Hone Your Woodworking Skills With the Best Biscuit Joiners

A biscuit joiner is only as effective as its quality. Here are some things to look for prior to purchasing. 

Features to Consider When Buying a Biscuit Joiner

The following are some crucial factors you should definitely consider when investing in a biscuit joiner. 

Fence

When looking for a biscuit joiner, you should consider the tool with adjustable fence settings. A 135-degree angle adjustment will give you the liberty to work from both outside and inside the face of the joint. 

Another point to consider here is the height of the fence. When you’re shopping for a plate joiner, try purchasing the one with adjustable fence height. This helps you stay parallel with the blade while adjusting the height according to your requirement. 

Weight 

Since you will be holding the plate joiner while working, it is important that you choose a lightweight tool. If you select a heavy machine, it will affect your performance drastically. Adding weight to your arms can lead to arm fatigue, which later results in poor working efficiency. And aside from this, you can also easily sprain your hand. 

Blade size

Blade size is important when you want precision in your woodwork. That is why it is important that you look into the blade size of the tool before buying it. The standard blade size for plate joiners is 4 inches, and you can find a wide variety of such machines. If you are working on smaller projects, you should look into a tool with changeable blade options. 

You can also purchase a 2-inch blade separately and use it when working on smaller biscuits. 

Handle

When working with instruments like plate joiners, you should establish a firm grip to avoid accidents. In order to achieve that strong grip, you need a reliable handle.  

There are two common types of handles: barrel and D-shaped. While barrel handles offer better control over the tool and keep your arm steady, D-shaped handles are far more ergonomic and comfortable to work with. On the downside, D-shaped handles are not as precise as their barrel counterparts. 

If you are working for longer periods and use your joiner frequently, you might like a D-shaped handle better. On the other hand, if you prefer precision over comfort then barrel-shaped handles will work great for you. 

Power range

Power is another factor that plays a vital role in determining the quality of your biscuit joiner. If you are working on hardwoods, you should consider a high-power plate joiner as it requires more force. Similarly, if you’re using softwoods you can easily get the job done with low-power joiners.

Benefits of Buying a Biscuit Joiner

If you’re still confused about buying a biscuit joiner, have a look at the following benefits of investing in the tool:

• It is easy, precise, and gives you a clean cut every time. The joint is also strong and promotes a more perfect alignment. 
• A biscuit joiner gives you an invisible joint when compared to other methods of adhesion. It also gives you the liberty to work on different types of materials without worrying about their cutting properties.
• A biscuit joiner will preserve the natural beauty of the wood material. This adds a sense of finesse to your project that you won’t achieve with other tools.