Replies

1. 
   Sancho | Dec 07, 2003 01:08am | #1

   Welcome to the forum, but now to your question. I have a biscuit joiner and only use it where I need a strong joint and no fasteners such as a pocket hole will will be seen. cabinent doors, edge glueing and you can even use them for hinges. They make a hinge in the 1/2 moon shape of a biscuit, though I havent used on yet. I like my PC , I have heard the dewalt is good also.The Lamello is awesome. But I cant see spending that kinda money on a tool that is so limited.

    

   Darkworksite4:

   Estamos ganando detrás el estado de Calif. Derrotando a un #### a la vez. DESEA VIVO LA REVOLUCIÓN

2. 
   BrianMcG | Dec 07, 2003 02:16am | #2

   Hi Christian, Welcome to Knots! I think the bottom line is that a biscuit joiner is such a basic tool ( a plunging saw blade ), that you just need to try one from a manufacturer that you have experience with and trust.

   Of course, if money isn't an obstacle, then Lamello is the choice. Lamello invented the darn thing after all.

   I'm not embarrassed to say I own a craftsman biscuit joiner. It has performed beautifully.

   Another thing to remember is that a biscuit doesn't really do alot when it comes to adding strength to a joint. At least that's what I've heard. It is a great alignment tool. Makes gluing up panels a heck of lot less stressful.

   I don't think they have Craftsman over there but it's a good tool. They make a mini biscuit joiner too which I also bought but wouldn't recommend it. (cheap plastic fence).

   Take care, Brian

3. 
   JohnWW | Dec 07, 2003 02:51am | #3

   Fine Woodworking did a review of biscuit joiners in issue #151, September/ October 2001.  The author really liked the the Lamello 20 with the Porter Cable in second place.   The Makita and DeWalt were also given good marks.   

   My personal favorite is the Porter Cable, it the only biscuit joiner that has the front handle on the fence assembly, which, once you use it, makes all of the other machines seem unsteady and poorly designed.

   John W. 

   
   

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   Edited 12/6/2003 8:08:20 PM ET by JohnW

1. 
   Christian | Dec 07, 2003 11:22am | #4

   Hi folks,

   thanks for your responses. I understand that the PC is very popular in the US and that the special handle design can be appreciated in many situations. Unfortunately, the PC is not available here. Years ago, it was available from Flex.

   I'm only a hobby woodworker and I don't think I need the Lamello Top 20. Does the C2 offer any important features over the Dewalt, PC, Makita?

   Regards,

   Christian Aufreiter, Austria

1. 
   numbfinger | Dec 07, 2003 04:01pm | #5

   Hi Christian...

   Interesting that you should mention Mafell tools. I had just mentioned them in a separate thread. Apparently they make incredible tools, however, my price list for the DD40 shows it at $660.00!!!! That's 3 times the cost of a mid range (anything but a lamello) plate joiner!

   Mafell also makes the LNF 20 biscuit joiner that lists for $515.00 - still an astoundingly high price!

   If you do purchase a Mafell... please let me know how it performs.

   As to an affordable biscuit joiner? I have the Porter Cable, but I've heard decent things about the Dewalt.

   H

1. 
   Christian | Dec 07, 2003 05:59pm | #6

   Hi,

   I never used a Mafell tool but had the chance to see them at a woodworking show. I was quite impressed of the KSP 40 Flexistem http://www.mafell.de/produkte/prod_saegen_ksp40_i.html An English description isn't available yet. I was thinking about getting one but finally I opted for the Festool plunge saw. The Festool doesn't have a flexible rail but a wider range of accessories and I liked the system philosophy (the rail can be used with the plunge saw, the jigsaw, the router and a special cutting table). Mafell is well know for its carpenter tools and as far as I know Mafell is the only company which offers plunge saws which are comparable to the Festool's.

   As for the pricing, Mafell isn't cheap but I wouldn't consider them as outstandingly expensive. In fact, many tools are much cheaper in the US than here. A Dewalt 980K2 cordless costs EUR 357.60 (including 20 % VAT), this is about $ 434.41. Without VAT the DW would be still about $ 362. The Dewalt biscuit joiner costs EUR 346.80, the Mafell costs about EUR 380 and comes in a Systainer.

   I envy you the good prices but the high pricing makes it a little easier to buy top quality stuff.

   Regards,

   Christian  

4. 
   Floss | Dec 07, 2003 06:50pm | #7

   Christian,

   I have a Lamello C2 and am quite pleased with it's performance. I replaced my old Porter Cable with the D handle. I worked with a guy who had the makita and really liked it too. I like the Lamello because the fence system is simple and the slots are parallel. The machine cuts accurately every time, not so with my old PC. I never quite understood all of these new machines with the fences that flip every which way, however I mostly use mine for edge joints. I don't think you can go wrong with the Lamello. It is a very smooth operator, accurate and simple,(less things to break). Plus it comes in a case, really a converted plastic fishing tackle box, but a case none the less. Good luck.

   J.P.

5. 
   robert1 | Dec 08, 2003 01:21am | #8

   I would avoid the Freud JS102. The fence is difficult for me to adjust and will frequently move after several biscuits are cut. It was rated OK but my experience has been otherwise.

