Makita 3901 5.6 amp Plate Joiner
Makita Plate Joiners – below for more information.
- Powerful 5.6 amp motor provides 10,000 rpm
- Six depth settings for no. 0, no. 10, and no. 20 biscuits
- Precise rack-and-pinion vertical fence adjustment
- Large top-grip handle for comfort and control
- One-year warranty
Makita Plate Joiners
Purist furniture makers frown on the plate joiner, or biscuit joiner as it’s often called, but this model might change a few minds. The joinery ease is unparalleled with this method, and Makita really knows its business. This model offers a 10,000 rpm, 5.6 amp motor, six cutting depths for different biscuit sizes, and a precision fence that angles with positive stops at 0, 45, and 90 degrees. Changing biscuit sizes is as quick and easy as turning the adjustment dial. The rack-and-pinion f
Makita 3901 5.6 amp Plate Joiner
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Wood Joinery: Biscuit and Pocket-Hole Technology
Article by Mallory Kramer
As craftsmen strive to create a perfect joint the question of wood joinery hangs over the heads of many professionals. To achieve these sought after smooth, strong, and durable joints there are many methods to choose from. Techniques like biscuit, or plate joinery, and pocket-hole joinery offer individual and effective ways to create a powerful and strong joint. Each method provides a different and effecient way to enhance the strength of your joints.
Biscuit or plate joinery involves the insertion of a biscuit into an oval, or crescent shaped slot that is cut into opposite edges of two pieces of wood. Biscuits are pre-cut, oval-shaped pieces of compressed wood that range in size from 1/2in to 2-1/4in in length. There are also biscuits available in plastic, aluminum, and steel for special applications, generally however, wood biscuits are the most prominently used. Biscuits (dabbed with glue) are inserted into specially cut slots in the wood that are shaped identically to the biscuit, the two pieces of wood are clamped together to set, and thus form a strong, durable joint. The biscuits also tend to soak up the glue applied to them before insertion which causes them to swell and make the joint tighter, and stronger. Porter Cable, DEWALT, and Makita each offer high quality plate joiners with unique, and individual features to help meet your needs, and build your joints better.
Porter Cable offers a Deluxe Plate Joiner Kit with a powerful 7.5 amps and 10,000 rpm. This joiner has many features that simplify the joining process, including: a precise micro height-adjustment knob to keep biscuits exactly centered, and a 1in O.D. (outer diameter) dust port that works with standard bags or can simply hook up to a vacuum. The Porter-Cable 557 has a fence tilt of 0 to135 degrees with a positive adjustable stop at 90 degrees; additionally, the bale handle is attached to the fence (rather than the motor) for increased stability and control while cutting. The joiner also has a lock-on trigger for continual use and a supremely accurate (at any angle) hight scale to precisely measure positions. Porter Cable’s plate joiner has seven-position rotating depth stop to accommodate a variety of biscuit sizes and depths, and a spindle lock mechanism for simple blade changes. For standard and face-frame biscuits, Porter Cable’s 557 Deluxe Plate Joiner Kit includes both 2in and 4in diameter blades. The kit also includes a centering plate, dust bag, a chip deflector, allen wrench, and a carrying case for portability and convenience.
DEWALT offers a similar Heavy-Duty Plate Joiner with 6.5 amps and no load speed of 10,000 rpm; tough enough to work through even the hardest wood. To ensure the most accurate joints, the DW682K features a dual rack and pinion system that keeps the blade and fence always parallel as you work – every time. The one piece fence is also adjustable with a 0-90 degree tilt, and, at zero degrees, a flush cut can be made without removing the fence. Additionally, the fence has a locating notch at 45 degrees that allows indexing off the outside surface of a mitered joint: in other words, the fence has a positive lock at 45 degrees to keep your joints always accurate. The joiner, having a no mar, heavy-duty aluminum shoe, can be clamped down to work surfaces for stationary work – and has retractable, anti-slip pins to help hold your work in place, and preset depth stops for all common biscuit sizes. DEWALT’s DW682K joiner kit comes with a carbide blade, dust bag, a vacuum adapter, Torx key, wrench, and a heavy-duty kit box for security. The tool comes with DEWALT’s one year free service contract, and a three year limited warranty.
