Makita PJ7000 - Plate Joiner - Biscuit Cutter 701W

I purchased this after reading a positive review from Bob Villa at This-Old-House, and I put it to use making a dining-room table top right after purchasing it. It is a fantastic biscuit joiner. I had been a little worried because the demo unit at the local Home Depot seemed to have a sloppy vertical adjustment, but right out of the box everything was smooth and tight. There was very little setup required....just adjusting the height of the cut to fit the thickness of my boards, selecting the biscuit gauge for the depth of cut. The blade was sharp, very little tear-out, and the 90-degree angle stop seems dead accurate. I've completed four separate glue-up panels since purchasing the joiner, and I am VERY happy with it. It is a bit pricier than some of the other ... MoreI purchased this after reading a positive review from Bob Villa at This-Old-House, and I put it to use making a dining-room table top right after purchasing it. It is a fantastic biscuit joiner. I had been a little worried because the demo unit at the local Home Depot seemed to have a sloppy vertical adjustment, but right out of the box everything was smooth and tight. There was very little setup required....just adjusting the height of the cut to fit the thickness of my boards, selecting the biscuit gauge for the depth of cut. The blade was sharp, very little tear-out, and the 90-degree angle stop seems dead accurate. I've completed four separate glue-up panels since purchasing the joiner, and I am VERY happy with it. It is a bit pricier than some of the other options but seems well worth the extra cost..

Don't count on Rockler Support to give you the correct information

Before buying the blade I asked Rockler Support what the kerf of the blade was. Rockler Support told me that the kerf for this blade was .025". When I received the blade and measured it .025 is the thickness of the blade material not the kerf.I measured the rack or set of the blades which is about .041" which means the kerf will be about .041".I guess Rockler Support doesn’t know the difference between material thickness, kerf, rack or set of a saw blade.Because of getting the wrong information about the blade, the blade won’t cut as small of a curve as I was looking for.

Excellent power tool

I've typically used simple edge joints on lengths of timber, but the results have not always been optimum (some edge slippage most commonly). This biscuit jointer is excellent, and the first couple of test joints I have made have been fantastic - square and flat. It's easy to set up and use, and with a vacuum attached to the extraction port it makes virtually zero dust. I wish I'd bought it years ago!

Good purchase

Usual quality from axminster easy to order and great delivery. The joiner is makita so similarly high expectations and it doesn't disappoint. Very accurate easy to set up and use. Bought this to make wall paneling so already used it over and over and makes a good job of cutting the slots. I have used cheap cutters in the past and my only regret is I didn't pull the trigger on this purchase years earlier.

Great value

does what it says. simple and easy to use. vibrates a bit, so be sure to hold it firmly to stay on target. a little underpowered (RPM goes noticeable down when cutting into regular chipboard) but the cut is still nice. it would be really great if you could attach the slide/fence also on the underside of the bladehousing, this would make referencing a lot easier.If you order from Axminster and are not within the UK: 45 years of international export experience have not taught them that there are different electric outlets around the world. So there is no mention on the webpage that this thing comes with a UK plug. Customer service mentioned that they always ship with UK plug. On the bright side: this way i found the excellent makita instructions. It is quite easy to ... Moredoes what it says. simple and easy to use. vibrates a bit, so be sure to hold it firmly to stay on target. a little underpowered (RPM goes noticeable down when cutting into regular chipboard) but the cut is still nice. it would be really great if you could attach the slide/fence also on the underside of the bladehousing, this would make referencing a lot easier.If you order from Axminster and are not within the UK: 45 years of international export experience have not taught them that there are different electric outlets around the world. So there is no mention on the webpage that this thing comes with a UK plug. Customer service mentioned that they always ship with UK plug. On the bright side: this way i found the excellent makita instructions. It is quite easy to replace the cable with a matching one.

Love the new blades

First time out with my new blades had a great experience. Cut and cleared well. Sawed a 6" diameter cedar log with a sled. Did great. Wasn't intending to do something this thick at first so I wish I would've had a wider blade for this project but it performed well.

Makita Biscuit Joiner

I have just purchased this Makita Biscuit Joiner after having to return the Ryobi one. All I can say is the difference is night and day, do yourself a favour and spend the extra $$$ and get the Makita over the Ryobi. I do have a few Ryobi tools and the biscuit joiner is the first one I was disappointed with, for me it didn't cut the biscuits it burnt them. Not sure if it was a faulty unit or design fault. The only down side of the Makita which is the same with all tools is the dust collection, the bag will get filled very quickly and if doing a lot of biscuits you really need to connect it to a shop vac.

More accurate than my old Porter Cable, better slide and fence design. I do wish the fence plate ...

More accurate than my old Porter Cable, better slide and fence design. I do wish the fence plate was a bit longer for better balance. I find it best to leave the tool switched on when doing a series of cuts, rather than manipulating the switch each time. Sounds a bit risky, but the blade retracts easily and the tool is safe to use this way. I like the detents on the fence angle, and find them accurate. Quieter than my PC and does not shoot chips towards my face and safety glasses as I lean over the tool. I disagree with some of the reviews I read, power is ample, just let the tool do the work, and the fit, finish, and accuracy is like my other Makita tools; superior.

Takes practice, small dust bag

It's easy to slip and make the cut at an angle, so it takes a few practice cuts to get it right. The dust bag fills up after ~4 cuts, so you have to stop and empty it all the time. If you don't, wood chips clog the machine and you have to dig them out. Highly recommend a vacuum attachment. The blade was sharp and cut white oak easily. Easy adjustments and controls. Way faster and a better result than edge joining without biscuits. If you have the budget, buy a Domino instead.

Well engineered for the job

Purchased end September 22 for an urgent project. I had intended to ask my local timber merchant to join planks to form a table top. The cost was £90 plus vat. So I decided it was worthwhile investing in a biscuit jointer. The Makita had good reviews and Axminster had a competitive price. I was surprised how straightforward it was to operate. Also very easy to keep the slots consistent. Early days but looks good so far. You’re also going to need plenty of clamps if like me you are preparing a table top. I’m very pleased with the machine.