DeWalt Heavy-Duty Plate Joiner Kit model DW682K
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I have a DeWalt Heavy-Duty Plate Joiner Kit model DW682K since 2003. It is a very nicely balanced tool. It is a little bit on the heavy side, but what do you expect from DeWalt! It supports cutting slots for #0, #10, and #20 biscuits. It comes with a 6.5 amp motor gives it plenty of power. I have cut biscuits into a variety of hardwoods, red oak, white oak, mahogany, birch, and never been able to bog down the motor. When the motor starts up it produces significant torque and has a tendency to move the tool if you are not holding on tightly to the big D handle.
The unit is very well made. The fit and finish is excellent. The cast aluminum fence system with its rack and pinion adjustment with lock down screws is easy to adjust and does not ‘drift’ during operation. Fence adjustment is smooth and very easy. On the right hand side is a depth scale with red triangle for the 3/8 depth. Easy to read and accurately set the depth.
The blade drift can pretty much be controlled by adjusting two ‘anti-slippage’ pins out with a screwdriver. These pins grip the wood and resist the blade drift tendency.
I have not yet had to remove my blade. It does come with a blade removal tool.
It comes with a blow molded case. It is a tight fit to get the tool, power cord, and dust collection bag to fit into the case.
The tool will spit out a significant pile of shavings. The dust collection bag leaves much to be desired and I typically do not use it.
In the past I used it just for joining board together to create a larger single board, a typical use. I was talking to a fellow wood worker a few months ago and he mentioned that he uses his biscuit joiner to join cabinet bodies, fixed shelving, and just about anything else he can cut a biscuit slot into.
So, when I was building my daughter’s dresser / storage bed. The drawer body is a simple butt joint that is glued and nailed with 18 gauge brads. I decided to install biscuits to increase the joint strength. The boards join up so that the brads nails are at 90 degrees to the pulling and pushing force of opening and closing the drawer.
Biscuit joining looks easy and after a little practice is easy.
Tip: Always cut all slots with the face side up. This will prevent minute imperfections caused by variations in wood thickness.
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