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When tackling a woodworking project that requires joinery, it’s easy to spend hours carefully crafting complicated joints to make the piece solid and strong. Or choose the alternative: use one of the best biscuit joiners to create stronger joints faster, with greater accuracy and less fuss.
The Porter Cable 557 biscuit joiner features a spinning cutter that plunges into workpieces to cut crescent-shaped slots for biscuits. Once glued and inserted into the slots, compressed wood biscuits expand slightly and create a stronger joint than a conventional wood-to-wood bond.
As a professional woodworker, I rely on biscuit joints when making furniture and building cabinetry for both speed and strength. I tested the Porter Cable joiner in my workshop for several weeks to evaluate its features, ease of use, and overall value, and I liked what I found.
Tested Top Pick
Porter Cable 557 Biscuit Joiner
Our rating: Ease of Use: 4.5, Accuracy: 5, Value: 4.5
| Porter Cable 557 Specs | |
| Motor | 7.5 Amp, 120 V |
| Speed: | 10,000 RPM |
| Cutting Depth: | 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and 1 inch for a variety of biscuit sizes |
| Dust Collection: | A standard 1-inch vacuum hose can be attached to the dust port. A dust bag attaches to the port via a spring clip |
| Fence: | Adjustable pivot fence tilts from 0 to 135 degrees, with an adjustable stop at 90 degrees |
| Blade Size: | 4-inch carbide-tipped blade |
| Weight: | Approximately 7.5 lbs |
| Ergonomic Handle: | Bale handle is attached to the fence for greater stability and control during cuts |
| Guide: | Includes a fence and alignment plate to provide added support for narrow material and index marks for center cuts |
| Biscuit Sizes: | Compatible with FF, #0, #10, #20, Simplex, Duplex, and Max (#6) biscuits |
Testing the Porter Cable 557
I put the Porter Cable 557 through a series of tests, evaluating both straight and angled cuts into solid hardwood while using the adjustable fence and depth adjuster. Since I primarily use a biscuit joiner for casework, I tested the tool’s precision on plywood by making shelves and a face frame. I also evaluated its ease of setup and adjustment. Most importantly, I tested the 557’s accuracy on each cut, down to micro adjustments.
For a final test, I built a standing V-shelf bookcase joined entirely with #10 biscuits using thinner half-inch–thick solid wood, which is a challenge not all biscuit joiners can handle. This allowed me to confirm whether the 557 joiner could manage the smallest cuts, which are best for face frames, as well as the largest cuts for joining boards for a tabletop and cabinet assembly.
What We Like:
- Excellent grip on cutting face
- Face frame setting
- Adjustable fence tilts from 0 to 135 degrees
- Quick-set micro adjustment
What We Don’t Like:
- Doesn’t come with biscuits or a 2-inch blade
Features: A game changer for angled joinery and face framing
A standout feature of the Porter Cable 557 is its fence angle range, which tilts from 0 to 135 degrees. This range makes it ideal for angled joinery and face frames, providing full support of the fence while cutting. The broad fence angle range also allowed me to set the joiner on the face of a mitered joint. The grip runs along the entire face of the tool that contacts the workpiece, similar to skateboard deck tape, providing a secure hold during angled cuts.
The 557 has smooth height adjustments, with a knob on the top of the fence and a separate knob on the left of the fence to lock the height into place. This model also has a micro-depth adjustment for perfectly placing the biscuit slots, and it can use two blade options: a 4-inch blade for standard biscuits and a 2-inch blade for face frame biscuits, though the 2-inch blade is not included.
Accessories: Adapter plate and 2-inch blade for frames
The Porter Cable 557 biscuit joiner comes with an adapter plate that comes in handy when working with thinner stock and narrow pieces of wood. The joiner can cut a slot centered ⅜ inch from the base, which is too high for the ½-inch stock I used for the bookcase build. By attaching the adapter plate to the joiner base, I could cut at a lower slot position when working with thicker wood that would otherwise place the slot too high. The marking gauge on the adapter plate helps maintain precise cuts for a range of woodworking projects.
The 2-inch blade, sold separately, expands the joiner’s functionality by allowing for smaller slots tailored to face frame (FF) biscuits. This is especially beneficial for assembling plywood cabinet FFs or joining thin stock, where a standard biscuit slot would be too large and would compromise structural integrity.
