.jpg.jpg) I would like feedback on biscuit jointers, especially Draper 880W or any others below £100. Thanks John
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After a mag review, (I forget which mag) best on test sort of thing I bought Machine Marts own brand which beat the (known) brands hands down on price, ease of use, accuracy, design etc etc and its been an excellent tool. Used mainly on oak, and never a problem with it. Cost then around £65:00
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 I have got the "Ferm" biscuit jointer and was about £50 give or take a tenner , got to say it has never let me down , have used it on a few hardwoods inc green oak , easy to use , wouldnt fob it off a being as good as the more upmarket machines but it certainly does what it needs too , has vertical adjustment , depth , and angle adjustment . Hope this helps
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.jpg) I've owned two of those Ferm biscuit jointers (one exchanged for the other) and while you can happily and quite accurately work off the base, I found the fence to be a big disappointment. It just would not lock securely so, with any kind of downward force, it would move - even when it is "locked". I do remember the Clarke machine getting a fair shout in Good Wood two-years-ago though (best of the lot in the Budget range). You could also consider spending that £100 on a second-hand Bosch, Makita, DeWalt or perhaps even Lamello model, via. eBay....? I saved £60 buying a lightly used Makita in February and haven't looked back. 
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They must have changed the ferm slightly as on mine once you have the height adjusted you then tweak up a lever to lock it in place , but yes do admit the fence to be a little bulky , like i said , not the best but sufficient for my "learning needs" , makes some wicked mess if not connected to an extractor though LOL
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 My one also get's quite hot, fence nothing to shout about but OK. Just needs ferm (no pun intended) hand and practice! P J
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 I bought a Clarke BJ600 for £25 and it does exactly what it says on the box!
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 I've got one from Wickes does every thing I want, it would be good to see their full range of tools reviewed , George
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 I too have a Ferm jointer, and heve found it to do all I've ever needed without exception, and at a very good price for a too so sporadically used. Derek.
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 I have got a ferm and an elu mbr100, which is the same as the dewalt 682 I bought the ferm for cutting the bottom of skirting boards prior to installing flooring. I admit that I have never used the ferm for biscuit jointing as the elu does it so well. Yes there are differences between the two, but it does depend on your usage. I bought the elu at a time when I was considering self employment, axminster sent a flyer out offering the elu for £130 (about 5 - 6 years ago). For day in day out usage buy a professional model. If your only going to use it once every now and then, then a budget jointer will serve you well and last for many years. Al
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 I've just been given a Trend T20K as a Birthday present. It is a nice piece of kit and well made. I have no experience with any other biscuit jointer so cannot make comparisons. I have been using it today to make a narrow shelf unit (2 metres x 500) for CD's where I would normally have employed routed housing joints. I found that it was much quicker to complete the job and made very little dust. In my experience Trend is a company you can rely on and thier service is second to none. Malc.
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I also use the ferm and can say that for the price it sure does the job.
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