the largest in the industry--which turns the blade at 10,000 rpm and does an excellent job of making clean cuts in any kind of wood. As well as cutting slots for the standard no. 0, 10, and 20 biscuits, Porter-Cable's joiner features an exclusive, full-thickness, FF biscuit developed especially for cabinet face frames. Another unique feature of the Porter-Cable joiner is the 2-inch blade (included), which is small enough to make cuts in stock as narrow as 1-1/2 inches. We found the microheight adjustment works well, allowing for precise biscuit placement. The tool is well balanced and comfortable to use. --Michael Shilling ... Read more

Features

• The micro height-adjust knob allows precise biscuit placement
• The powerful 7.5 amp motor delivers smooth, accurate cuts
• Includes 2- and 4-inch diameter blades for standard and face frame biscuits
• The unique fence adjusts from 0 to 135 degrees to ensure accurate mitered joints
• The top handle is attached directly to the fence for maximum stability

Reviews (55)

Excellent Tool to Butter the Biscuits!!
I am now hooked on the biscuit joints! I use to like the ease and use of dowel rods for end joints, but was sometimes limited with the size and application of the dowel. But this PC biscuit joiner has changed my mind!

The ease and accuracy is simply amazing. The fence system is simple to operate and allows for a host of heights and angles, all with precise cuttings. The powerful motor (7.5 amp) always cuts a smooth and accurate slot. There is very little, if any, vibration that could cause distortion. Changing slot sizes is as easy as turning a knob. Includes the #0, #10, #20 and FF cuts. The smaller 2" blade, which is included, is a simple task to change over to cut even smaller frames.

This unit has a great dust collection system. The dust bag REALLY works! All chips are routed to the dust opening chute and neatly collected in the bag. The bag is easily removed and emptied.

This unit might be a little more expensive than other plate joiners, but the results are in the end product. Accurate, precise cuts yielding a smooth, strong joint are almost a sure thing.

Hard to improve on this one
Not everyone admits to liking biscuit joiners. Some people still like the discipline of slower, more labor intensive joining techniques. Some of these have their place. Decorative dovetails improve the look of some cabinets. Mortise and tenon joints are stronger and better for some applications, like a bench base. But for a fast, reasonably strong, no-nonsense joint, a biscuit joiner is tops.

The PC 557 is a fine and specialized tool. It cuts cleanly, allows for very small biscuits using the 2" blade. The fence is strong and accutate. It has all the power that you need. Could the dust collection be better? Maybe, but it is at least average and maybe better than average for a tool like this. The PC cases would benefit from real latches, not the cheap plastic clips that they use. But these are very minor issues. I can not imagine anyone being disappointed by this tool.

The main competitor for the 557 is the Dewalt. It is also a good joiner but Dewalt seems to have a lot of trouble with quality control. The tools work well, but I have too many friends who have had bad switches and other minor but annoying problems with Dewalt tools. PC, Delta, Ridgid, Makita all seem like better bets to me in general... and the PC 557 a better bet in particular.

Great Tool only minor changes recommended.
After much research, I purchased this tool from a local retailer. Right out of the box, this tool was very straight forward to use and laid out well. Within the first three days of purchase I probably jointed 200 biscuits, this thing rocks!, I was impressed. The accuracey and control design are excellent. I'm glad I spent the extra cash and went for the 557, the Dewalt and other brands seemed cheaply built. My only complaint is with the dust collection, It is useless. After all the use, I have yet to empty it, it just does not work.

Hobbyist wood worker and carver.
The porter cable 557 type 3 arrived yesterday, and I made a few test cuts today. After reading numerous reviews on the web on this and earlier models I had a couple of concerns. Noise: I was expecting something comparable to a 1 hp router, but was pleasantly suprised it is much quieter than that.
Torque: I expected a mild jump when the motor spun up, but noticed no jump whatsoever. I did clamp the piece to the work bench and used both hands on the tool. The handle which holds down the front guide on the work piece is angled back towards the operator and gives a very comfortable and secure hold on the tool. My cuts were made in scrap pine so I can't address jump as the blade enters a hard woood like oak, but on pine it is effortless. I dry fitted some #20 biscuits. They slid in smoothly with a light friction. The work pieces mated up perfectly.
Overall the components appear solid.

very easy to set up and use
This is my first plate joiner and even with that it was simple to set up and use. I have only used it for one small project so far.