Ease of Use:
Throughout testing, the Porter Cable 557 stood out for its user-friendly design and effortless cuts. Its fence adjusts up and down without racking and stays perfectly square, which is important for accurate slot alignment.
The adjustment and locking knobs, which are large and easy to set up, are located on the right side of the fence, so you only have to use one hand to make adjustments. There’s also a trigger lock that’s helpful when cutting a series of slots at one time, again freeing up one hand to align the joiner for the cuts.
The 7.5-amp motor provided ample power for precise cuts while preventing the tool from bogging down on harder woods. There is some motor torque, so be sure to trigger it first, let it come to speed, and then cut. I never felt like I had to force the tool; I just guided it as the motor did the heavy lifting.
Trust Us: This is a Tool You Don’t Want to Skimp On
When choosing a biscuit cutter, woodworkers can’t afford to choose the cheapest option without considering performance. When I got my first one, I went with a bargain model since it wasn’t the most frequently used tool in my shop. But I soon realized that investing in a quality biscuit joiner with a wide tilt range of 135 degrees to keep the tool stable when cutting a slot for the biscuit makes a real difference, and can save money in the long run. Otherwise, woodworkers risk getting wood cut and mitered, only to discover that their inexpensive joiner doesn’t have the necessary wide tilt setting—wasting the wood, time, and energy that has gone into a project that can’t be finished for lack of a proper tool.
You can buy the Porter Cable 557 at Lowe’s or Amazon.
Product Comparisons
| Specs: | Porter Cable 557 Joiner See our review. | Wen JN8504 8.5-Amp Plate and Biscuit Joiner See our review. | DeWalt DCW682B 20V Max XR Cordless Biscuit Joiner See our review. | Makita PJ7000 Plate Joiner See our review. |
| Biscuit Sizes | FF, #0, #10, #20, simplex, duplex, and max (#6) biscuits | #0, #10, and #20 | #0, #10, #20 biscuits | #0, #10, and #20 |
| Fence Frame Tilt | 0 to 135 | 0 to 90 | 0 to 90 | 0 to 90 |
| Power Source | Corded | Corded | 20V Battery | Corded |
So, is the Porter Cable 557 right for you?
I’ve worked with cordless and corded biscuit models over the past ten years, and I can say with confidence that this biscuit joiner, the Porter Cable 557 should be at the top of every DIYer or woodworker’s list. Whether making cabinets, furniture, or joining boards, this tool delivers accuracy, power, and ease of use.
What makes the Porter Cable 557 a great value is that it offers the features that experienced woodworkers need while still being accessible to beginners, with its easy adjustments and comprehensive manual. The manual details how to create essential joints, including corner joints, surface “T” joints (where a fixed shelf meets the sides of a cabinet), and butt and miter joints.
As mentioned earlier, one of the 557’s most valuable features is its adjustable fence, which tilts from 0 to 135 degrees—a feature many entry-level joiners lack. The 557 also supports a range of biscuit sizes, including the small FF biscuits used for picture frames, small boxes, and face frames, which are the vertical stiles and horizontal rails that surround the front of a cabinet.
Cheaper models often struggle to maintain a parallel plane without further fine-tuning, resulting in misaligned joints. But with the Porter Cable 557, adjustments are easy to make, and the fence stays parallel to the blade.
Another difference between cheaper biscuit joiners and this one is in their power, which affects the joiner’s accuracy. While some lower-end biscuit joiners struggle with dense hardwoods, causing tear-outs and ragged edges, the 557’s 7.5-amp motor powered through my oak and maple hardwoods without hesitation, leaving clean slots every time.
The Porter Cable 557 biscuit joiner is a solid pick for anyone who wants accurate cuts with minimal fuss. Its adjustable fence and reliable power make it a great choice for everything from basic cabinetry to more advanced angled joinery. For most DIYers, this biscuit joiner won’t disappoint.
Meet the Tester
Cathy Harms is an award-winning woodworker, teaching artist, and writer covering a range of topics, including woodworking, home improvement, tool selection, and DIY for a variety of publications. She takes an honest, detailed approach to product reviews, offering in-depth insights on tools, woodworking techniques, and DIY solutions to help readers make informed decisions.
