What Bisquit Joiner?

[Russ Hauser]

Does anyone know what brand of Bisquit Joiner Norm is using in the kitchen table project #208 now showing on The New Yankee Workshop site.

Russ

[paul cottingham]

I'm pretty sure it is a Porter Cable. Probably a 775. I'm doing this from memory so it is worth what you are paying for it! :D

[Cody Colston]

I couldn't tell from the brief and partial view on the video but I know that in later episodes he used a Lamello.

[Chris Kennedy]

Norm has used both a Lamello and the PC jointer. I actually thought it went the other way -- earlier he used Lamello and later he used PC, but I only ever got to watch it sporadically anyway.

[Laurie Brown]

According to a NYW tool expert, it's an Elu 2278/3380 biscuit jointer.

[Sean Nagle]

I thought he used a Lamello Top 20 at one point.

[Laurie Brown]

Yes he did, but didn't start using it until season 5.

[David Thompson 27577]

Does anyone know what brand of Bisquit Joiner Norm is using in the kitchen table project #208 now showing on The New Yankee Workshop site.

Russ


Who cares? Bisquits don't help with alignment (every bisquit joiner leaves the slots loose).

And since bisquit joinery adds only a little bit of glue-joint surface area, why bother?

If you want to add splines, then add splines.

[Sean Nagle]

Who cares? Bisquits don't help with alignment (every bisquit joiner leaves the slots loose).

Apparently, you have never used a Lamello.

[David Cefai]

Loose biscuits may be a matter of technique. If you wobble the tool it will cut a wider slot. I have found that if I position my Ferm BJ properly using the fence and cutI get good slots. The odd loose slot happens when I get sloppy.

[jason lambert]

Be careful Norm gets his tools sponsered. He is not necessarly using what he thinks is the best or likes the best. If you want some thing nice and have the cash look at the festool domino it beats any biscut jointer. I use to have to portorcable and did like it.

[scott vroom]

Porter Cable 557. I'm happy with mine and it was a fraction of the cost of the Lamello. Yeah it's always nice to buy the best tool available, but I'm on a budget and the PC meets my needs 100%. I use it rarely so durability is not an issue.

[Van Huskey]

If you want some thing nice and have the cash look at the festool domino it beats any biscut jointer. I use to have to portorcable and did like it.


Though I agree to some extent there are situations where a BJ is superior to a Domino, and the Lamello Top 20S is actually MORE expensive than a Domino...

[Rob Sack]

I originally had a Porter Cable. The results were mixed. I switched to a Lamello and the difference was considerable. The joints were tight, the bisquits worked for alignment. However, contrary to what many people say, bisquit joints have their limitations. Since the bisquits are essentially "beech oriented strand board oval discs," they swell when exposed to moisture, which can cause a "lump" in your finished surface, especially when using 3/4 in. thick lumber or less.

[Charlie Kocourek]

I havn't had good luck with biscuit joiners. I had a PC 557 and the biscuits were so loose that they would fall out of the slot. Then I got rid of that one and bought a Dewalt. Quite the opposite, the biscuits were so tight that it was difficult to assemble the pieces. I tried different brands of biscuits, new biscuits, old biscuits, and even the laminated biscuits. It wasn't the biscuits, it was the cutters. I have used Lamelo and although I don't own one I can attest that they are definetly better. Perfect fit every time with the Lamello. I really suspect that the blades are the problem. I considered buying a blade from Lamello and using it on the Dewalt or the PC.

[Paul Johnstone]

I considered buying a blade from Lamello and using it on the Dewalt or the PC.

I am pretty sure PC uses special blades. I know this because my blade was dull. CMT had a special part number for a PC cutter.
I have not used it yet, but it looks really nice.

[Dan Lee]

For every thing you want to know about Norms tools goto www.normstools.com/

[Greg Portland]

I had a PC 557 and the biscuits were so loose that they would fall out of the slot.Hmm, I have a 557 and the biscuits fit perfectly. Perhaps it's a quality control issue @ the factory? Another issue is that the biscuits themselves can swell due to humidity (may have been the issue with your Dewalt?). Now, my 557 was the one made right after the Dewalt lawsuit (regarding the fence construction). I had to get a shim to make the PC fence flush (i.e. usable). Without the shim, the tool would wobble slightly, causing an oversized notch. Regarding the Lamello Top 20, there is no doubt that they are the best (and most expensive).

Having said all of that, I find that I use my Domino 99% of the time in place of biscuits. I would go with a Domino over a Lamello at this point in time (similar price bracket).

[glenn bradley]

Who cares? Bisquits don't help with alignment (every bisquit joiner leaves the slots loose).

And since bisquit joinery adds only a little bit of glue-joint surface area, why bother?

If you want to add splines, then add splines.


Apparently, you have never used a Lamello.

Or a PC557 with Bosch biscuits ;-) Nice tight fit. Your biscuit product and your storage method are important.

[Curt Harms]

Or a PC557 with Bosch biscuits ;-) Nice tight fit. Your biscuit product and your storage method are important.

Second this. Biscuits are designed to swell when wet as in wet with glue. They will also swell from being wet from humidity. I've used Porter Cable biscuits that come in plastic jars with screw tops. I open mine, shake out what I need and reseal the jar. Technique can enter into fit. i had trouble when resting the fence on the edge of a piece; the machine would wiggle when plunging it and the slot would be too big. I started clamping an edgeways 2 X 4 flush with the edge the fence sits on. Now the fence has more surface to support it and I can hold the fence with one hand and plunge the machine with the other. Works better for me. Note that the 2 X 4 has to be flush otherwise the biscuit slot will be cut at an angle and it will be noticeable.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Keep your biscuits sealed because when exposed to moisture (humidity) they may swell and then they will not fit in the slot.

If in doubt, bake them on low heat in the oven to dry them. By low heat, I mean the temperature available, probably 170. Try say 30 minutes to an hour.