I was impressed with the accuracy of the fence and smoothness of the cut. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

One of the first companies to design plate joiners, DeWalt makes one powerful slot-cutting tool. Some people argue that joiners are joiners, and while it's true that a slot is a slot, how you cut it makes a heck of a lot of difference. What impresses us about DeWalt's plate joiner is the stout, dual rack-and-pinion fence. Operating with striking smoothness, the fence locks tightly in place and ensures that the joiner's blade and fence are always parallel--which means accurate joints every time. The DeWalt is also the only plate joiner on the market with a fully adjustable tilt fence: the face plate tilts 0 to 90 degrees, so you can join work at whatever angle the job requires (22-1/2 degrees, say, if you're working in octagons). Cabinetmakers will appreciate the convenience of being able to make flush cuts at 0 degrees without having to remove the fence. The 6-1/2 amp motor spins the tool's carbide blade at 10,000 rpm, making remarkably quick, clean cuts. We found the gauges easy to read and easy to set, a big plus (there's nothing worse than wrestling with or squinting at a tool every time you make adjustments). DeWalt's joiner also has preset stops for all common biscuit sizes and there's a handy vacuum adapter that allows you to hook up suction to keep dust in the shop to a minimum--always a good idea. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• Includes dust bag and vacuum adapter
• 6.5 amp 10000 RPM motor
• Dual rack and pinion fence for accurate joints every time
• One piece fence is adjustable and tilts 0 to 90 degrees
• 45-degree locating notch in fence allows indexing off the outside surface of a mitered joint

Reviews (68)

Great Bisquit Joiner
I've used the Porter Cable joiner and the DeWalt joiner and the DeWalt is significantly better. It is not a tool that you can use for extreme accuracy without being very deliberate in your settings, layout and careful handling. In other words, if you try to get high productivity at the expense careful handling you may be disappointed with your results. It is possible to great results if you are willing to slow down and work carefully.

DW682K Heavy-Duty Plate Joiner Kit
When this Kit arrived I was pleasantly surprised at the completness and quality. The blow molded case is not excessive in size and holds everything just right. I've used many other tools but never have I used a plate joiner. Today I can truely say I made the right choice. The adjustments are all evident and handy to reach. I made the tool ready for the cut in a snap. Placed the tool where I wanted the cut and "bam" with ease the cut came out exactly where I wanted it. I think the price and quality and ease of use makes this a five star winner!

Great tool but poor dust port
Everything is great about this tool except the tiny dust collection port that clogs up easily. But all the important parts are well made and functions well.

still the best joiner
In the cabinet shop where I used to work, we had a DeWalt biscuit joiner, a Porter Cable and a Lamello, and the DeWalt was the one the guys would hunt high and low for to find. The Lamello is built like a tank, but poorly designed; the Porter Cable is just a rip-off of the DeWalt. In my opinion, DeWalt still makes the best biscuit joiner around.

As accurate as You(if you know what you are doing)
I was initially disappointed in my joiner,but then I read the directions. Never having used a biscuit joiner and anxious to dive right in, I was making several mistakes and blaming the innocent tool. First I was assuming the arrow on the fence was accurately set. It wasn't. Not a big deal and it doesn't seem like you can buy a tool these days without having to make some adjustment. Second although I was intending to hit dead center on the board I wasn't. If you don't reference of the same side of the boards you are joining you're not going to get a flush joint without careful measuring.(especially using your home depot lumber which is not always not the same exact thickness) The dust port did clog often at first. Then mysteriously stopped. I suspect I did not have wire frame in the bag orientated properly. Once I had a clue it was easy and quick to use. I love it for miter joints.
I just wish it could cut slots for the smaller biscuits like the porter-cable does. You are limited to the width of face frames you can join by the width of the slot. For those who think its too loud, if its too loud your too old. Its a power tool, deal with it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Freud's biscuit joiner is a solid tool that costs remarkably less than its competitors' models. The all-metal construction of this compact joiner gives it a high-quality, very balanced feel. The carbide-tipped blade cuts the three standard 0, 10, and 20 biscuit sizes--plus A, B, and max. You can switch easily between the six settings with a convenient thumb wheel. The joiner also gives you the choice of using a dust bag or hooking it up to a vacuum for even simpler cleanup. The joiner features a new variable-angle fence system for adjustments from 0 to 90 degrees. Making fence adjustments, admittedly, isn't as easy as it is on DeWalt's or Porter-Cable's more expensive models--but this was the only notable difference we could find with Freud's joiner. (It's also not much of a concern for the casual woodworker or for anyone who uses a biscuit cutter primarily to make repetitive cuts.) All in all, this is a quality tool at a really attractive price. --Jon Groebner ... Read more

