Replies

1. 
   Andrew | Aug 31, 2003 06:40am | #1

   Unless you can find an old rockwell I don't think a decent quality one exists. Usually the little 4" jointers don't have an adjustable outfeed table which is a real pain. Since your working with bass and balsa, maybe you should look into getting a nice handplane. For the small peices you'll be working with it should be fairly fast easy, and in some cases for really small parts, a handplane would be better than a jointer.

   Andrew

1. 
   alanplanesaw | Aug 31, 2003 03:49pm | #2

   A handplane does come in handy for some things.  The jointer is used for a couple of things.  One, to make sure the edge is straight and true.  Sometimes we edge glue a couple of pieces. 

   Second, the fence is angled in order to put a certain degree angle on an edge.  Hard to do accurately with a handplane. 

   It is easier to move a large piece of thin balsa across the jointer knives, than it is to hold the thin balsa and, while using a plane, try not to buckle or bend the balsa such that we wind up without a square or otherwise accurate edge.

   We have considered that we may need to get a 6 inch jointer in order to get the quality and options we want.

   Thanks,

   Alan -- planesaw

   Edited 8/31/2003 8:51:27 AM ET by Alan

2. 
   mike4244 | Sep 01, 2003 04:33am | #3

   Alan, have you considered a handheld planer mounted on a table? I have never tried this ,but it seems like a simple undertaking . It appears you are working with small light pieces of wood, these planers make the cuts easily.Planer could be mounted on laminate.Guard could be simple affair with a steel dowel pivot and screen door spring to close guard.They only run about $100.00. 1/16" would be maximum cut.

   Mike

3. 
   Manchild | Sep 01, 2003 04:40am | #4

   I'm not sure but I think Bosch or some other power planer can be turned upside down witha bench holder of some kind.

   There is also the router table. The fence can be set up to plane stock.

   Went to Festol and there was no upside down planer. My mistake.

   That settup might be too dangerous ( no guard ).

   
   

   ---

   Edited 8/31/2003 9:56:01 PM ET by david

4. 
   milanuk | Sep 01, 2003 10:42pm | #5

   Alan, I know a guy here who has a 4" Rockwell for sale for $175. If you want I can get you his phone #. We are in North Central Washington, so I'm not sure if the shipping would be too much, but maybe you can talk to him about it.

   Drop me an email if you are interested.

   Monte

1. 
   Biscardi | Sep 01, 2003 10:47pm | #6

   AMT went out of buisiness. They made a small table top jointer. If you come across one used, they are not bad for the money.

2. 
   alanplanesaw | Sep 02, 2003 02:54am | #7

   Well, although we have about decided to get a 6" jointer, I am interested in learning more about the Rockwell.

   Any idea where I can see a picture of one?  Is the outfeed table adjustable?

   Thanks,

   Alan -- planesaw

1. 
   ToolDoc | Sep 02, 2003 03:22am | #8

   Alan: To see pictures of old WoodWorking Power tools check out this weB site..,

   http://oldwwmachines.com/     

                                                       ToolDoc

   Edited 9/1/2003 8:22:41 PM ET by TOOLDOC

1. 
   alanplanesaw | Sep 02, 2003 06:42am | #9

   Doc,

   Thanks.  I just discovered the website earlier today.  Didn't find what I was looking for there, but it is a fantastic website.  I have added it to my "favorites."

   Someone has emailed me saying they have a Rockwell for sale.  Says they don't know anything about whether or not the tables are adjustable, but says there are knobs on each end.  Any idea if that means adjustability or not?

   Alan -- planesaw

1. 
   ToolDoc | Sep 02, 2003 02:13pm | #10

   Alan: Sorry I really have no idea if the older Rockwell/Deltas had adjustable tables or not..

                                          ToolDoc

2. 
   TKanzler | Sep 02, 2003 04:14pm | #11

   Here are a couple of pictures of the Delta (or Rockwell International, or Rockwell/Delta, or Delta Milwaukee, depending on the era) 4" Precision Jointer on the standard flare-leg stand (this one has the optional casters), which was the most common 4" jointer they made.  It has adjustable in- and out-feed tables.  Some Homecraft jointers were similar, or the same even but with knobs instead of cranks; I'm not sure about them.  I have this jointer, which I bought new in the 70's, and it's fine for small work, but it really is a small machine.  I'm keeping it because I already own it (bought it new when I was in high school), but if I was going to spend any money at all for a jointer now, I'd buy a 6" with long bed.Be seeing you...

   
3. 
   TKanzler | Sep 02, 2003 04:20pm | #12

   Messed up the attachments.  Here's another try.Be seeing you...

   
4. 
   alanplanesaw | Sep 02, 2003 04:25pm | #13

   Tom,

   Thanks for the photos.  I know a couple of guys who will be looking for a good used Rockwell around the mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S.  They do a lot of remote control "model" airplane building.  The 4" size works great for them.

   Thanks for taking time to post the photos.

   Alan -- planesaw

2. 
   mike4244 | Sep 03, 2003 02:01am | #14

   The outfeed table is adjustable. If it wasn't I would still have it.I sold the jointer years ago because the outfeed table would not stay in position. Even with Rockwell Delta tech help it would slip down and ruin the work. I'm not saying all of these jointers were like mine, I imagine it was a lemon. I paid $75.00  for it brand new with a 1/2 hp motor, JC Penny  at one time had small power tools . They decided not to carry tools and sold off their inventory very cheap. This jointer would run fine for weeks, then suddenly the outfeed table slips.

1. 
   JohnWW | Sep 03, 2003 03:37pm | #15

   Mike and All,

   I own a 50's vintage 4" Delta and they're beautifully made machines.  They weigh a lot for their size and are very well engineered, basically they're miniature versions of industrial jointers. 

   The gibs and height adjustment mechanisms on both the infeed and outfeed tables are totally conventional and once adjusted properly shouldn't have given you any problems.  Its a shame that you couldn't get your's set up properly.  Factory support is often mediocre at best, but in all fairness it can be very hard to diagnose a problem over the phone.

   John W.

1. 
   mike4244 | Sep 03, 2003 08:39pm | #16

   John, a tech came to the house and worked on the jointer for about two hours. We thought the problem was fixed, several weeks later same thing happened.I had to wait three weeks the first time I contacted Delta, techs are from northern part of the state i live in and come down when there are several places they visit. As I said , the jointer worked perfect when set up, but wouldn't hold the setting. I never adjusted the outfeed tables for height. Probably worked out for the best, I learned how to plane by hand. I did not contact Delta again as I got disgusted and sold it.

   Mike

2. 
   JohnWW | Sep 03, 2003 09:16pm | #17

   Well that puts a different spin on it.  That jointer is so simple and so well made, at least the vintage that I had, that any competent tech should have been able to identify and correct the problem easily within two hours. 

   In fact, that he took two hours suggests he didn't really understand how the machine worked and how to diagnose and repair it.  Without rushing I could easily disassemble and reassemble that model in two hours and if there were anything wrong it would have been corrected in the process.  Sorry to hear you had so much trouble.

   John W.