6. 
   DennisS | Dec 08, 2003 09:01am | #9

   Christian -

   I realize you don't have PC tools there, the biscuit joiner at least, but for what it's worth -

   I just yesterday bought mine, Porter Cable biscuit joiner that is. I opted for that brand over the DeWalt, the only other one in my price range and readily available where I usually shop because -

   After using my neighbor's DeWalt, the PC seemed easier to align and, simply, to use than the DeWalt. Given my usual ineptness using about any tool, the easier it is to use it the better for me!

   The point is, if you can, try to actually use this tool before you purchase one. They can be a little daunting to get used to with respect to accurately plunging the cutter, holding the fence on the workpiece just right, so on and so forth. Find one that you feel comfortable with and, in my view, that's the one to buy. I would suspect that almost any brand will do an acceptable job for what the tool is designed to do.

   As for what I use it for .... attaching cabinet face frames to the boxes is my first task. Now that I have it, I'm beginning to see tons of applications for it. Can't wait until tomorrow to get back in the shop!! (grin)

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

7. 
   Ole | Dec 09, 2003 11:47am | #10

   Hi Christian

   I got the Lamello Classic C2, excellent tool. If you buy the dustextraction hose (accessories) I'm sure it will fit your Festool vacuum it fits my Metabo fine. I can best describe it as a small diameter hose with a wide conic tip. The standard chip blowout is OK, goes out the right hand side of the tool and not right up your face !!

   Reasons I bought the Lamello - Excellent quality and it's perfect every time as mentioned above, it's power rating is good, in my country it's cheaper than the DeWalt. As far as I remember it was 293€ (got at good bargain) while the DeWalt was more than 500€ same price as the Makita, making a choice was easy :-)) Only thing I could wish for with the C2 would be a soft-start feature. Not a big problem, but I switch it on and then bring it to the wood, haven't had any problems with that procedure, but it could be avoided with a soft-start.

   I would buy the Lamello again even if prices were equal. Have you considered finding it on the net ? you will not be taxed as long as you stay within the EU and Volts/Hz will be the same.

   regards, Ole

   .... I Love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

8. 
   Scrit | Dec 09, 2003 02:16pm | #11

   Christian

   I wouldn't worry about whether suction hoses fit each other, it is possible to get cone adaptors to make them fit (which is how I get my Elu extractor to run with Festool sanders). I'd recommend that if you don't want to spend the money on a Lamello that the Maffell LNF20 (or the AEG/Atlas-Copco equivalents) is an excellkent machine. My LNF19 has done 5 years (2-1/2 of those in trade use) and is showing no signs of flagging. The turret depth stop facility puts it a couple of steps ahead of most other machines, and the cut depth adjustment allows for type S and D biscuits in addition to the normal 0 / 10 / 20 sizes. In the UK it is generally sold at around £200 (285 Euro/$350 this morning). I rate it higher than the DeWalt DW685 and Makita, both of which I've used. The only other possibility might be the DeWalt DW  682 (Elu DS140), a swing blade machine with micro-adjustable cut offset control and the facility to be used to cut shadow joints, etc 

   
   

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   Edited 12/9/2003 6:17:20 AM ET by Scrit

1. 
   Christian | Dec 13, 2003 05:28pm | #13

   Hi folks,

   thanks for your helpful input. Price is always an issue to me but I prefer to buy well and once instead of buying low end stuff. This doesn't mean that I'll run for the Lamello. First, I'll try to find a store which offers many different types and then I can see which one feels best in my hand. Regarding price and quality, the Mafell, the Atlas Copco/AEG and the Kress biscuit joiner seem to offer a good value.

   Regards,

   Christian

9. 
   Douglass | Dec 09, 2003 10:46pm | #12

   I purchased a second hand Elu DS140 about 5-6 years ago. WOW! super tool.

   Cuts the slots perfect, use it to run grooves for drawer bottoms, even use it as a trim saw. The set up is quick and accurate

   I cant see why the Dw 682 that followed did not sell like hot cakes. If you see any offered grab one quick.

10. 
    hammer1 | Dec 14, 2003 09:13am | #14

    If you currently own a router you could buy a bit made for biscuits and save a lot of money for a tool you may not find usefull in your work.

1. 
   Christian | Dec 21, 2003 04:47pm | #15

   Hi folks,

   thanks for the suggestion to use a router instead of a biscuit joiner. I've already heard about this possiblity but it seems a bit awkward and unsafe to me.

   As for the biscuit joiners, I found an interesting offer for the Lamello C2. It comes with a Systainer, a Minicol glue bottle, a Minisystainer full of Nr. 20 Lamellos and a pocket knife. The whole kit goes for EUR 399 (without VAT).The Mafell LNF 20 costs EUR 319 (without VAT), including a Systainer. Which one would you go for?I spoke to a professional who teaches woodworking for hobby woodworkers and he was not in favor of Lamello, Bosch, Freud and Trend. Their fences don't allow any height adjustment when they are set for another angle than 90°.Any comments on this?

   Thanks!

   Christian