Features

• One-year warranty
• 5 amps; 10,000 rpm
• Adjustable fence system
• Six cutting depths
• Antislip rubber pins

Reviews (10)

You get what you pay for
I bought this tool then returned it because I found it time-consuming to set up and use. Still, it's quite a bit cheaper than the Porter Cable 557 (which I would recommend), and once you get it all adjusted (and assuming you don't need to change the setup much) it does work reasonably well for the money.

The manual is plain awful. Pictures are so low-res that I can't make sense of them. Instructions on using the unit are incomplete.

The tool arrived in need of readjustment. Since I've never used bisquits before, it took me a long time to figure out how it should work properly, then I was able to get it to adjust... just barely: the adjustment screw was nearly at the end of its range when I got the depth adequately set. The manual says that this adjustment should be set properly when the tools is new. I agree! It wasn't, though.

The tool can't do many of the things that the PC557 can do. The fence in particular is not very flexible. On the other hand I expect that 45 and 90 are most of what I'll use, and this tool does those ok.

...

Freud Lays an Egg
The fence on this joiner is flimsy and allows for inaccurate slots. Should only be use for the very roughest work. Try another brand, very disappointing after the fine 15 amp router I bought from Freud worked out so well. They do make great blades and bits however.

Unbelievably poor design
I bought the Freud JS102 because I thought it was one of the better brands out but, not any more. The other reviews you read here are accurate.
First, THEY DID SCREW UP THE measuring devices on the face plate that is supposed to ensure a level cut! Because of this, it is almost impossible to achieve a level cut! This seams very consistent with other reviews and I noticed the same thing. This is likely a manufaturing problem as many of the joiners have this same problem.
Secondly, I found adjusting the depth of the biscut cut very very difficult. Freud says it "pre-sets" the biscut depth at the factory. Well, it was not and my #20 biscut cuts were too shallow. In an attempt to correct this problem, I followed Freud's directions to manually change the depth. This was almost impossible. The "little wrench" they give you to make needed adjustments is too big!!! If I had not had my own tools to fix the problem, the depth could never have been changed!
Finally, the manual is awful. The pictures are of horrible quality and many points one would think of as important are not included in the manual.
Oh, one more thing, I don't know what amp motor I have! The box and tool both say it is a 6.5 amp motor but EVERY WEB SITE and even FREUD themselves say the motor is 5 AMPS!
Needless to say, the product made its way back to the store and I spent $50 more and got the Porter Cable.

Delivery Service
I have ordered this product for more than 2 weeks, and have no sign of delivery status. The service is very poor.
Had a 2nd thought about my future purchasing from Amerzon.com

Cannot adjust fence parallel to blade
The biggest problem with this tool is the total inability to adjust the auxiliary fence parallel to the blade. The fence adjustment mechanism seems poorly designed and engineered. The amount of discrepancy is small, but when joining surfaces that can accomodate only one biscuit, the joined pieces will be totally misaligned.

