Photo: Makita
A biscuit joiner is a handy tool, which you can use to make grooves of different sizes on wood and wood panels so that you can join them together using a biscuit.
The most standard biscuit sizes are 0, 10 and 20 so the joiner you buy must have those as one-touch stops.
Also, a joiner should have a fence system to set the angles you desire to cut. You should get a corded or battery-powered biscuit joiner as these are the standard power sources.
To learn more on the ideal biscuit joiner you should get for your woodworking needs and budget, dive into our top 7 reviews and buying guide for all the information on this tool.
In this post:
- 7 Best Biscuit Joiners – Review
- 1. VonHaus Biscuit Joiner – Best Budget Biscuit Joiner
- 2. DeWalt DW682K – Best Biscuit Joiner for Hard Wood
- 3. Porter-Cable 557 – Best Professional Biscuit Joiner
- 4. Lamello 101600K – Best Biscuit Joiner for Precision
- 5. Makita XJP03Z – Best Battery-Powered Biscuit Joiner
- 6. Makita PJ7000 – Ergonomic and Slim Biscuit Joiner
- 7. Gino 01-0102 – Powerful Biscuit Joiner
- How to Buy the Best Biscuit Joiner
- Conclusion
7 Best Biscuit Joiners – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. VonHaus Joiner (Best Budget) |
| |
 | 2. DeWalt DW682K (Best for Hard Wood) |
| |
 | 3. Porter-Cable 557 (Best Professional) |
| |
 | 4. Lamello 101600K (Best for Precision) |
| |
 | 5. Makita XJP03Z (Best Battery-Powered) |
| |
 | 6. Makita PJ7000 (Ergonomic & Slim) |
| |
 | 7. Gino Development 01-0102 (Powerful) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. VonHaus Joiner (Best Budget)
|
2. DeWalt DW682K (Best for Hard Wood)
|
3. Porter-Cable 557 (Best Professional)
|
4. Lamello 101600K (Best for Precision)
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5. Makita XJP03Z (Best Battery-Powered)
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6. Makita PJ7000 (Ergonomic & Slim)
|
7. Gino Development 01-0102 (Powerful)
|
1. VonHaus Biscuit Joiner – Best Budget Biscuit Joiner
Photo: VonHaus
- Power: 120 volts, 8.5 amp
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 11,000 revolutions per minute
You will love the VonHaus Biscuit Joiner because it is reasonably priced, and the most affordable on our list. In fact, it is about 10 times cheaper than the Lamello 101600K, which is the most expensive joiner we reviewed.
But is low cost the only thing to rejoice about? Well, you do get a powerful 120-volt, 8.5-amp motor. In fact, this is the most powerful joiner we have reviewed, even with its low cost. It outdoes other more expensive brands in its power output.
All that power is dedicated to making fast and precise cuts, especially because the motor also rotates its blade at 11,000 RPM. This speed is one of the fastest of all the tools on our list.
Cutting efficiency is enhanced by the commercial-grade 4-inch tungsten carbide-tipped cutting blade, which is durable and reliable.
To ensure maximum accuracy without the need for measuring, this joiner comes with pre-set depth stops for the most common biscuit sizes, including #0, #10, and #20. These settings eliminate the time-wasting process of measuring, thus allowing you to focus on core tasks.
Although the VonHaus Biscuit Joiner is the most affordable on our list, we did note that measurement doesn’t automatically align and may need extra attention to achieve precision.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced and feature-packed
- Powerful motor for precise and fast cuts
- Pre-set depth settings to eliminate measuring
- Ergonomic handle for maximum comfort
- Dust port and dust collection bag for easy cleanup
Cons:
- Extra attention required to achieve accurate measurements
2. DeWalt DW682K – Best Biscuit Joiner for Hard Wood
Photo: DeWalt
- Power: 110 volts, 6.5 amps
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 11,000 rotations per minute
DeWalt DW682K is a powerful biscuit joined best suited for working with the hardest woods.
