Porter-Cable 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit
by Porter-Cable

List Price: $412.90
Our Price: $207.99
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Category: Tools
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Product Details

• Plate joiner kit handles a variety of wood and offers seven different cutting settings
• Industry-leading, super powerful 7-amp motor rotates blade at 10,000 RPM
• Fence tilts from 0 degrees to 135 degrees with positive adjustable stop at 90 degrees
• Four-inch blade makes standard-size cuts
• Comes with 4-inch blade, centering plate, spanner wrench, dust bag, and chip deflector

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Description of Porter-Cable 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit

557 Deluxe Plate Joiner Kit At a Glance: Plate Joiner kit offers seven cutting settings to handle a variety of joining applications Includes 4-inch blade for standard-size cuts Innovative fence system with pivot point provides accurate height readings Measures 7 inches high and weighs 7-1/2 pounds

This plate joiner handles a wide range of joining applications and features a 7-amp motor with a rotating blade. View larger.

Industry-Best Motor and Adjustment Knob Provide Power and Precision
The 557 owes its robust performance to a powerful 7 amp, 120-volt motor that rotates the blade at 10,000 rpm. The fence tilts from 0 to 135 degrees for east placement of both inside and outside corner registrations. A positive adjustable stop at 90 degrees and a micro-height adjustment knob ensure proper biscuit positioning for precision and versatility. For optimum control and stability during cuts, the bale handle is attached to the fence rather than the motor.

Advanced Fence System for Precision and Accuracy
Complete with a lock-on trigger, the 557 boasts an innovative fence system with a pivot point that provides accurate height readings, as well as a fencing plate for stabilization, centering, and spacing. A keyhole-slotted blade cover and spindle lock make for quick and easy blade removal and changing, while seven cutting settings tackle a range of biscuit sizes and fastening accessories.

Two Blade Sizes for Standard and Face-Frame Biscuits
The 557 offers a technologically advanced system accepting two blades both standard and face frame biscuits. The 4-inch blade is for standard-size cuts, while the optional 2-inch blade (#5559, sold separately) easily handles cuts as small as 1-1/2 inches.

Additionally, a seven-position rotating depth stop works for standard #0, #10, #20 as well as Simplex, Duplex, and Max (#6) joinery.

Compact for Portability and Comfortable Handling
For easy portability, handling, and storage, the 557 has a height of 7 inches and weighs just 7-1/2 pounds.

What's in the Box
Plate joiner, #5558 4-inch blade, #888776 centering plate, #883175 dust bag, #886490 chip deflector, #891869 Allen wrench, carrying case, and operating manual.

Bale handle is attached to the fence for control during detailed cuts.

Tools and Hardware Reviews of Porter-Cable 557 7 Amp Plate Joiner Kit

Customer Review: Great Machine!
Summary: 5 Stars

GENERAL PHYSICAL IMPRESSIONS:
Even more than the DeWalt, the Porter+Cable is a really well-built machine. It feels strong and solid in your hands. When you place it on a surface, it gives an impression of being nicely centered.

The large handle at the front of the machine is in just the right spot, giving you a good firm grip on the machine when you plunge into the wood. Grabbing this handle and pushing down sets the unit right where it needs to be on the work surface and against the wood that will receive the biscuit. Nice engineering!

The fence is well made with an easy-to-read degree scale and metal parts. Some of the other cheaper units on the market have more plastic.

The base of the unit is perfectly flat.

The carrying case that comes with this unit is sturdy and useful, and the machine sets down securely inside.

USAGE:
The biscuit-size-selection knob is easy to read, with large white numbers. It clicks firmly into place. This unit can do all the common sizes (0, 10, 20) as well as the face-frame (ff) setting for cabinet work. Not all biscuit joiners have the ff setting.

The centering mark is a red line, easy to read while looking down from the top of the machine. It is very simple to line up the centering mark with your biscuit centers. When plunging, the non-skid surface does a good job of preventing the unit from shifting. However, I suggest putting your wood against a firm backing or clamping it down to the work surface so you can apply full pressure when plunging. I would not suggest holding your work down with your hands. Some people do this, and it is a bad idea.

The motor is powerful, and the included blade is good quality. I've put biscuits in hard maple, ash, oak, cherry, as well as poplar and pine. This machine never hesitates, plunging easily and smoothly. There is a trigger to turn the machine on and off, or you can set the unit to run continuously, which is helpful when cutting a series of slots.

The fence adjusts easily for times when you want to put a biscuit in a miter joint or other angled surface. I hardly use this function -- most of my biscuit joints are at 90 degrees.

DUST COLLECTION:
The 557 has great dust collection. When hooked up to a vacuum or dust collector, at least 90% of the dust is picked up. This was a pleasant surprise for me. The dust collection hose is located in a convenient spot, tailing off the back of the machine and at an angle so it is not in the way during operation. I strongly suggest using dust collection. If dust isn't picked up, your machine eventually doesn't sit flush on the work surface and you have to keep stopping to vacuum up. But if you have the machine hooked up to a dust collector, you can zoom from one cut to the next without stopping.

In addition to working better, dust collection is very important for your health -- you don't want to breathe in that dust!

CONCLUSION:
If you use biscuits in your woodworking and you are looking for a well-made machine, this one is great. It offers all the features you need for easy biscuit operation, with great dust collection.

Hardware

• Tools & Home Improvement > Categories > Hardware
• Power Tools > Plate Joiners