good biscuit joiner for use with CT extractor?

[panelchat]

I'm looking to pick up a biscuit joiner and wonder if anyone has suggestions as per fit with festool dust extractors- as in performance of the tools together and fitting the hose to the joiner's dust port. Any thoughts? I have in mind the Makita. I assume it won't fit the festool hose but wonder if there's any adaptor that works.
Thanks for any input.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Fein makes a $6-7 rubber vac step adapter that works with the Festool end and can be trimmed to fit just about any tool end.  They're a great value and well made.

JT

 

[cdconey]

MY PC 557 fits the 27mm hose end just fine.   Since I purchased my Domino, I don't recall using it since.

 

[Samo]

If your going to get a Biscuit Jointer, I'd get a Lamello [wink]  It is a cut above the rest and they are available cheap on the used market if your patient.

Second choice would be the Dewalt, that is an old Elu German design.  Only problem with it is, it is a Dewalt and not made to the same standard than in the past.

Most all fit the hose.

Sam

 

[JayStPeter]

The Dewalt works well with the Festool 27mm hose.  Not a big fan of it otherwise.

 

[tiralie]

If your going to get a Biscuit Jointer, I'd get a Lamello [wink] 

+1. The Lamello port fits the Festool 27mm hose end perfectly. You get almost zero dust floating around, if you go slowly I doubt you will see any.
Great machine and very accurate.
Tim

 

[John Stevens]

If your going to get a Biscuit Jointer, I'd get a Lamello [wink] 

+1. The Lamello port fits the Festool 27mm hose end perfectly. You get almost zero dust floating around, if you go slowly I doubt you will see any.
Great machine and very accurate.
Tim

I guess this makes it +2 for Lamello.  I own a domino, but I wouldn't sell the Lamello.  I found need to wrap a little duct tape around the port to get the Festool hose to fit snug, but IMO that's not even worth considering compared to how well it works (flawless), how reliable it is (bulletproof) and how long it'll last (forever).

BTW, someone here once mentioned that a large chunk of the Lamello biscuit joiner is made for Lamello by Festool.

Regards,

John

 

[panelchat]

Thanks everybody!
Helpful info.
I hated plate joiners until I got a job at a furniture shop that had a Lamello.
Then I was sold. Great tool. Worth the money.
Unfortunately I can't justify the cost right now, new or used, so I'll go cheaper and see how it goes...
If some big jobs come in this year maybe I'll upgrade.

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

I have the original Elu Biscuit jointer, the forerunner to the Dewalt. I've had it from new (1992) and it still works a treat. Quality tool, well built.

The Dust port fits my 27mm Festool A/S hose perfectly!

Tim.

 

[Kevin Johnson]

I have a DeWalt that I don't use anymore.  It fits on the Festool hose just fine.  I used to hate it until I read an article in Fine Woodworking on how to tune it up.  It used to make sloppy joints and I could not figure out why.  Once I tuned it up, it worked fine.  However, I eventually purchased a Domino and it does not get used.  So, if you get a DeWalt you may need to that.

It now sits in a pile of tools that need to be sold on Ebay when I get 'round to it.  If you are interested in it, send me a PM.

 

[Harvey]

I bought the Porter-Cable 557 6-7 years ago & am happy with it. If you check out the user reviews on Fine Woodworking or Amazon it gets the best ratings of the non-Lamello brands. It also gets the most reviews of any brand (its popular). If  I were looking  at the Lamellos today I’d  comparing them to the Dominos (and trying to get some hands-on demos). Good luck with it! 

 

[galwaydude18@gmail.com]

I have a DeWalt that I don't use anymore.  It fits on the Festool hose just fine.  I used to hate it until I read an article in Fine Woodworking on how to tune it up.  It used to make sloppy joints and I could not figure out why.  Once I tuned it up, it worked fine.  However, I eventually purchased a Domino and it does not get used.  So, if you get a DeWalt you may need to that.

It now sits in a pile of tools that need to be sold on Ebay when I get 'round to it.  If you are interested in it, send me a PM.

How did u tune up your dewalt biscuit joiner? I have one and it canals pretty sloppy joints when it feels like! If only I had the funds for a Domino  [crying]

 

[Kevin Johnson]

It has been a while since I did it.  I saw the article in Fine Woodworking.  However, as I recall the fence was out of square from the factory by a few thousands of an inch.  I did not realize it for the longest time and could never understand why my glue ups weren't working.  I thought it was operator error, looked at different biscuits, changed the blade, etc.

So what I did was cut some slots into a test piece and used a dial caliper to measure the distance from the top of the test piece to each side of the slot.  Somewhere on the machine there is an adjustment for the up and down action of the fence.  I don't recall exactly where it is and I don't have the machine handy.  Once I had everything aligned, the problems with the glue-ups went away.