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When tackling a carpentry project that ask joinery , it ’s gentle to drop hours cautiously craft complicated joints to make the piece solid and strong . Or choose the alternative : utilize one of thebest cookie joinersto create stronger joints quicker , with great truth and less fuss .
ThePorter Cable 557 cooky joinerfeatures a spinning cutter that immerse into workpieces to cut crescent - shaped slot for biscuits . Once glued and inserted into the slots , compact wood biscuits expand somewhat and produce a stronger articulatio than a conventional Sir Henry Wood - to - wood bond .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
As a professional woodworker , I rely on cooky joints when making furniture and building cabinetry for both speed and force . I tested the Porter Cable joiner in my workshop for several workweek to evaluate its feature , ease of use , and overall value , and I liked what I found .
Tested Top Pick
Porter Cable 557 Biscuit Joiner
Testing the Porter Cable 557
I put the Porter Cable 557 through aseries of tests , evaluating both straight and angled cutting off into solid hardwood while using the adjustable fencing and depth adjuster . Since I primarily use a cookie joiner for casework , I tested the tool ’s preciseness on plyboard by reach shelf and a face frame . I also evaluated its informality of apparatus and adaption . Most significantly , I tested the 557 ’s accuracy on each excision , down to micro adjustments .
For a net trial , I built a stand V - ledge bookcase joined entirely with # 10 cooky using thinner half - in – duncish solid woods , which is a challenge not all biscuit joiners can handle . This countenance me to substantiate whether the 557 joiner could manage the little cuts , which are good for expression frames , as well as the largest cut for joining boards for a tabletop and cabinet assemblage .
What We wish :
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
What We Do n’t wish :
Features : A game modifier for angled joinery and face framing
A standout feature of thePorter Cable 557is its fence slant range , which cant over from 0 to 135 degrees . This range make it ideal for angled joinery and face human body , providing full support of the fence while cutting . The large-minded fence angle ambit also allow me to set the joiner on the face of a mitered articulatio . The grip runs along the entire face of the tool that meet the workpiece , similar to skateboard deck tape recording , providing a unassailable custody during angled cuts .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
The 557 has smooth superlative adjustments , with a boss on the top of the fence and a freestanding boss on the left wing of the fencing to lock the meridian into place . This model also has a micro - depth adjustment for dead placing the cooky slots , and it can use two vane options : a 4 - column inch blade for standard biscuits and a 2 - inch brand for expression frame biscuit , though the 2 - inch blade is not include .
accouterment : Adapter plate and 2 - inch steel for frames
The Porter Cable 557 cooky joiner comes with an adapter plate that come in handy when working with thinner stock and narrow pieces of Mrs. Henry Wood . The joiner can cut a slot rivet ⅜ inch from the base , which is too eminent for the ½-inch stock I used for the bookcase build . By attaching the adapter plate to the joiner base , I could cut at a scummy time slot place when work with thick woodwind that would otherwise range the time slot too high . The marking gauge on the arranger plate helps maintain precise cutting for a scope of woodworking projection .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
The 2 - inch steel , sold separately , expand the joiner ’s functionality by allowing for smaller slot tailor to present frame ( FF ) biscuit . This is especially beneficial for forgather plywood locker FFs or connect thin parentage , where a standard cookie expansion slot would be too large and would compromise structural integrity .
simpleness of Use :
Throughout testing , the Porter Cable 557 stand up out for its user - friendly design and effortless cut . Its fence align up and down without racking and stays perfectly square , which is important for accurate slot alignment .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
The fitting and locking knob , which are big and easy to go down up , are site on the ripe side of the fence , so you only have to use one hired man to make adjustments . There ’s also a trigger lock that ’s helpful when cutting a series of slots at one meter , again freeing up one hand to align the joiner for the cuts .
The 7.5 - ampere motor allow ample power for accurate cut while preventing the tool from bogging down on arduous woods . There is some motor torsion , so be indisputable to trigger off it first , get it amount to speed , and then cut . I never feel like I had to ram the putz ; I just guided it as the motor did the heavy lifting .
Trust Us: This is a Tool You Don’t Want to Skimp On
When opt a biscuit cutter , woodman ca n’t afford to choose the cheapest option without consider carrying into action . When I got my first one , I blend with a buy example since it was n’t the most often used tool in my shop class . But I before long realized that investing in a quality biscuit joiner with a wide contention range of 135 degree to keep the peter stable when cut a slot for the cooky makes a substantial deviation , and can save money in the foresighted run . Otherwise , woodman risk getting woods cut and mitered , only to discover that their inexpensive joiner does n’t have the necessary broad tilt setting — waste the Sir Henry Joseph Wood , metre , and vigour that has last into a task that ca n’t be finished for lack of a proper tool .
you may grease one’s palms the Porter Cable 557 atLowe’sor Amazon .
Product Comparisons
So, is the Porter Cable 557 right for you?
I ’ve worked with cordless and corded biscuit model over the preceding ten class , and I can say with assurance that this biscuit joiner , the Porter Cable 557 should be at the top of every DIYer or woodworker ’s leaning . Whether making cabinets , furniture , or fall in boards , this tool give up accuracy , power , and ease of usance .
What make the Porter Cable 557 a great value is that it offer the feature that experienced woodworkers postulate while still being approachable to tyro , with its easy adjustment and comprehensive manual of arms . The manual details how to produce essential joints , include corner reefer , surface “ T ” roast ( where a fixed shelf meets the side of a locker ) , and butt and miter joints .
As mentioned earlier , one of the 557 ’s most worthful lineament is its adjustable fencing , whichtilts from 0 to 135 degrees — a feature film many entry - level joiner miss . The 557 also supports a range of biscuit sizes , including the small FF biscuits used for depiction frame , little boxes , and face flesh , which are the vertical stiles and horizontal rails that surround the front of a storage locker .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
Cheaper model often struggle to keep a parallel plane without further fine - tuning , resulting in misaligned joints . But with the Porter Cable 557 , adjustments are soft to make , and the fence continue parallel to the brand .
Another difference between cheaper biscuit joiners and this one is in their power , which affects the joiner ’s truth . While some lower - end biscuit joiner skin with heavy hardwood , causing binge - outs and ragged border , the 557 ’s 7.5 - adenylic acid motor powered through my oak and maple hardwood without disinclination , leaving clean slots every time .
The Porter Cable 557 biscuit joiner is a solid pick for anyone who wants precise slash with minimal ado . Its adjustable fence and true power make it a dandy choice for everything from basic cabinetry to more advanced angled cabinetmaking . For most DIYers , this biscuit joiner wo n’t disappoint .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
Meet the Tester
Cathy Harms is an awarding - winning woodworker , teach creative person , and writer covering a range of topics , including woodwork , home plate advance , tool selection , and DIY for a variety of publications . She takes an honest , elaborate approach path to merchandise revue , offering in - profundity insights on tools , woodworking techniques , and DIY solution to help reader make informed decisions .
Everything You necessitate for a Lush and Healthy Lawn
Keeping your supergrass green and your plant prosper does n’t just take a green quarter round — it starts with the correct tool and supplies .
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
Photo: Cathy Harms for Bob Vila
