DeWalt 20V MAX XR Brushless Biscuit Joiner

Why I reached for a cordless biscuit joiner

I’ve relied on corded biscuit joiners for years because they’re simple, reliable, and I never have to think about batteries during long glue-ups. But on recent builds—edge-joining wide panels in a client’s garage and cutting slots for mitered face frames—I wanted the freedom to move around without wrangling a power cord and dust hose. That’s what prompted me to spend time with the DeWalt biscuit joiner. After several projects in hardwoods and sheet goods, I’m comfortable saying this cordless option is both capable and thoughtfully designed, with a few trade-offs to keep in mind.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box, the joiner ships as a bare tool. You’ll need a 20V DeWalt battery and charger. It includes a 4-inch blade, dust bag, AirLock-compatible dust port, an angled port, and the wrenches needed for blade changes. Fit and finish are solid. Nothing rattles, the plunge action is smooth, and the dual rack-and-pinion fence tracks evenly without twisting as you adjust height.

The controls are all tool-free for day-to-day use: height, depth, and bevel lock quickly and stay put. The depth knob has clear detents for #0, #10, and #20 biscuits, plus room for fine-tuning. I checked those settings against actual slot depth, and they were on the nose for standard biscuits, which meant no fiddling mid-project.

Fence accuracy and alignment

Fence quality is where a biscuit joiner earns its keep. The dual rack-and-pinion setup keeps the fence parallel to the blade face as you raise and lower it. That translates to better alignment across glue-ups—if you reference from your show faces, you get flush panels without fighting a step at every joint. On a pair of 6-foot maple panels, my alignment was consistently flush to the touch and required only a few passes with a hand plane to finish.

The bevel range runs 0°–90°, which I used for mitered casing returns and a 45° plywood corner. The bevel lock is positive and didn’t drift. The fence face is flat and broad enough to feel stable on edge grain, and the reference marks are easy to see under shop lighting.

Performance and cut quality

The brushless motor has ample torque for #20 slots in hard maple and white oak. I never felt it bog down on typical plunges. Just as important, the plunge mechanism has very little lateral play, so slots are clean and repeatable. The blade brakes quickly when you come off the paddle switch, which makes repositioning safer and speeds up workflow during repetitive cuts.

I tested both the included blade and a fresh aftermarket one; cut quality was crisp in both solid wood and veneered plywood with minimal fuzzing. As with any biscuit joiner, a firm, square registration against your workpiece is key—do that, and the joiner rewards you with reliable slots.

Dust collection

Cordless or not, dust collection matters. I ran the joiner with three setups:
- No vac, dust bag attached
- 35 mm hose to a standard shop vac
- DeWalt AirLock hose to a dust extractor

The dust bag is better than most I’ve used. It inflated properly, didn’t clog, and captured the majority of chips in hardwood. For indoor work, pairing it with a vac and the angled port dramatically improves chip capture—virtually no chips escaped during edge plunges, and only a trace of dust lingered on long runs. If you’re working in a finished space, I’d plan on using a vac.

Ergonomics and controls

At 5.5 pounds without a battery, the joiner balances nicely, especially with a compact 2.0Ah pack. The paddle switch is ambidextrous and easy to feather with gloves, and the grip texture is comfortable during longer sessions. The body sits low, which keeps the tool stable on narrow edges. I appreciate the retractable anti-slip pins on the fence—they can grab slick surfaces when you need them or retract if you’re working on a show face you don’t want to mark.

Noise and vibration are well controlled for a small cutter spinning fast in wood. After multiple glue-ups in a day, I wasn’t fatigued or chasing the tool around the board.

Battery life and power

Battery life will depend on your stock and biscuit size, but I ran through two full panel glue-ups (roughly 200 plunges) on a 5.0Ah pack with charge to spare. A 2.0Ah pack handled a small cabinet build comfortably. If you expect a full day of repetitive biscuiting, a 5.0Ah battery is the sweet spot. The brushless motor’s efficiency shows—you get corded-like power without feeling like you’re on a short leash.

One note: because the dust port and hose add a bit of drag, running cordless is especially welcome. You’re only managing one tether (the hose) instead of two.

Blade changes and maintenance

Blade swaps are straightforward with the included spanner. The T20 Torx wrench tucks into the kit, so you’re not hunting for the right driver. The guard mechanism is robust and clears chips well. Keep the fence rails clean and give them a light wipe with dry lube; the rack-and-pinion system stays smooth if you don’t let dust cake up.

Where it shines

• Panel glue-ups and tabletops where consistent alignment is more important than brute strength
• Working in client homes or garages without easy access to power
• Mitered corners on casework and trim, thanks to the dependable bevel fence
• Users already invested in DeWalt 20V batteries who want to avoid another corded tool

In these scenarios, the joiner’s accuracy, dust control, and cordless convenience combine to speed up the job and reduce cleanup.

Limitations and nitpicks

• Bare tool only: budget for batteries and a charger if you’re not on DeWalt’s 20V platform.
• The anti-slip pins are a little aggressive on softwoods; retract them for finished faces to avoid dimples.
• Like all biscuit joiners, it’s an alignment tool, not a structural fastener. If you’re joining thick stock or need high-strength joints, consider domino tenons or traditional joinery.
• The dust bag, while effective, still benefits from periodic emptying during long sessions; a vac is the better choice when feasible.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they’re realistic considerations if this will be your first biscuit joiner.

Alternatives

If you’re already happy with a corded model and rarely work away from power, a good corded joiner will still serve you well. High-end options with proprietary cutters can offer even smoother plunges and more refined fences, but at a substantial price premium. The DeWalt sits in a very practical middle ground: pro-ready accuracy and features with the convenience of cordless.

Warranty and support

DeWalt backs the tool with a 3-year limited warranty, 1 year of free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That’s a solid safety net for a tool that may become a regular in your rotation.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt biscuit joiner for woodworkers and installers who value accurate alignment, strong dust collection, and the flexibility of cordless operation. It’s reliable, easy to set up, and precise enough for panel glue-ups, casework, and mitered assemblies. If you’re already in DeWalt’s 20V ecosystem, it’s an easy add. The only reasons to pass would be if you exclusively work at a bench with dedicated corded dust extraction and want to minimize battery management, or if your joinery demands exceed what biscuits are intended to do. For most woodworking and onsite builds, this joiner strikes a smart balance of performance and convenience.