Bosch Biscuit Joiner

**Bruce Wilson** · 8th December 2006, 12:13 PM

Greetings to fellow dustmakers.

I am poised to 'plunge' into biscuit joining for simple/cheap cupboards and believe biscuiting is a simple approach. Considering power tools to use, they are nearly all the same concept with a motorised head moving in a slide with adjustable fencing to align plunge cut slots with a 100mm cutter.

Ergonomically they all feel cumbersome, weighing about 4 to 6 kg, with varying standards of engineering quality. All they do with little power is plunge a cutter inwards about 10mm, yet we have to tolerate poorly designed tools for the purpose. Reading magazine reviews shows little progress in design improvements except for two that I have found.

Firstly, the Ryobi Biscuit Joiner EBJ720K with the motor vertical to the sliding motion ( instead of usually parallel) and a comfortable pistol grip (instead of gripping the motor housing). Weighing 3.8 kg, it is available through Bunnings for $160.

The second unit found is the Bosch Universal Router 557 capable of biscuit joining, light sawing or grooving to a max depth/thickness of 22mm, and probably other 'tricks'. The motorised head pivots instead of sliding, giving better feel and a better balanced tool for quicker use. Fencing and the build quality is OK. It is light but robust, weighing only 2.40 kg and usually priced at about $630 but I have found one reduced to clear for $375.

Look at the Australian Ryobi and Bosch websites for more details and try to 'think outside of the square'. Having occasionally used a Makita unit then handled both the Ryobi and the Bosch. I think the latter two have merit and favouring the Bosch despite its price.

What are your opinions of my thoughts, and has any one had experience of using the particular Ryobi and Bosch units ?

Bruce

**TassieKiwi** · 8th December 2006, 02:19 PM

**Iain** · 9th December 2006, 09:33 AM

Ignore the picture above, it is cheap and nasty

.
I am sure the Ryobi is a pressed steel frame and could be prone to flex.
Haven't seen a Bosch but if you are considering a Mak have a look at DeWalt and Porter Cable as well as they are in the same league.
The one above is nicer, but at $1200, I am still thinking about it.
Took me long enough to buy a Rotex which I don't regret and I am sure I would never regret a Domino either but the magnets in my wallet and on my fingertips are the same polarity

**martrix** · 9th December 2006, 09:50 AM

Check out the GMC biscuit machine. Basically a complete rip of the DeWalt, but half the price. Best thing about it is the fine adjustment of the fence with a knob.

I don't think many of the other cheaper units have this kind of adjustment.

**martrix** · 9th December 2006, 09:55 AM

Just looking at the GMC website, the new one doesn't have the adjustment knob:confused: , why would you take off something like that. To me its the most annoying thing on a biscuit machine, accurately adjusting the height of the cut. The knob adjustment is just so easy......Anyway, maybe have a look out for the older stock in Funnings.

**Zed** · 10th December 2006, 06:17 AM

if you want to buy once and be satisfied, id suggest the porter cable. its a great unit and does angles greater than 90 (up to 135 deg.) I have one and its great. I cant fault the unit. its got great:

macro and micro adjustments.
small workpiece insert,
a WORKING dust port,
dust bag,
ergomonic,
large well placed trigger,
the ability to do 00 size (really small) bisquits via an extra cutter wheel supplied,
a good carry case,
a very long power cord,
cost comparison to the mak / de walt.
not particularly noisy and has ample power

the dominos are good I suppose/imagine/have been told (I dont have one and dont intend to get one...) but I feel that the ongoing prices of buying the biusquits from festo could get expensive, at least normal bisquits are readily available and cheap.

**Wongo** · 10th December 2006, 11:13 PM

**routermaniac** · 11th December 2006, 08:53 PM

Ive only got the GMC but I found it works really well. The only annoying thing it is LOUD, I would not operate it without ear muffs!

In terms of saving time, a biscuit joiner can be an invaluable tool and may allow you to join pieces that would otherwise take a lot of work.

**Bino** · 11th December 2006, 11:48 PM

I have a GMC and I feel like throwing it out of the window every time I use it. I is basicly the same as the DeWalt [That I have used a number of times] but the quality is just not there. The fence does not lock properly so the slots finish up out of line.

Bino

**Zed** · 12th December 2006, 09:01 AM

if its out of line it defeats the purpose of having it in the first place. bummer.

**echnidna** · 12th December 2006, 09:52 AM

why bother with a biscuit joiner?
it doesn't make stronger joints.

**Wongo** · 12th December 2006, 09:59 AM

Is it about strength? I think not.

JohnnyR · 15th December 2006, 10:36 AM

I have the DeWalt and I find that it makes up its own uses on a regular basis. I just did a 5'x6' frame out of 1x2 for the wife to stretch fabric over and the #0 biscuits were perfect for reinforcing the joints being glued. That machine comes out frequently for the "quick n' dirty fit em' ups"

. I have another biscuit joiner...the attachment for my Shopsmith which works very well for production type runs bit is a bit of a PITA to set up initially. I like the conveniece of the DeWalt much better but once set up the SS is every bit as accurate all day long

.

**Woodworker303** · 6th August 2011, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Zed

if you want to buy once and be satisfied, id suggest the porter cable biscuit joiner. its a great unit and does angles greater than 90 (up to 135 deg.) I have one and its great. I cant fault the unit. its got great:

macro and micro adjustments.
small workpiece insert,
a WORKING dust port,
dust bag,
ergomonic,
large well placed trigger,
the ability to do 00 size (really small) bisquits via an extra cutter wheel supplied,
a good carry case,
a very long power cord,
cost comparison to the mak / de walt.
not particularly noisy and has ample power

the dominos are good I suppose/imagine/have been told (I dont have one and dont intend to get one...) but I feel that the ongoing prices of buying the biusquits from festo could get expensive, at least normal bisquits are readily available and cheap.

You got that right!

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