It is powered by a 6.5-amp, 110-volt motor that its capable of cutting through the hardest woods. It’s not every time you will be working with soft panels of wood; when you need to cut and join hardwoods, this is the tool for you.
To complement this capacity to work with hardwood, the tool boasts of an integral 1-piece fence, which is adjustable, and capable of tilting between the angles of 0 – 90 degrees.
On the same feature, the fence also has a 45-degree locating notch, which allows you to index off the outer surface of a mitered joint.
If you have a task that requires the joiner to be stationary, this model offers a non-marring heavy-duty aluminum shoe for clamping the joiner to your desired surface.
An issue we noted with the DeWalt DW682K is that its fence adjustment system can sometimes be inaccurate as you need to pay extra attention to it when making cuts.
Pros:
- Powerful motor for working with hardwoods
- Single-piece adjustable fence for heavy-duty cuts
- 45-degree locating notch for miter indexing
- Can be clamped for stationary work
Cons:
- Fence adjustment system can be inaccurate
3. Porter-Cable 557 – Best Professional Biscuit Joiner
Photo: Porter-Cable
- Power: 110 volts, 7 amps
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 10,000 revolutions per minute
Porter-Cable 557 is the ideal biscuit joiner for professional woodworkers and cabinetmakers. This tool packs some very impressive features.
The joiner credits its robust performance to a powerful 7-amp, 120-volt motor, which delivers speeds of 10,000 rpm. This power is more than enough to make high-quality professional cuts on even the hardest panels of wood.
Its advanced fence system tilts from 0 to 135 degrees for easy placement of corner registrations both on the inside and outside. For even more accurate biscuit positioning, the joiner has a positive adjustable stop of 90 degrees, a micro-height adjustment knob for precise positioning.
You are guaranteed of optimal stability and control during cuts as the bale handle is attached to the fence, and not the motor.
Although Porter-Cable 557 is the ideal biscuit joiner for professionals, we did notice that if you need to switch blades, this task may take a bit of time and effort, which may not be to your liking. However, despite this small shortcoming, it is a superb tool for professional use.
Pros:
- A powerful motor for professional-grade cuts and joins
- Advanced fence system tilting up to 135 degrees
- Standard positive adjustable stops
- Optimal stability and control during cuts
Cons:
- Switching blades takes a bit of time and effort
4. Lamello 101600K – Best Biscuit Joiner for Precision
Photo: Lamello
- Power: 110 volts, 7 amps
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 10,000 revolutions per minute
If you crave precision from your tools, then you will love the Lamello 101600K for the precise measurements, cuts, and joins it makes. It is a top-rated biscuit joiner whose precision is unrivaled.
Lamello boasts of being the only plate joiner in the world whose slide shoe, fence, and multi-function stop square is all made from one piece of metal, which is precision-milled. This unique design is engineered to guarantee accuracy through the tool’s lifespan. It ensures that joins to line up perfectly thus saving you valuable time, money, and effort for years.
The tool can cut grooves for 12 different biscuits without the needs to change the cutting tool. It comes with a new-generation swiveling face, which has a beveled edge to make it easy for you to see during measuring and angle scales.
Regarding positive stops, this joiner has them at the most common cutting angles including 0, 22.5, 45, 67.5 and 90 degrees.
All these features are powered by a 110-volt, 7-amp, 10,000-rpm motor, which has decent power output.
Despite Lamello 101600K being the best biscuit joiner for precision measuring and cutting, this tool is very expensive and not welcoming to budget buyers. In fact, it is 10 times more expensive than the cheapest model on our list.
Pros:
- Single-metal whose slide shoe, fence, and multi-function stop square for precision
- Cuts grooves for 12 of the most common biscuits
- Has positive stops for the most common cutting angles
- Powerful motor
Cons:
- Very costly
5. Makita XJP03Z – Best Battery-Powered Biscuit Joiner
Photo: Makita
- Power: 18 volts, 3.0 amp-hour
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 12,000 revolutions per minute
Makita XJP03Z is a powerful battery-powered biscuit joiner, which eliminates all the inconveniences of corded tools.
