Porter-Cable 557 7.5 Amp Plate Joiner
by Porter-Cable
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Product Details
Manufacturer: Porter-CableModel: 557
Product features:
- Plate joiner kit handles a variety of wood and offers seven different cutting settings
- Industry-leading, super powerful 7.5 Amp motor rotates blade at 10,000 RPM
- Four-inch blade makes standard-size cuts; two-inch blade easily handles cuts as fine as 1-1/2 inches
- Measures seven inches in height and weighs 7.5 pounds; 1-year warranty
- Comes with two blades, centering plate, spanner wrench, dust bag, and chip deflector
- Porter-Cable 5559 2-Inch, 4 Tooth Plate Joiner Blade
- Porter-Cable 5554 1000 Assorted Biscuits
- Porter-Cable 5553 No. 20 Biscuits (1,000-Pack)
- Porter-Cable 5552 20-by-52-Millimeter No. 10 Biscuits, 1,000-Pack
- Porter-Cable 5551 No. 0 Biscuits (1,000-Pack)
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Porter-Cable 557 7.5 Amp Plate Joiner
Customer Review: zero quality control
Summary: 4 Stars
I got mine and the motor shaft was bent making the blade wobble and the slot 6/32" wide versus 5/32". Unworkable, since the purpose of biscuits is to align parts accurately. Depth gauge was off by 1/16", adjusted that. Zero degrees adjustment was way off. Doesn't anyone have QC anymore? I suppose it just goes into the box in China and is shipped to the distribution center in the States and the quality check is the number of customer returns (?).
I exchanged my bad unit for a new one and it was OK.
More comments: The fence looks a bit on the thin side and it's only supported on one side by the angle gauge bracket. I'm concerned that a good knock might bend it.
The fence was pretty flat in all directions. The fence moves on two steel rods with a fine screw adjust for slot height. This is a nice solid design. The fence angle indicator is large and easily read and reads up to 135 degrees. This is also a nice design.
If you have narrow stock and need to join a rail to a face frame you must use the plastic fence insert because of the missing material in the center of the fence near the blade (no support there makes it a bit unstable).
I decided to keep mine because of the 2" blade and possibility of doing 1.5" face frames, and the over-all quality seems pretty good on the second unit. But buyers beware--statistically speaking if I got a bent motor shaft--then there are likely to be more out there. I assume that the other mfg's have the same quality problems except for Festool and Lamello (x4 price markup).
All in all this method of biscuit joinery beats the heck out of doing it with a router.
I can zap out biscuit slots at 10 seconds per slot very accurately.
By the way I noticed that Porter Cable blades are much more expensive than CMT ; $45 for PC versus $22 for CMT with teflon coating. These blades are perfectly interchangeable.
Description of Porter-Cable 557 7.5 Amp Plate Joiner
Whether you're a professional or weekend warrior, the Porter-Cable 557 uses carbide blades, offers a host of cutting options, and delivers precise, reliable results. No matter what type of wood you're working with, this high-performance joiner kit gives you optimum control. Perhaps the most important feature of the 557 is its 7.5 Amp motor--an industry leader--which rotates the blade at 10,000 RPM. There's also an innovative fence system with a pivot point that provides accurate height readings, and a fencing plate for stabilization, centering, and spacing; a keyhole-slotted blade cover and spindle lock for quick and easy blade removal and changing; and seven different cutting settings for a range of fasteners. Additionally, the 557 offers a technologically advanced biscuit for the construction of cabinet face frames. An included four-inch blade makes standard-size cuts, while a two-inch blade easily handles cuts as minute as 1-1/2 inches. Finally, a micro height-adjust knob enables proper biscuit positioning, and a tilting system gives you the freedom to place the fence from zero to 135 degrees. The 557 comes with a 1-year warranty, 30-day performance certification, and the following: joiner, four-inch carbide blade #5558, two-inch blade #5559, spanner wrench #886041, dust bag #883175, chip deflector #886490, carrying case, and instruction manual.Plate Joiners Tools
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