Replies

1. 
   rp709 | Jan 11, 2005 07:04am | #1

   I have the Porter Cable 557. It is a lovely tool. It is very accurate and smooth. However, the dust collection is outstanding. You can cut a biscuit slot and have almost no dust escaping. The Lamello will blow allot of dust. I think this is the single best feature of the PC. Good luck. Ron

2. 
   Ribeye | Jan 11, 2005 10:48am | #2

   I can't help but feel you've asked. "does God Exist?"  The answers you get can be very passionate in both directions.

   Here are my two piddly cents worth...

   I have a Freud fixed=base jointer, a <all gasp aloud - then guffah!> Ryobi and (probably more sinful yet, a Sears Craftsman face-jointer.

   I do like the $90 Freud machine. It does everything I ever expected it to do.  The Ryobi on the other hand would be fantastic if only were it for the fact that it cut slots that actually fit the biscuits.  It doesn't and prolly never will since Ryobi seems to be dropping it from their tool line. 

   The Sears machine does a great (no, Fantastic!) job of looting their booty from their booties!...

   Are the more costly ones worht it? Gee... I don't rightly know about that, but.... I DO know that I have as much tied up in my three as most folks have in just one -- their porter cable thingy, that is.

    

   -- Steve

   Enjoy life & do well by it;

   it might well be the only chance you get.

   http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

3. 
   BArnold | Jan 11, 2005 10:27pm | #3

   Banker,

   Can't say why Lamello is so proud of their unit -- maybe because they invented the darn thing!  I have the DeWalt plate joiner and have used the PC.  Both are good machines.  If anything, I've seen more DeWalt than PC around shops and they hold up very well.

   Regards,

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting
   Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.

   ---

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

   ---

4. 
   georgek | Jan 12, 2005 03:04am | #4

   Banker,

   The Porter Cable is a great machine, I use mine almost every day. It also comes with a smaller blade for joining face frames. The only drawback, you have to use their biscuits since the blade is thicker than the othe brands.

   Good luck!

5. 
   WillGeorge | Jan 12, 2005 07:54pm | #5

   I have a Ryobi (everybody laugh).  I use it quite a bit but no production shop here. for 90 bucks does the job for me! S0 do two Ryobi routhers. I also have a PC and I see no difference other than I find the PC much harder to change bits. Again. I use them all and I got two Ryobi's for the price of the PC. If I used every day maybe the PC would be much better?

6. 
   RayL | Jan 12, 2005 08:30pm | #6

   I have had my DeWalt since hector was pup and it has always been good for me.  I don't think that you will do any better for the money.  The fence was the big selling point for me.  The only drawback is that it will not cut the really small slots, but I have never had the opportunity to fault this omission.

   I did spring for a different blade about a year after I bought the unit (16p nails in reclaimed wood), but did not notice any improvement with the after-market blade.

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 1/12/2005 1:29 pm ET by Ray

1. 
   1923478 | Jan 14, 2005 06:31am | #7

   hello ,I'm a wood bumbler from N.J.  In need of advice . This much I've learned thus far," you usually get what you pay for".I need to purchace a better tool. One that has good dust control. I have a PC 556. I'm  about to start a project in a room in my house, [built in cabinets]. Two articles, one in Finehomebuilding ,#40,"Moulding character", by Doulglas Honychurch,and one in Finewoodworking #166 "Built in basics" by Tony O'Malley have my interest. I will be employing  solutions from both methods. I hope to get to know you folks. thanks for listening to me.  AL Sr.

7. 
   jserena | Mar 01, 2005 07:10am | #8

   I've been building architectural millwork and custom furniture for almost 30 years. My first biscuit joiner experience was with a Lamello while working for a large millwork house in NYC in the early '70's. My first biscuit joiner purchase was a Freud (budget constraints). Although it worked VERY well, when I could finally afford to I bought a Lamello Top of my own and have never looked back. I admit some of it's snobbery; yet its as smooth as my four year olds backside, and there's something about the feel of it in your hand that just makes you smile. If you can afford it; buy it.

8. 
   Lightman | Mar 13, 2005 02:31pm | #9

   Banker,

   Hadn't seen this thread till now...don't let the idea of a used one get in the way. I bought a DeWalt about 3 years ago and it's worked like a champ. $75.00. I'm not into just used tools but they are something to think about.

   Jimmy

   as always I wish you enough

9. 
   Mack2 | Mar 25, 2005 03:01am | #10

   I am not sure why the Lamello is so expensive compared to the other brands.  I have had experience with both the Dewalt and the Porter Cable. Hands down the Porter Cable is the better machine. More or less it depends on what types of features you want with the machine. The porter cable will allow you to do all  the biscuit sizes FF, 10,20, and Max as well as both Simplex and Duplex hinges. It has a 135 degree fence which allows you to line up the outside edge when bicuiting 2 45's and I really like the handle on the PC because it is mounted on the fence rather than the motor giving you more control. The dewalt is a good maching but for roughly the same money the PC is a better tool.