This cordless joiner may be battery-powered, but its massive 18-volt, 3 amp-hour battery delivers impressive performance especially given its powers of a 12,000-rpm motor. It is unrivaled in its execution of fast and precise cuts.
It does offer 6 depth setting with one-touch stops that will accommodate the most common biscuit sizes of #0, #10, and #20 so that you don’t have to measure every time you need to cut.
For accurate fence adjustments, this joiner boasts of a rack-and-pinion system, which is designed to achieve accurate fence adjustments.
The fact that this joiner is battery-powered and weighs about 7 pounds makes it highly portable and ideal for offsite jobs. If you’re a professional looking for a reliable joiner especially for remote jobs, this is the tool for you.
Even when the battery runs out, you don’t have to worry about day-long charging times. This tool comes with a fast charger that will get your battery filled up and back into operation in no time.
To extended operational time and maximum durability, the joiner has an efficient power management system, which protects your tool against overheating, overloading, and over-discharging.
Although Makita XJP03Z is the best battery-powered biscuit joiner, we did note that its price is rather steep, so if you’re on a budget, you may not enjoy any of the features and benefits it has to offer.
Pros:
- Power 18 V, 3 Ah battery powering a 12,000 RPM motor
- Lightweight and battery-powered for portability
- 6 depth settings for the most common biscuit sizes
- A rack-and-pinion system for accurate adjustments
Cons:
- Pricey
6. Makita PJ7000 – Ergonomic and Slim Biscuit Joiner
Photo: Makita
- Power: 110-volt, 5.6 amp
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 11,000 rotations per minute
Makita PJ7000 stands out from the rest of the pack due to its slim and ergonomic design, which make the tool easy to handle and operate.
The joiner runs on a powerful 5.6-amp and a 110-volt motor which delivers 11,000 rpm for fast and precise cutting.
Its fence system utilizes the rack-and-pinion design. You also get the standard 6-depth settings with one-touch stops.
This Makita biscuit joiner makes maintenance and blade change easy and fast. You can use a clamp screw to access the blade and shaft locks for easy and quick changes.
Fence adjustment has also been simplified by this tool as its cam locks are large and easy to operate. It comes with positive stops at 0, 45 and 90 degrees so that the tool can adjust to some of the most common angles.
Although Makita PJ7000 is a slim and ergonomic biscuit joiner for easy operation and handling, we did note that its height adjustment increment label can sometimes be inexact, so you need to pay extra action when moving it.
Pros:
- Slim and ergonomic construction
- Powerful 110-volt, 5.6-amp motor rotating at 11,000 RPM
- Easy maintenance and blade access
- A simplified fence adjustment step
Cons:
- Height adjuster increment label may be imprecise
7. Gino 01-0102 – Powerful Biscuit Joiner
Photo: Gino
- Power: 8.4 amp, 120 volts
- Blade diameter: 4 inches
- Speed: 11,000 revolutions per minute
Gino 01-0102 is the most powerful joiner we have on our list. It runs on a powerful 8.4-amp, 120-volt electric motor, which delivers 11,000 rpm.
The combination of speed and power from this tool ensures the grooves you cut on the wood are fast, accurate and precise.
Precision is further enhanced by a sharp 4-inch 6T C2 tungsten carbide-tipped blade, which is reliable and durable. Also, this model is notably lighter compared to its rivals.
This joiner is very reasonably priced considering all the power it packs. It is one of the cheapest we have reviewed and is ideal for people who are on a budget but still desire a high-performance tool.
Although Gino 01-0102 is very powerful, its dust collection system is not as efficient as those of its rivals. However, this minor hiccup should not stop you from enjoying the many other benefits of this tool.
Pros:
- Very powerful motor and speed
- Sharp cutting blade
- Lightweight for ease of handling
- Reasonably priced
Cons:
- The dust collection system is not very efficient
How to Buy the Best Biscuit Joiner
Photo: DeWalt
1. Power
Power is a critical aspect of your biscuit joiner because it is what drives the system’s core functionality, which is cutting biscuit groves in your wood.