It's too bad because in other respects, it seems like a fairly decent tool. (If not for the lousy fence I'd have given it at least 4 stars.) But I've decided to return it and spend a little more money for a tool with better precision. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Purist furniture makers frown on the plate joiner, or biscuitjoiner as it's often called, but this model might change a few minds.The joinery ease is unparalleled with this method, and Makita reallyknows its business. This model offers a 10,000 rpm, 5.6 amp motor, sixcutting depths for different biscuit sizes, and a precision fence thatangles with positive stops at 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Changing biscuitsizes is as quick and easy as turning the adjustment dial. Therack-and-pinion fence's action is as smooth as any on the market atthis level, and our test cuts were clean and dead-on accurate. Sure,you can keep on cutting mortise and tenon joints if you want to, butthe smart woodworker is taking one of these home. For us, it fallssquarely into the gotta-get-one category. --Kris Jensen-VanHeste ... Read more

Features

• One-year warranty
• Powerful 5.6 amp motor provides 10,000 rpm
• Six depth settings for no. 0, no. 10, and no. 20 biscuits
• Precise rack-and-pinion vertical fence adjustment
• Large top-grip handle for comfort and control

Reviews (12)

Excellent tool value
The rack and pinion depth adjustment feature on this joiner is among the best that I've tried. All the adjustments are quick and repeatable with good accuracy. My only complaint is with the case. It could use a bit more room. I have to loosen the fence angle lock to get the case lid to shut. Trivial but a nuscience never the less. The joiner itself does a great job and the dust collection bag actually works! I'm sure that spending more money will get you a more refined tool but for the budget minded, this very well could be a valuable asset to your woodshop.

I just love biscuits!
This plate joiner works great! It's movement is extremely smooth and the cuts are accurate. I've made many joints with this tool and it's a pleasure to use every time. The depth stop is easy to use and consistant, just dial to the correct biscuit size. I love how it holds on to the wood, no slipping, even on miters/bevels. It's very easy to use and you may find yourself using it for more than just biscuits.

Silky Smooth & Powerful
Compared to my old style Porter Cable this tool rates on a scale of one to ten as an eleven! Dust collection is the typical side bag affair - plan on dumping it after 8 to 10 cuts. Or do what I do and leave the bag off and let the chips fly! You can adjust the outlet so they shoot away from you. This tool can make all the cuts but PC's FF size - which IMHO is too small for this size tool anyway. This is one of the best hand powertools I own.

HIGH MARKS:

+Very High Quality Construction
+Plent of Power
+Can Cut a 20mm Deep Slot/Groove as well as #0, 10, 20, Simplex, and Duplex Cuts.
+Smooth and Acurate Adjustment and Movement
+Good Storage Case

Neutral:
*Not Too Terribly Ergonomic but it feels fine in my Medium Size hands.

Cons:

None!!!

Works well but is a dying breed.
I will preface my review with a blanket statement. Every tool has its job. For crude joinery I think this is top notch. For fine woodworking I would never use this. Glues are so stong now days I would just soon glue and clamp it and not have the risk of the bisqit blooming through the wood. Again do your homework on technique before buying tools.

Consistant quality at half the time.
This tool is a time saver, no doubt. The settings stay true and the ease of use make it a joy to operate. I can't compare it to any other tool in its catagory but it is suitably powered for production runs and its accuracy leaves the job with a finish that I like. The dust outlet however gets clogged if there is a large chip ejected since there is a bottle neck at the tool end. May be a shop vac would be better than a static dust bag, thankfully the blade cover opens easily with just a few turns of a thumb screw. A good tool to own at a great price. The five stars are for it never going wrong on a single project. ... Read more

Features

• One Year Warranty
• 5 amps; 10,000 rpm motor
• Six cutting depths: 0, 10, 20, A, B, and max
• Antislip rubber pins for better operating control
• Adjustable fence flips for 45-degree setting

Reviews (8)

It's ok for the money
The noise is aweful. There's something to be said by doing things silently with fine handtools. Then there's doing things with good power tools and smooth running motors. Then there's my sons push mower that ejects plastic balls within plastic that clicks and clatters. This motor is maybe more annoying than a plastic mower.
It does the basic job, it's cheap. If you're not doing many joints or are sticking to the basics it's fine maybe give it another star for limited use. Or get a 557 for twice as much, do more, and not be annoyed by that aweful motor.

OK for occasional use, but has many annoying design defects
The Freud JS-100A is my first biscuit joiner. I picked it because it looked well made and inexpensive. After two years, I now use biscuits for everything and am putting the Freud to heavy use. It is an increasingly annoying resident of my shop; as of today I am in the market for a better-designed joiner.

