Replies

1. 
   johnhardy | Dec 03, 2002 02:44am | #1

   First, this isn't a stupid question. What you suggest is very reasonable. But keep in mind that the biscuit joiner uses a mini saw blade to create the slot, which is pretty oval shaped in the piece that has been cut. Using a router, the bit has a much smaller diameter, so you would need to make a cut and then move the work so that the cut elongates. Perhaps that is what you meant about a sled.

   And if you're thinking that you would need to buy a Lamello, that's not necessary. I've got a DeWalt joiner and it works great. Much less pricey.

   And keep in mind that there are things you can do with a portable machine that are much more difficult with a router. For instance, I just got through making some table legs where the four sides are actually separate pieces of quarter sawn white oak, cut at a 45 degree angle, and biscuit joined (for alignment as well as strength). The joiner worked extremely well, and to do this operation with a router would have been extremely difficult.

   I have both the joiner and a router bit so can use both alternatives, if that's any consolation. The joiner is faster and easier, IMO.

   John

1. 
   strider7tk | Dec 03, 2002 07:05pm | #3

   John and Rick-

   Thanks for your posts. What I was thinking was that there is a router bit with the same diameter as the biscuit joiner blade (4"?), and the sled would push the work piece into the blade, to help center the blade on the intended slot point. But maybe the diameter of the slot cutter is too big for a router... As I think through it more, the thought of a 4" bit in a router sounds dangerous and probably prone to wobble.

   So I guess I will think about either the Porter-Cable or the Dewalt, since no one seems to enthusiastic about the Makita.

1. 
   johnhardy | Dec 03, 2002 07:11pm | #4

   I don't think you'll even find such a router bit. But even if you did, I wouldn't touch it at all for safety reasons ... which you're pointing out.

   I'm happy with my DeWALT, but I have several Makita tools and they're all top notch. I'd pick a joiner from a brand name which had the lowest price. Check Amazon.com and see what they have. I just got an e-mail from them yesterday asking me to sign up for their credit card and by doing so I get a $30 credit for immediate use. Perhaps this would be a good way to get the joiner at a good price.

   John

2. 
   GeeSeaWhy | Dec 03, 2002 10:50pm | #7

   I use a slot-cutting bit (5/32 for regular biscuits). Works great for things like joining sticks to a panel or edge-joining narrow boards. Align the parts and use 1in masking tape on both parts to mark where you want the biscuits. To make the slots (which have to be long, not deep), push the work into the bit centred on one edge of the tape and move it till the other edge of the tape is aligned. The slots are all lined up and it is impossible to flip a part over and cut slots from the wrong face. There's a bearing on the bit to stop you going too deep so you don't need a fence (or a jig). I'd much rather use a router table than try it freehand however.

   Works very well for slots in edges, badly or not at all for slots in faces.

   HTH

   Graeme

2. 
   rslatm | Dec 03, 2002 03:21am | #2

   You lose a lot of the benefits of the biscuit joiner by using a router. There's affordable units that will work fine instead of the Lamello. I never use biscuits to glue panels which would be the strong point of a router. Seems like a waste in my opinion.

   Rick

3. 
   JeffKurtz | Dec 03, 2002 09:01pm | #5

   I've never tried it, but a friend of mine used a slot cutting bit designed specifically for biscuits in his router cor a while.  He found it difficult to align the cuts, so he switched over to an inexpensive plate jointer (a Freud) whick he says works fine.

   Jeff

1. 
   ToolDoc | Dec 03, 2002 09:18pm | #6

   I have the Freud it works just as good as the PC or Dewalt and costs a lot less than the others..

                                       ToolDoc

4. 
   wrick2003 | Dec 04, 2002 05:06am | #8

   i don't know if anyone here does much floor work, but the biscuit jointer can also be used to trim the jambes and casing of a door to let in the new higher floor surface, be it tile, vinyl, etc.  it can be used  as a shallow throat circular saw when necessary and also cut a cove or a dado into anything if you invert the tool into a special jig and run it down the piece like a router.

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