6″ Helical Jointer – Powermatic, Steel City, Jet?
When he first got into woodworking over years ago he went to Sears for tools. Over the years, and as I became involved in woodworking with him, we both learned there’s a big difference in tool quality and Craftsman is not the way to go. He left this world two years ago and left me with a love for woodworking and all the tools we had accumulated over the years.
It took me a while to return to our shop in our basement. It seemed lonely down there. But I knew I had to get on with life and I missed working with wood. But some of the tools made doing that very hard. He could muscle through it. I can’t or just don’t want to. So I’m cleaning house.
We had a Craftsman jointer that caused him endless frustration and caused me to leave the shop when that happened. I just had it removed and it is now in the garage awaiting warmer weather and a garage sale. I want to replace it with something that will do what it’s supposed to do.
At first I was looking at Delta for a 6” jointer. Our Delta Contractors table saw was the first purchase not from Sears and it elevated his interest and got mine started. (No more expletives coming from the basment!) Some recent research has me wondering if maybe I should look at other brands.
I was on Amazon and looking at Powermatic’s 54HH helical cutterhead jointer. It will have to end up in the garage because of its size, but that’s okay. After all the frustration with the Craftsman jointer I wanted something that not only jointed well and had a longer bed but made changing cutters easy and this looks about as easy as it gets. With the old one no one could even budge the screws holding the blades in!
But I saw Steel City had the same type of cutterhead on one of their jointers. The bed is about the same length and it’s about $200 less. However I know nothing about Steel City tools.
Jet has a helical jointer that has a shorter bed but is about the same price as the Steel City. I have a Jet 18” bandsaw and their 5-1/2” spindle sander. Both are well made. The bandsaw is over ten years old and we’ve never had a problem with it.
The Powermatic looks like it’s made like a tank. Remembering all the vibration I’ve experienced with the old jointer I’m thinking the heftier the jointer the better. The Jet looks like it could tip over. The Steel City jointer weighs about the same as Powermatic and the base looks as stable.
I’m leaning towards the Powermatic because it looks like it will really perform well. I like the Jet because I may be able to get it into the basement shop but I’m worried about performance, especially in difficult woods. What do you think?
If anyone has any input I’d love to hear it. I don’t want to make this purchase and later regret it. Thank you so much for your help.
Julie
Replies
helical head jointer
I purchased the 8" Powermatic with helical head a little over a year ago and am very pleased with it. It's on casters and even so doesn't tend to move around when I don't want it to. The helical hed has performed very well, practically no tearout even when jointing against the grain or around knots. I believe if you ever work with a helical head you'll never want to go back to straight knives.
I'm a believer that with Jointers bigger is better. Length makes jointing larger boards much easier, and in particular wider width makes it possible to face joint a much larger percentage of the available lumber. But, you indicate that you don't believe the Powermatic (66" long) would be relegated to the garage while you might be able to get the Jet at 54" into the basement. That suggests a very tight entrance to the basement.. Remember, a jointer would be transported into basement in at least four separate pieces, the base, the motor, the fence and the main body with the tables. With few exceptions all the jointers on your list would require the assistance of friends, preferably those that are physically fit and can actually obey the injunction that the tables are not handles. I've had 8" jointers in basements including some with hatchway access, and some with stairs--I'd recommend an 8" jointer if budget allows.
If you do continue with the 6" jointer I would seriously consider CraigsList. They are in relatively abundant supply on the used market because many people upgrade to 8" jointers. You would likely be able to find one still in commission so it's operation can be tested, reducing risk in buying used. Finding 8" jointers on the used market is harder, since that size is likely to be as large as most people ever feel they need.
Helical blades are nice, but a bit pricy, and in my opinion, only really needed if you regularly use difficult woods, such as birdseye maple or other figured hardwoods. In my mind, a more important feature is quick set knives, that don't require knive setting jigs and meticulous adjustments. With the quick set knives it is much easier to be confident that machine set up is not causing problems. My personal tradeoff, depending on budget limitatioins, would be to give up helical for larger size, but with quick set knives. (Helical knives are also of a quick set nature--they just have a mounting screw properly torqued into place. )
Of course I have just been second guessing your original question. I haven't used any of the specific machines, I too would lean toward the Powermatic, with a second choice the Jet. Those are under the same parent company., with basically a good reputation. Steel City is much newer, and has had enough financial problems that there have already been some reorganization.
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Grizzly Excellent
For about the same price as the Powermatic 6 inch you can get a Grizzly G0490X 8 inch.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/8-Jointer-w-Spiral-Cutterhead/G0490X
I have one of these and it's oustanding. I've also used a Steel City ten inch tablesaw and a Steel City twenty inch planer. Steel City makes good solid tools - sort of like the old Deltas back when they were still made in the U.S. For example with the Steel City planer the tables can be adjusted so there is no snipe.
Jointer dilemma continues
Steve, the problem with getting the jointer into the basement is purely due to weight. If it broke down into four pieces then maybe the almost 400 pound weight of the PM would be manageable. I did manage to get the Jet bandsaw down with little help and that was almost 300 pounds, but it was a bit scary.
Getting to the knife configuration - I'm "coming off" a Crapsman experience and I did take some figured maple, African mahogany and some other more difficult woods to it and I thought the vibration was going to break my bones. So I'm liking what I read about helical.
The only problem with the 8" jointer is size (and again possibly weight). My basement shop is small right now. The 66" bed of the PM 55HH will mean I'll be working around it and moving it a lot. But I am looking at moving soon and having a larger shop on the first level is one of the things I'll be looking at in a new place. But that could be a year or more off. Still, I don't want to get into a new, roomier place and regret I didn't go with an 8".
I have in the past used all sorts of other methods to put a straight edge on a board or flattening the face. I have to admit I really don't know all a good and properly sized jointer would/could do. I'm thinking it will be one of those "OMG! I've been such an idiot!" moments.
RIght now I'm without a jointer so I'll have to make a decision pretty soon. Thank you all for your help. It's much appreciated.
Julie
Planer Sled
Have you given though to a sled combined with a DW735 and a Byrd head.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=24118
Don
Helical jointer
The jointer is the second most important power tool in most shops, behind only the table saw. Its primary function is to turn twisted, crooked, warped boards into straight, flat boards with a straight square edge. This is the foundation for all subsequent operations, so don't underestimate it's importance. My best advice would be to throw as much money at it as you can afford, and by all means go with the spherical head. Years down the road, you will be glad you did.
8" jointer
Please read my comments of 3/12/11 (8" jointer into basement ) and the advice given to me about concerns of size and weight of a new 8" jointer coming into my basement workshop under General Discussion. I've been using my new Griz G0656P now for 2 weeks and it is a dream machine for a serious hobbiest like myself. I'm using it for red oak and cherry and it is one sweet machine with no need for those special cutter heads that are very expensive. Save yourself some bucks and consider this machine. Good luck.
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