Tool review: Biscuit Joiners

 

 

Ready to "join" in? Here's what to buy

For this article, we reviewed the Craftsman 17539, DeWalt DW682K, Makita 3901, Porter-Cable 557, and Triton TC9BJM.

To buy a biscuit joiner you'll be able to use accurately and efficiently with little stress, you have to spend at least $200. We simply couldn't get the $100 units to perform without great frustration. (If you buy one of these, expect to do a lot more planing and sanding on the glued-up joints to get them smooth and even.)

By now you've probably figured out that two biscuit joiners stand out from this field of six: the DeWalt DW682K and Porter-Cable 557. They both make accurate cuts, and, aside from a few minor quirks that we can live with, prove easy to use. That's why they share our Top Tool honors. But if you intend to make face-frame joints or want the ease of cutting acute-angle miters, then go with the Porter-Cable.

View test results about the six biscuit joiners in our test.