So….I read the Yorkcraft review and was intrigued. I am glad to see names that I am personally unfamiliar with (I lead a sheltered life) get high marks.
Does anyone have this machine? I would like to hear some real-world testimonials. Any feedback on close seconds? Price for me is an issue, so it’s hard to believe that this machine can be so well received and inexpensive (comparitively).
Thanks all!
Replies
No experience with Yorkcraft. Most everyone seems to like them and I can't argue with that. I've had 3 jointers, the first was a Craftsman 6" open stand model with the fence attached to the infeed end - the fence was a pain to adjust and it would deflect some - I wouldn't recommend that model for sure. Second was a new Jet closed stand model which fit, finish and functionality would compare favorably with about anything out there - even came with an extra set of knives. It actually made no more noise than a sewing machine when idling. I've got a bigger jointer now but I bought it used and paid less than I did for the Jet.
The Yorkcraft is about identical to the Delta 37-195 and 37-275x complete with the rack and pinion fence adjustment. It also has a built in mobile base. I don't own it, but have read lots of positives about it.
Have Yorkcraft 8". The big issue about acquiring it was shipping cost. Check that out. Your total cost may be more than for another product. Unlike Grizzly, Wilke does not have 3 warehouses spread across the country. I paid as much as I would have for a Grizzly, but the fence on the Yorkcraft pleased me much more personally. With the 8" unit, the mobile base has proved to be a worthwhile feature. It may not be too important on the 6".
Since my purchase, Grizzly seems to have gotten the edge pricewise, at least for 8" units. BTW, I feel that I should have settled for 6".
Cadiddlehopper
Boss, I have the JET 6" Jointer. Unless you can score one the incredible deals from Amazon(I have heard of guys picking up the Delta 6" for around $300-Amazon has been running some hellacious deals early this year), I would jump on that Ridgid at HD.
I really believe the Ridgid at Home Depot represents one outstanding value. I like the wider base-just looks like it would give a lot of stability. I believe most of these Jointers are so similar that it won't make a great deal of difference. I've looked over other Jointers and tried to compare my Jet and other than the front handwheels, they are all...almost eerily similar. Now, I can't speak to the quality of the castings and the quality of the iron and all that stuff like some guys...but you can pick up that Ridgid for about $320 if you jump on that Credit Card deal they have going(10 percent off).
Edited 4/14/2006 1:01 am ET by woodk2
Wow!!! Thanks for all the info and suggestions! I never considered the shipping issue regarding Yorkcraft. I wil definitely check into that. I hadn't considered the Grizzly only because I have never really read or seen too much on them. Any other opinions on their jointers would be appreciated.I don't know why I have never considered Ridgid. I never consider Home
Depot the place to buy really good tools. I presently have an AMT 6" jointer that is nothing short of a nightmare to keep true. Does anyone else have this machine? If you think this is machine is sh!t, please say so. My feelings won't be hurt. I am trying to decide if I should invest my time and really get the machine to 100% or toss it and buy a different one.
My Grizzly 6" jointer has been excellent, and the feedback I read from others is overwhelmingly positive too. Wood picked the Griz 1182 as top tool in 2001. For a long time they rolled out of the same factory as the Jet, GI, Bridgewood, Sunhill, Woodtek and others. FWIW, Griz's shipping is a constant within the lower 48 states. Shipping on the YC is reasonable if you're not too far away. If you're on the left coast it'll be outragious... if you are out there, look at the Sunhill too!
I live in VA so shipping from Wilke is reasonable but Grizzly is a bit puzzling. The 8" Grizzly 586 as I recall is around $140 (no liftgate) but the 490 which is substantially heavier is around $90 shipping. I called customer service to see if maybe it was a misprint (I'm shopping for a jointer) and the lady in customer service (who seemed to go out of her way to be UNhelpful) said there wasn't any good reason for the discrepancy - it just was that way. She also couldn't tell me what differences there were between the old model 500 that got good reviews in FWN and the new 586 which is quite a bit cheaper except to say it was manufactured in a different place.
"She also couldn't tell me what differences there were between the old model 500 that got good reviews in FWN and the new 586 which is quite a bit cheaper except to say it was manufactured in a different place." You'll need a tech support person to get that information.
What was this "unhelpful" person's name? Maybe she's the source of much of the bad press their getting, ROFL!!!! I'm convinced that they have two or three CS reps back east who are paid by Delta to be mean to customers <g>.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
My Grizzly catalog shows $135 shpg for Griz 0586 and $85 for 0490. Weights are shown as 558# and 461# respectively.Cadiddlehopper
Dear Boss,
I have a Powermatic 6" that I upgraded with the Byrd "Shelix" cutterhead. If I had to do it again, I would get the 8". I hear good things about Yorkcraft, just watch the shipping costs. Good Luck!
John
I bought the Rigid at HD. No problems so far.
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