The Freud continues to work OK--I have become used to the motor noise, which sounds like a handful of ball bearings rattling around in a coffee can. The dust collection system is its worst failing--the chintzy plastic manifold doesn't make a good seal and dust blows out the joint into your face. And when you have to remove the manifold to get the tool into a corner, you find access to the screw is blocked by the biscuit size selection dial. Oh, and dust goes right through the bag too, again right in your face if you're bending over to see what you're doing.

The crude fence adjustment mechanism is a real pain. When you are trying to center the cut in a board, it's just a trial and error game. Some kind of screw adjustment would be most helpful.

In production use, the tool seems heavy and poorly balanced. The on/off switch is awkwardly located, at least for me--I have to turn it on and then position it for a cut (instead of lining it up and just switching it on briefly for a quick cut. Then I have to set the tool down and turn it off. You have to wonder what they were thinking when they built this thing.

solid performance at a fair price
I use this joiner to build solid wood panels for table tops and cabinet doors and for this it works fine. The tool seems well built, has adequate power, and I do not need a tilting fence for beveled joints. The fence height adjustment could be a little easier, but I almost always use 3/4" stock so I rarely have to adjust it. It does make a disconcerting rattle when it is shut off, but this seems to be normal. The price is also reasonable for what is basically an angle grinder with a fence and carbide blade. If you are a typical hobbyist like me, then this joiner is all you'll ever need. Save yourself the $...that you would need to spend on the fancier models for biscuits, glue, stock, etc.

Inexpensive and effective
This is probably the cheapest way to get into biscuit joining, particularly if you are uncertain about the technique and want to give it a try. Unlike more expensive models, the fence is fixed at 90 degrees so you cannot put biscuits into a mitered joint. Since I have never made such joints this was not an issue for me.

The first thing I did was to remove the fence. Without the fence the blade height is perfect for cutting biscuits in 3/4" stock.
Using the tool in this way is very easy and accurate and the Freud setup is perfect.

The only thing I regret about buying the Freud is that I have come to find that this is one of the most used tools in my little workshop. ...

Good Tool that is Easy to Use
I have used this tool to place hundreds, if not thousands of biscuits on all kinds of projects. The fence can be a little tough to adjust, as it tightens with a wing nut on each end of a threaded rod. You must turn both ends at the same time to get a tight grip. I find that I use it without the fence most of the time. The blade is mounted such that it hits the middle of 3/4" stock just sliding on the base. I clamp my work to the extension table on my table saw and just slide the biscuit joiner on the table surface. It is easy to hit your marks on edge joints this way. For right angle joints, I use a guide clamp (like a Tru-Grip CT24C) squared on the workpiece (i.e. the side of a bookcase) so the base of the joiner rests where the bottom of the shelf will be. It is easy to make a verticle plunge into the board resting on the table.

The depth of cut is easy to fine tune, and there are positive adjustment stops for three sizes of biscuits.

One thing I don't like about this tool is the "clattering" sound it makes while running. I have run this machine quite a bit and never had a problem, but it has sounded like a loose bearing from the time it was new. The fence could use some improvement, but that is easy to work around.

If it ever breaks down and I have the cash, I'd like to try a Lamello. That's the one Norm has on the New Yankee Workshop! ... Read more

Product Description

4" blade, Easy adjust settings make perfect cuts for #0, #10, #20 and 3" biscuits, Rack-and-pinion gearing makes guide adjustment fast and simple, Fence adjusts from 0 degree - 90 degrees with positive stops @ 0 degree, 45 degrees and 90 degrees, Comes with large dust bag, blade and tool box. ... Read more

Features

• 4" blade
• Comes with large dust bag, blade and tool box
• Easy adjust settings make perfect cuts for #0, #10, #20 and 3" biscuits
• Fence adjusts from 0 - 90 degrees with positive stops
• Rack-and-pinion gearing makes guide adjustment fast and simple

Features

• Integral Fence With Rack & Pinion Height,Adjustment Tilts 0* To 90*
• Fence Allows Location On Either Face Of A Miter Joint,Retractable Steel Anti-Slip Pins
• Preset Depth Stops For Biscuits And 20Mm Depth Of Cut,
• Standard Equipment Includes 6-Tooth Carbide-Tipped Blade, Dust Bag, Dust Deflector, Vacuum Adapter
• Torx Key, Wrench And Heavy Gauge Steel Carrying Case.