Makita also provides an excellent option in biscuit joinery. Their 3901 plate joiner runs on 5.6 amps, and with a no load speed of 10,000 rpm. Although with slightly less amps, the tool is strong enough to make the tight, and lasting joints craftsmen expect from biscuit joinery. Makita’s joiner has a one-touch 6 depth setting that allows for immediate depth change when working, and accommodates most common biscuit sizes. Makita’s 3901 plate joiner also features a shaft lock for fast, simple blade changes, and easy to operate cam locks for added security. With a cast aluminum pivot fence with positive stops at 0, 45, and 90 degrees the joiner is always accurate and precise, and is designed to quickly and simply make strong and durable plate joints. The tool has a maximum cut depth of 25/32in, a large top grip handle, no mar rubber strip insert, and is double insulated for additional security/safety on the job. Makita’s 3901 plate joiner includes a carbide tipped blade (4in in diameter), an angle guide, dust bag, lock nut wrench, set plate, inner flange, lock nut, and a plastic tool case for convenience and portability. The tool is just over a foot long and weighs 6.2 lbs.
Pocket-hole technology involves drilling an angled hole into one workpiece and joining it to another with a self-tapping screw. This process eliminates tedious drilling applications, and provides a fast, strong joint in which the screw acts as a permanent internal clamp pulling and holding two workpieces together. Kreg offers a Jig Master System specifically designed for pocket-hole joinery. The K3MS is effectively two tools in one having interchangeable drill guide blocks that can shift between benchtop and portable bases. The tool has an easy access, spring-loaded, front-side clamp that eliminates reaching around big panels to get to your toggle clamps; it keeps everything within arms reach so you can maintain speed and greater ease on the job.
To help you perfectly place your pocket-holes in a variety of widths and thicknesses Kreg offers a three-hole drill guide with a hardened steel core. This steel core also protects bits by keeping them completely covered, and supports work pieces throughout the entire drilling process. This technology reduces bit deflection and tear-out, and provides a clean, smooth, and pluggable pocket-hole. The Kreg K3MS jig master system also has a material support stop that can be set at any distance from the jig enabling you to repeat the same pocket-hole numerous times. This stop can also swing or flip out of the way to act also as a height support for large panels. Additionally, Kreg utilizes an optimized drilling angle specifically configured to enhance driving efficiency and reduce the pocket-hole’s overall size to less than 1-1/2in. A wood-chip relief system -which consists of one wood-chip relief hole per every drill guide hole – keeps messy debris out of your drill bits and decreases drill torque output, thus increasing the life of your drill bits. This system allows the user to make smooth pocket-holes in only one plunge. Kreg jigs are built with an unique composite material that is flexible, resilient and also strong and durable; each jig is also built in-part with heavy-duty glass-reinforced nylon that maintains its strength and longevity.
Each of these joinery options is unique and provides professional results and professional strength to your joints. Both biscuit joinery, and pocket-hole joinery offer simple and strong solutions to achieving the perfect woodworking joint.
About the Author
Mallory Kramer is a student at the University of Utah where she is earning her degree in English. Three years ago she joined M&M Tool where her expertise lie in tool parts and web communications. For over 60 years M&M Tool has sought to provide the most professional service to the tool industry with parts, sales, and service to professional grade power tools and machinery. Please visit http://www.toolsandmachinery.com to share in their expertise.
Better than others,
I bought this plate joiner sight unseen and don’t regret it. Makita is superior in comparison to other brands. The tolerances are much tighter with no slop. Cuts are very smooth. I also have a Porter Cable, and it doesn’t come close to the quality this model. The slider bars move with great precision. All wood chips exit through the dust port. Unless you have the money to spend for an expensive “Lamello”, this is the model to get.
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|Biscuits & Gravy,
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I am a 30 year carpenter of which the last 15 have been nothing but finish work. I had done some research on these biscuit joiners before buying the Makita.Great decision!This thing is so simple in design and function that the direction booklet is not even necessary.It’s effortless! I jumped in full bore today.8 six foot 1 by 4s of mahogany for a table top went together quite easily thanks to about 50 perfectly alligned biscuits.I don’t bother with the dust bag so I can’t really comment on that but what a sweet tool.The fence allignment was spot on and the cam lock height adjustment is so user friendly that it makes this tool fun to use.
I guess the only reason I did not give this tool a 5 is because the fence sort of shrouds the biscuit location marks on your project. It’s not that big of a deal but you do have to extend your marks to about a half inch on each side of desired biscuit location.
The blade left very little tear-out and cut effortlessly! I have tried almost every biscuit joiner out there with the exception of the Lamello[WAY TOO EXPENSIVE!!!] and all in all this one gets my vote for top tool for the price!
I would recommend this tool to all you journeymen as well as apprentices out there wondering which one. Trust me on this one guys!
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|Excellent tool value,
The rack and pinion depth adjustment feature on this joiner is among the best that I’ve tried. All the adjustments are quick and repeatable with good accuracy. My only complaint is with the case. It could use a bit more room. I have to loosen the fence angle lock to get the case lid to shut. Trivial but a nuscience never the less. The joiner itself does a great job and the dust collection bag actually works! I’m sure that spending more money will get you a more refined tool but for the budget minded, this very well could be a valuable asset to your woodshop.
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