Carpentry and Woodworking - Biscuit Joiners
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Speedy Petey
01-18-04, 10:04 AM
I just ordered a new Porter Cable biscuit joiner, #557 I believe.
Did I make the right choice? It seems to be the best for the money.
I ordered it through Amazon.com( Tool Crib). It was $199 and I got $25 off that through a promotion of theirs. The same model in the big stores is $210 so I paid a good price. Plus I got 1000 free biscuits!
I like the fence alot better than the Makita, DeWalt or Freud. The Lamello is out of the question. Also the fact that you hold the handle to keep the tool againt the workpiece and slide the motor in. All the others the handle slid the motor in and there was no handle to hold the tool to the work.
The PC has the strongest motor also.
Anyone have anything good or bad to say about them.
Did I make the right choice? It seems to be the best for the money.
I ordered it through Amazon.com( Tool Crib). It was $199 and I got $25 off that through a promotion of theirs. The same model in the big stores is $210 so I paid a good price. Plus I got 1000 free biscuits!
I like the fence alot better than the Makita, DeWalt or Freud. The Lamello is out of the question. Also the fact that you hold the handle to keep the tool againt the workpiece and slide the motor in. All the others the handle slid the motor in and there was no handle to hold the tool to the work.
The PC has the strongest motor also.
Anyone have anything good or bad to say about them.
Furniture Bldr
01-18-04, 10:13 AM
I have and use the exact same model "Porter Cable" you have and yes you got a good deal. HD here in chicagoland has it for $199.00. No rebates, biscuts, etc.
I had the other model of Porter Cable before this one came out. I love them both, but I like the new one better. The biggest improvement they did was make the fence travel up and down at the same time, unlike the other one which had alen keys to losen it and manually adjust each side by measuring to make sure they were the same distance away from the cutter on each side.
You'll love it.
I had the other model of Porter Cable before this one came out. I love them both, but I like the new one better. The biggest improvement they did was make the fence travel up and down at the same time, unlike the other one which had alen keys to losen it and manually adjust each side by measuring to make sure they were the same distance away from the cutter on each side.
You'll love it.
Tom_J
01-19-04, 05:59 AM
You've got another vote for the 557 from me.
When I researched my purchase, I even found a few familiar with the Lamello who actually preferred the Porter-Cable 557. (Personally, if I had paid three times more for a biscuit joiner, I'd have kept my mouth shut, but I appreciated their input, nonetheless. :D)
One heads-up, Speedy. Double-check the height of the cutter against the scale on the tool. Mine was off ever-so-slightly. Hardly a major problem, but you may want to check, anyway.
You made a fine purchase.
Tom
When I researched my purchase, I even found a few familiar with the Lamello who actually preferred the Porter-Cable 557. (Personally, if I had paid three times more for a biscuit joiner, I'd have kept my mouth shut, but I appreciated their input, nonetheless. :D)
One heads-up, Speedy. Double-check the height of the cutter against the scale on the tool. Mine was off ever-so-slightly. Hardly a major problem, but you may want to check, anyway.
You made a fine purchase.
Tom
Speedy Petey
01-19-04, 02:47 PM
Tom & Bldr,
Thanks for the info.
Tom, I will check the setup spec on it. Amazing how some things can be off with new tools.
Thanks for the info.
Tom, I will check the setup spec on it. Amazing how some things can be off with new tools.
Tom_J
01-19-04, 04:00 PM
Speedy,
Use it as a general rule-of-thumb. I'd bet the pros like the mod's, Mike and Dave would tell you the same thing.
Frankly, I never trust the scales on my tools. Good enough, I suppose, for rough carpentry but not for precision work. Your biscuit joiner is going to be used for "precision" work and I highly recommend checking all of your tools the same way.
I might also suggest a set of engineering squares for 90 degree setups, i.e. table saws, miter saws, jointers, etc. Not all that expensive, btw. Mike had a great tip on determining whether, or not, a square is really "square". Very surprising, and enlightening, for a "new" tool. ;)
Tom
Use it as a general rule-of-thumb. I'd bet the pros like the mod's, Mike and Dave would tell you the same thing.
Frankly, I never trust the scales on my tools. Good enough, I suppose, for rough carpentry but not for precision work. Your biscuit joiner is going to be used for "precision" work and I highly recommend checking all of your tools the same way.
I might also suggest a set of engineering squares for 90 degree setups, i.e. table saws, miter saws, jointers, etc. Not all that expensive, btw. Mike had a great tip on determining whether, or not, a square is really "square". Very surprising, and enlightening, for a "new" tool. ;)
Tom
Dave_D1945
01-19-04, 04:39 PM
That trick for checking a square has been around for years. I remember my grandfather showing it to me. He also fixed an out of square square once by whacking the intersection of the legs with a center punch. Three or four whacks distorted the metal enough to true it up.
PS - I tried it once and made it worse with every whack :(
PS - I tried it once and made it worse with every whack :(
Furniture Bldr
01-19-04, 04:47 PM
LOL Dave. Ya, it may work, but not something I'd recommend!
It's much easier to go back to depot and pay another 10 bucks or so for a new one. That will teach people to drop it. A square that isn't square can cost you well more than 10 squares.
It's much easier to go back to depot and pay another 10 bucks or so for a new one. That will teach people to drop it. A square that isn't square can cost you well more than 10 squares.
Dave_D1945
01-19-04, 07:59 PM
I was in grade school (mid 50's) when Grandpa showed me that trick. There was no such thing as Home Depot and even a trip to the hardware store was an expedition since a trip to town took all day. :)
These days, I've been known to make 2-3 trips to the hardware store if I'm having MSM's (Multiple Senior Moments) :D
These days, I've been known to make 2-3 trips to the hardware store if I'm having MSM's (Multiple Senior Moments) :D
Furniture Bldr
01-19-04, 08:34 PM
Well, I'm 29, but the saw dust and lacquer has made me feel a lot older ;)
Half the battle is loving what you do for a living. That I do, but the amount of time I invest to keep my shop going is sometimes overwhelming. I put in, on average about 90 horus a week. No kids, never been married, so work is pretty much my life.
The square thing I too learned a long time ago, but with the trade of Cabinet Making you have so many more important things to think about, and making sure a square is "Square" is one of the last things.
I just picked up a $12,000 Home Theater/Mantel job tonight
Smaller Job, but it all pays the bills. :)
Half the battle is loving what you do for a living. That I do, but the amount of time I invest to keep my shop going is sometimes overwhelming. I put in, on average about 90 horus a week. No kids, never been married, so work is pretty much my life.
The square thing I too learned a long time ago, but with the trade of Cabinet Making you have so many more important things to think about, and making sure a square is "Square" is one of the last things.
I just picked up a $12,000 Home Theater/Mantel job tonight
Smaller Job, but it all pays the bills. :)