Amazon.com Review

Though this Porter-Cable tool is priced higher than comparable DeWalt and Makita models, the 557K is Amazon.com's top-selling plate joiner. Its success is perhaps due to its very powerful 7-1/2 amp motor--the largest in the industry--which turns the blade at 10,000 rpm and does an excellent job of making clean cuts in any kind of wood. As well as cutting slots for the standard no. 0, 10, and 20 biscuits, Porter-Cable's joiner features an exclusive, full-thickness, FF biscuit developed especially for cabinet face frames. Another unique feature of the Porter-Cable joiner is the 2-inch blade (included), which is small enough to make cuts in stock as narrow as 1-1/2 inches. We found the micro height adjustment works well, allowing for precise biscuit placement. The tool is well balanced and comfortable to use. --Michael Shilling ... Read more

Features

• Includes 1,000 biscuits (a $19.99 value)
• Most powerful motor in its class
• Tilting fence and precise micro-height adjustment
• Includes both 2- and 4-inch blades
• One year warranty/30 day performance certification

Features

• Comes with a case
• Fast adjustment for six cutting depths
• Nickel coated guide plate
• Groove cutter with six alternative teeth
• Height attachment stop square

Reviews (6)

Enjoy your work
This is the best plate joiner that I ever used, perfectly made, very accurate and worth the money. If you think you are an expert woodworker you have to have it.

The best of the best
Although my Lamello is over 15 years old the design and quality has changed very little over the years. After all there is very little one can do to improve on perfection. This is a standard tool in just about every professional shop I have ever worked in or visited, and I would recommend this item without hesitation.

Costly... yes. But try and tell me there is no cost in screwing around with a tool in order to just use it, or having work ruined because of a mis-adjustment. Plate joinery is a high precision task, therefore a high precision tool is required and the Lamello gets 5 stars in this regard. My Lamello comes out of the box, gets used, and gets put away, no muss no fuss, perfection everytime; and has done so for 15 years and will likely be around for my grand children to use when I pass on.

I can't comment on service relative to this product as I've never had mine serviced, and in almost 30 years of woodworking have I ever met anyone who has done more than change the blade when it gets dull. That in itself is quite a testament to the durability and longevity of this product.

At one time all woodworking tools & machinery were made the way Lamello make their tools. It's a joy to find a company that still manufacture products to the highest standards possible.

Feels Great, a little pricey
I have used a Dewalt joiner for years, and thought I would upgrade. A very fine piece of engineering. Handles great. Would recommend a little notch on the left as well as the right side to help with perpendicluar joining. Would I buy it again? Yes, but only cause I want the best. Wouldn't be that upset if I had to go back to my Dewalt again.

Just the best
I have been using other jointers but nothing like this one. If you like an engineered product that feels well made, not plastic, accurate this is the tool for you. It is a pleasure to work with and although expensive compared to other models I wish I had bought it years ago and saved the wasted money on other models. Well we all live and learn, it's often cheaper in the long run to simply buy the best.

Best joiner money can buy
It's like butter! And such a price...compare to other on-line retailers or even items on eBay. ... Read more

Features

• One-year warranty
• 6.4 amp motor; 10,000 rpm
• Fast adjustment for six cutting depths
• Nickel-coated guide plate
• Groove cutter with six alternating teeth

Reviews (4)

Army Knives aren't the only useful tool from Switzerland
I recently purchased the C2 to replace craftsman plate joiner I have been using for for some time. The craftsman did a reasonable job cutting slots for face frames and glue-ups. My two major complaints with it were:
1)I always had trouble keeping it from "walking" when putting a slot into the center of a large flat surface.
2)It seemed so clunky and for lack of a better term: "lacked elegence" (meaning it didn't seem manufactured to fit the contours of a human hand)

The C2 answers both of these complaints very well. Its action is so smooth, it makes slot cutting almost effortless. Their are two very grippy rubber "feet" that restrict the joiner's tendancy to walk when cutting slots into the center of a horizontal surface. (Alot like the little rubber nubs on the dewalt)

The C2 has plenty of power to easily work with maple, oak, birch, or any other hardwood you put in front of it. It also fits so well in my hand, I can generally operate it one-handed.

