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Biscuit jointer confusion
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tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 10:19 am    Post subject: Biscuit jointer confusion Reply with quote
    

There's quite a lot of furniture that I'll be needing a biscuit jointer for, prices seem to range from around £45-1300, reviews on screwfix and amazon are inconclusive, some people give the cheapo ones 5 stars, others 1 star. I just want one that works reliably.

Any ideas?

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

not one of my tools but on the general principle that if you diy a diy one will last a few jobs if you do it all day spend out for a top end pro tool i would go for the cheap with decent reviews and expect it to last a few bits of furniture.

i got a wall chaser for 50 squid and was/am happy for it to still be working after the 4 hrs i needed it for,to hire a pro one would have cost more and to buy a pro one daft.

Jb



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 10:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If I can't decide between items like that then my usual principal is to buy the second cheapest item. The rationale is that there is a reason the cheapest is cheapest, if the second cheapest is too bad I can return it under warranty, if it breaks after doing the job then at least the job was done and probably cheaper than hiring and if I need to replace it in future then this experience will mean that I have some idea of what I am looking for.

So buy the second cheapest

perlogalism



Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 440
Location: Near Welshpool
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 11:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I bought a cheap Screwfix (Ferm) one a few years ago when building a wardrobe. It did the job and I still have it but:
1: The depth lock has broken (cheap casting).
2: The chip / dust clearance has always been useless. So I spend quite a bit of time taking off the sole plate and manually removing the dust and sweeping out the cuts. Tedious and time consuming.

I too have been looking for a replacement but there isn't anything "mid market" that appeals. If you can fine a second hand Clarke BJ600, jump at it. By all accounts it out performed many of the expensive pro tools but was about £70 to buy. Like all good tools, it's been discontinued though

If you do find an alternative that works, I'd be interested to hear about it.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 12:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just bought a 2nd hand Makita 110v for £100 on ebay

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 1:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

some makita stuff is pretty ok and can be mended if the motor brushes wear away etc

perlogalism



Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 440
Location: Near Welshpool
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 1:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

tahir wrote:
Just bought a 2nd hand Makita 110v for £100 on ebay


Sounds reasonable. How's the dust removal?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 1:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Didn't check tbh, we have an outdoor space to use it so not too much of an issue

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 1:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

it isnt the dust in the room as much as the dust in the cut /machine that is an issue if i understand the nature of the machines

perlogalism



Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 440
Location: Near Welshpool
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
it isnt the dust in the room as much as the dust in the cut /machine that is an issue if i understand the nature of the machines


Yup, that's it. Still, if tahir had no problems outside then that's all good

vegplot



Joined: 19 Apr 2007
Posts: 21301
Location: Bethesda, Gwynedd
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 8:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

If I had the money it would be Festool everytime.

jema
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28098
Location: escaped from Swindon
PostPosted: Fri Sep 12, 14 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

too late, I use a £35 or so cheap biscuit jointer and have built a lot of stuff with it.

mousjoos



Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Posts: 1986
Location: VERY Sunny SW France
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 14 5:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

vegplot wrote:
If I had the money it would be Festool everytime.



they are excellent but it's the accessories that make the range ridiculously expensive
I have some Festool stuff..I'm very careful with it & it never gets lent out
I have had an AEG biscuit jointer for about 16 years.....super quality & only £ 90 when new

MornieG



Joined: 17 Jan 2013
Posts: 933
Location: Bromham, Wiltshire
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 14 7:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Makita. Better a secondhand makita than a cheap new one.

Mo.XX

Woo



Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 787
Location: Mayenne, Pays de Loire
PostPosted: Sat Sep 13, 14 9:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Just about everything is made in China these days, in my experience.
We have had new generators 'for reliability' and been sadly disappointed. Our 1944 version a trusted friend.
Professional quality grinders, with dust protection promises and had to get them replaced after a few months.
the brand names sadly don't mean the quality article we expect anymore. Tiny, but vital components replaced with an inferior item causing catistrophic failure.
The time we spend taking things apart and repairing them amounts to a frustrating amount of our time.
They don't make 'em like they used to may be an old joke but it is certainly true.
I am hoping to get himself a biscuit cutter soon for when we get to 'that' part of the work. let us know how you get on?

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