Therefore, the ideal joiner should have enough power to push its blade into the wood fast, efficiently, and accurately.
For corded joiners, you can expect power outputs of up to 8.5 amps at 120 volts of AC power. Battery joiners are equally powerful, so you shouldn’t shy away from them.
Speed is also an important measure of power so even as you focus on power output, don’t forget to check the motor’s revolutions per minute (RPM) to determine what speed is ideal for your woodwork tasks.
2. Power Source
From our review, we noted that the most common biscuit joiners are electric-powered. This type of power source is reliable, efficient, quiet, and clean. You will not be polluting the environment with this electric tool.
Battery-powered biscuit joiners are also equally effective and sometimes superior to their corded rivals depending on the power output.
It’s worth noting that if you opt for a battery-powered biscuit joiner, it will likely cost you more than an electric corded one.
This price difference is probably because a battery-powered model is portable unlike the corded on, which will only work if it is plugged to a power outlet.
3. Blade
Blade versatility is critical to the success of your biscuit joiner in delivering on its promise of efficiency, speed, and accuracy.
The standard blade diameter observed in all the models we reviewed is 4 inches. This size is preferred because it is the most widely used.
4-inch blades are suitable for a range of biscuit sizes including #0, #10 and #20, which are the most common.
You can also get a biscuit joiner with a plunge mechanism, which accommodates smaller blades if you need them.
Most blades use standard materials such as steel, which is durable and sturdy for both light and heavy-duty cutting.
4. Speed
Whether your biscuit joiner is corded or battery-powered, it is going to be powered by a motor.
The motor is responsible for rotating the blade, whose speed is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM).
Most of the models we reviewed have a speed ranging between 10,000 and 12,000 RPM. This speed is more than adequate for delivering fast and precise cuts through your wood.
Although some of the fastest joiners we reviewed are very expensive, this is not always the case.
Fast motors do not necessarily have to cost a lot of money, so it is possible to get an affordable biscuit joiner that will deliver superior speeds.
5. Dust collection
Dust collection is a concern for many biscuit joiner users because this feature enables them to control and contain the amount of dirt produced by their tools.
If dust collection is a priority for you, then get a model with features such as a dust port, and a dust bag, both of which aid in dust collection and disposal. Not all the models on our list have this feature.
Another reason you’d want to go for a joiner with these features is that dust is highly obstructive. When it accumulates, it can obstruct your view when using the tool. Hence, dust collection capabilities may prove highly useful for eliminating this challenge.
6. Fence System
The fence system is one of the most important components of your biscuit joiner. It is responsible for setting different angles you can apply to your biscuit grooves.
We noted that most fences have an adjustable angle at positive stops of 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Some can tilt even more, up to 135 degrees. These angles are the most common, especially when joining wood panels.
This system needs to be accurate so that you make precise cuts otherwise any slight inaccuracy can lead to wastage of resources or misaligned grooves.
Fence systems should also be easy to adjust.
7. Ease of use
The ease of using your fence is determined by a combination of factors, but the most important include the power source, power output, grip, and handling.
If your biscuit joiner is corded, like many of the models we reviewed, you can be assured of a powerful and fast tool that will get the job done within no time.
The main issue with corded joiners, however, is that their flexibility and portability is limited by the cord’s length.
A battery-powered joiner, on the other hand, offers more flexibility because you can move with it over long distances.
As for handling, most models have comfortable and firm grips combined with ergonomic designs that will make the tools easy to use.
Conclusion
Our comprehensive review provides you will all the relevant information about the best biscuit joiner for your woodworking needs and budget.
Remember some important aspects to look out for when shopping for this tool. Its power output should be enough for the tasks you need the tool to execute.
It can either be corded or battery-powered. You can’t go wrong with the blade and fence system because these are key components of the joiner and its ability to perform fast and precise cuts.
Using our top 7 biscuit joiner reviews and buying guide, you can be confident about your purchase of this handy tool.