Upon unpacking it, I immediately checked the accuracy of the positive stops on its swivel fence, and was happy to find they were dead on.

After ordering the C2, I realized that purchasing a swiss made tool could result in service/parts availability issues. Upon reading the included documentation, I was happy to discover that Lamello has a US service provider in Kingston, Mass. (Kingston just happens to border on the town I live in, which left me feeling much better about the C2's longevity).

I have been using the C2 for about 2 months (500 slots or so), and I have only one complaint. Rather than arriving with a form fitting case, the C2 arrived in a generic plastic tool box you could purcahse at a home center for $5 (of course a little transparent lamello sticker had been placed on the lid). This makes transporting the joiner more of a chore than it should be. I cut some foam inserts for the box to keep the tool from getting bashed during transport, but it would be so much easier to just to put the tool back into an appropriately molded case.

The C2 is the best plate joiner I have used, and was worth the premium price. I would actually rate 4.5 stars (as the cheapo case shouldn't merit a full point deduction).

Great Tool
This is a great tool. It is very well made. The plunge-action is very smooth and preceise. The fense operates easily and the posistive stops is very accurate. It is quiet and the chip blow-out works well, goes out the righthand side of the tool. It is of course possible to attach it to your dust-extraction (might need some extras). I has 2 rubber pads on the front to prevent it from skiding, and it works fine, no skiding.
A high quality tool !!

I think well worth it
I am fairly picky and actually had both the Lamello and the Dewalt side by side to see if the latter was worth the extra. The DeWalt's fence is quicker to adjust, and is probably fine for many applications, but there was some noticeable play, and the Lamello had absolutely none. Also, the Dewalt fence is not quite as versatile, but requires less set-up. What convinced me to mail the DeWalt back and not the Lamello is that when cutting, the Lamello never skidded even when messing around with just one hand.. The Dewalt did skid some unless I paid attention to what I was doing. Also, the Lamello has a clutch, and cuts very smoothly, quietly, and is made with a significantly more metal than DeWalt. It is easy to see why it costs more. While I am sure people can do a fine job with even the least expensive model out there, the Lamello gives you quite a bit more for the extra money.

Simply worth it....
If you use biscuit joinery a lot, it is worth it to have a better tool. Lamello simply makes a more solid, powerful and clean tool than the competition. It costs more to not get the mass production vendors, but it is a better tool. Like a Fein shop vacuum, the quality is just worth it here versus PC or DeWalt. When I used the DeWalt, it threw sawdust all over me. Wierd engineering that. ... Read more

Features

• One-year warranty
• Same award winning front end as the DW682K corded plate joiner
• Delivers power from their 18-volt battery pack
• Rack-and-pinion control
• Fence can be located on either the inside or outside of the mitered joint

Amazon.com Review

Edge-to-edge joints, frame joints, corner joints, offset joints, T-joints, edge-miter joints, whatever type of biscuit joint you need, the DeWalt DW932K cordless plate joiner is a good tool to have around when your project calls for a strong, accurate joint. Offering convenience and mobility, and powered by an 18-volt motor, DeWalt's cordless plate joiner speeds through most everyday projects with ease. Its six-tooth, carbide blade makes smooth cuts in virtually any wood surface. While not as powerful as corded models, DeWalt's cordless does provide a number of features woodworkers are sure to find helpful, including special, antislippage pins which help reduce the natural tendency (found in many plate joiners) to slide to the right when making cuts. The result is better accuracy. The plate joiner also features an integral fence that adjusts to any angle from 0 to 90 degrees, preset depth stops with a maximum depth of 20 mm, and fine pinpoint rack-and-pinion adjustments. If you'd benefit from a smart, hard-working plate joiner that won't keep you tethered to a power source, then DeWalt's cordless model is for you. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• One-year warranty
• Powerful 18-volt motor handles the most difficult materials
• Rack-and-pinion fence adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees
• Flush cuts can be made at 0 degrees without removing the fence
• Kit includes charger, one XR+ battery pack, a 4-inch carbide tooth blade, dust bag, deflector, vacuum adapter, torx wrench, and kit box

Reviews (3)

Get a cord!
This tool has NO POWER! It's good for about 10 cuts then needs a new charge. The only reason I bought it was so that I would have a 3rd battery for my drill/saw. I typically like Dewalt cordless tools, but I would not recommend this tool.

