Best Biscuit Joiners of 2022

What is a biscuit joiner?

A biscuit joiner (also known as a plate joiner) is a woodworking power tool that joins two pieces of wood together. The small circular blade (usually 4 inches wide) cuts a crescent shape out of the two pieces of wood, then an oval-shaped piece of wood (known as a biscuit) is covered in glue and inserted into the slot, giving a solid join.

What’s the difference between a plate joiner and biscuit joiner?

A biscuit joiner and plate joiner are the same thing. These are just different names used for the same tool. You’ll often see them used interchangeably since a biscuit joiner has a metal plate as a base.

Types of biscuit joiner

There are actually three types of joiner that all give slightly different results:

• Biscuit joiner: This is the standard tool that creates 4-inch ‘biscuit’ shape holes in wood. The blades are 2 or 4 inches, and the tool can be corded or cordless.
• Detail joiner: This creates smaller grooves in the wood and is designed specifically to create mini biscuits. Whereas the standard biscuit joiner can have either 2 or 4-inch blades, the blade cannot be switched out in a detail joiner.
• Domino joiner: This is a relatively new type of joiner that creates domino-shaped biscuits. This gives the convenience of a joiner but the exactness and strength of a dowel.

Best biscuit joiner brands

There are several great brands of biscuit joiners on the market. Here are some of our favorite brands to help you choose the best plate joiner:

• DeWALT biscuit joiners: DeWALT is a popular choice for corded biscuit joiners. They are well-made and a good choice for professional woodworkers who need a biscuit joiner that can live up to heavy-duty use. DeWALT biscuit joiners are in the mid to high price range but are worth the investment for the reliability.
• Lamello biscuit joiners: Lamello is one of the most expensive options when it comes to biscuit joiners. This is because they are extremely well built and give the exact precision needed for professional use. If you’re a DIYer or beginner, Lemello is probably overkill, but they are one of the best choices for professional woodworkers.
• Makita biscuit joiners: These are another great option for professionals and avid hobbyists. Makita is most known for cordless biscuit joiners which give great flexibility as well as impressive power output. These are in the high price range, but Makita offers a great range of functions such as decent height and fence adjustments that make their tools versatile.
• Porter-Cable biscuit joiners: Porter-Cable is a mid-range but popular brand for DIYers and hobbyists. They have had some issues with alignment when it comes to their biscuit joiners, but they do have a good range of corded plate joiners that are powerful enough for tough jobs.
• Craftsman biscuit joiners: Craftsman is a popular brand for a full range of power tools from drills to lawn mowers. Craftsman is affordable but still offer quality in the construction of their plate joiners, and since they are a household name, they are a trusted option.
• REXBETI biscuit joiners: This is a budget option for DIYers or beginners. REXBETI is known for corded biscuit joiners that are powerful but not as well-made as more expensive alternatives. Even so, they are a good choice for anyone on a tight budget looking to get to grips with creating biscuit joints.

Bosch, Festool, VonHaus, and Silverstorm are also excellent brands for biscuit joiners, so don’t forget to keep these in mind too.

Can a router be used to make plate joints?

Although specialized router bits can be used to create biscuit joints, there are several instances where they will not work. A router can cut slots along the edges of a board but not across its face. Also, it can only cut along square edges, not bevelled edges.

If you plan on making biscuit slots regularly, your best option is to buy a biscuit joiner. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

When should you use a biscuit joiner?

A plate joiner is a versatile tool that can help to secure almost any joint in wood. They are most commonly used when working with large wood panels that need good accuracy and strength because of the wide surface area.

For example, if you’re adding a solid wood boarded to a plywood board to create a desk, biscuit joints will help align the wood pieces, give a better joint, and reduce the need to sand the edges.

How to use a biscuit joiner

Biscuit joiners do not need pinpoint precision and a little variance from slot to slot is acceptable. However, never position a biscuit joint too close to the edge of the wood to avoid splintering of the joint breaking through.

The biscuit joiner can be used both vertically and horizontally. It is then pushed into the wood to create a small crescent cut out. The more powerful the joiner, the less pressure is needed to get this cut.

You then need to coat a biscuit in wood glue and insert it into the cut. Clamp the wood and allow the glue to dry to give the best result.

Biscuit joints vs doweling: which is best?

Biscuit joints are quicker and easier than doweling but are not as strong. Dowels add a good deal of strength but don’t offer the accuracy of alignment that biscuit joints do, they also take longer to achieve.

Which you need will depend on the job. Dowels are usually needed when building cabinets and other pieces of furniture. Biscuit joints are used more on large pieces such as desks, tables, or pieces that need high precision.

Features to look for when choosing the best biscuit joiner

Not all biscuit joiners are created equal. If you buy a budget joiner, you won’t get as much accuracy as the high-end models. That said, whatever price bracket you’re in, there are some important features you should look for to get the best results with your tool:

• Plate joiner grip style – Biscuit joiners either have barrel grip or a D handle. A barrel grip means you’re holding the body of the tool, whereas a D handle sticks out over the top of the tool. Most people prefer barrel grip since it gives more control.
• Fence adjustment – It’s important to be able to adjust the fence to give the most functionality. The best biscuit joiners tilt from 0 to 135 degrees, however, most go from 0 to 90. Being able to adjust the angle means you can easily work on both the inside and outside of a mitered joint.
• Blade Size – Standard biscuit joiners have a 4-inch blade that allows you to cut standard slots. However, you can also get 2-inch blades for smaller projects and some biscuit joiners are designed to take different size blades.
• Corded vs cordless – Corded biscuit joiners give unlimited runtime and more powerful output but are more restrictive because of the cord. Whereas a cordless biscuit joiner is more flexible but will need the battery charged regularly.

Best Biscuit Joiner for the Money

Best value

DEWALT DW682K 6.5 Amp Plate Joiner with DEWALT DW6805 6 Tooth Carbide Plate Joiner Blade

Corded, heavy-duty

If you don’t like dealing with batteries, the 6.5-amp motor and robust carbide plate are designed for large, tough jobs.

Check price on Amazon