Cordless power brings a new dimension to an old favorite
As a finsh carpenter working in the booming SF world of Victorian renovation, a biscuit joiner is a must. This cordless works almost as well as my old DeWalt corded joiner. The trade off is: slightly less power and much greater weight for increased mobility. Although heavier, larger, & less powerful than the original, the mobility offered by this update wins the day.

poster boy for dewalt
i personally use dewalt tools , and have since they came out on the market.i started out with the 12v. drill ,and went on from there .most of my tools are dewalt from my 12-inch compound saw ,plate jointer(110v),18v saw,18v drill 2-14v drills,surface planer.24v drill,24v saw(awh awh awh) ect,ect.as a finish carpenter i look for convienance.since most of the houses i work in(5-million dollar and up)are without power or power is shared by many trades out of one small temporary box,i find it very convienant when i can get a cordless tool to do most anything.while others are fighting over temp power.i look foward to using my new cordless plate jointer when it arrives i can honestly say i have never had a dewalt tool fail to do the job except! when a battery runs down but then i always have one charging and ready to continue.

the next tools i plan to add to my collection is the radio/charger, a pin router(cordless,when they design one)dewalt of course.its hard to do quality work without quality tools. take it from someone who's been in the construction feild for 18+yrs. customers depend on you and you depend on your tools. i have found dewalt tools to be affordable and dependable

thank you dewalt .you keep designing them and ill keep buying them........ todd k.orange county ca. ... Read more

Features

• 5" 2.0Amp Random Orbit Sander
• 6.5A Plate Jointer
• Both tools in one carrying case

Features

• 6.5 Amp, 10,000 RPM motor provides power for the hardest woods
• Dual rack and pinion fence ensures blade and fence are always parallel for accurate joints every time
• Integral one-piece fence is adjustable and tilts 0-90°
• Flush cuts can be made at 0° without removing fence
• 45° locating notch in fence allows indexing off the outside surface of a mitered joint

Features

• Six-tooth carbide blade, wrenches and carrying case
• 5.0 amp motor, 8000 RPM
• New adjustable fence
• Fence range from 0 to 90 degrees
• Trigger switch for added control

Reviews (3)

Porter-Cable 556 Plate Jointer
Like other reviewers, I chose the 556 because it was significantly cheaper than the other "good" ones on the market. I have to admit that it has been a disappointment. As I see it, it has four major flaws: 1) It is underpowered and has trouble with every material I have used it on, 2) The blade seems to have a short life before it gets dull, 3) The fence system, while versatile, is cumbersome to setup & change and 4) The replacement blade is very, very expensive. I was quoted ... (Porter-Cable's list price)locally - yikes!! This is over 50% of the units original cost. Even Amazon's ... price, while a good price, is steep compared to buying it new. My dilemma is whether to buy a new blade or put that money towards the machine I now know I want.

Porter Cable 556 Plate Joiner
This was my introduction to biscuit joining and I bought this when other plate joiners were way more expensive. However, it was a disappointment and left me feeling there must be a better way. My 556 had a strong tendency to walk sideways as the blade entered the wood. This left the slots too wide and in some cases exposed the ends of the slot when cutting in 2 in. wide stock. I eventually bought the DeWalt model after trying it at a woodworking show and seeing how a plate joiner SHOULD work....pass it up and get the DeWalt.

Accurate but lacks power
Tool seems to lack power and struggles at times. Most of my slots have been in relativity soft white pine which makes the lack of power even more troubling. It does cut accurate slots, but you have to take your time. It is fully adjustable with Allen wrenches. It is not in the same class as my other Porter-Cable tools. If you plan on cutting a ton of slots you may be able to justify one of the more expensive plate joiners. ... Read more