Replies

1. 
   try50772 | Feb 03, 2007 07:18am | #1

   Take a look at owwm.com and browse the photo gallerey for the makers you want.

2. 
   Troy | Feb 03, 2007 07:51am | #2

   I would second the owwm.com website there is a lot of great information on that site. Also a very funny site, some of the members seem to collect old machinary like some people collect hand planes:) Anyway good luck.

   Troy

3. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 03, 2007 05:49pm | #3

   The old Craftsman jointers were weird, to say the least. I bought -- no, I attempted to buy -- two of them at different times. Both had outfeed tables with a huge hump. No way could a board come out straight. Also, the fence was attached to the outfeed table making adjustment awkward. That feature led to an accident when using a friend's Craftsman jointer.

   As inexpensive as new jointers are today and with distributors competing in an apparent price war, why buy something that needs nursing back to health? The stuff coming from Asia is of good quality. It is made from patterns exported from the US. Some people are even praising the quality of Horrible Freight's jointers. My humble opinion: get a new one and make some shavings right away -- unless your pleasure comes from being a mechanic rather than a woodworker.

   Cadiddlehopper

1. 
   try50772 | Feb 03, 2007 06:45pm | #5

   Often times you can get a used jointer for the same or better price than an import. I paid $350 for a well used but in nice shape Powermatic 6" Jointer. Nice machine and the drive was shorter than the trip to Grizzly, and I now have an American made machine.
   If you buy a good quality older tool you must make sure that it has all the features you would want on a new one too. 3 or 4 knives, jackscrews in the cutter head, good knives, solid motor and good switch set.

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 04, 2007 03:12am | #8

   Actually, I got a new machine with features not available on used machines for the same $$ paid for used ones on ebay including shipping. To my chagrin, the dealer sells it for less today with yet more refinements! It was a pain watching ebay and other used sources also. Then there is the warranty......Cadiddlehopper

4. 
   mudman | Feb 03, 2007 05:58pm | #4

   Sounds like you are describing a parallelagram table jointer. They are generally considered better because anyone can adjust the tables if they get out of allignment, wheare as a dovetail (the wedge lookin') table is a lot more difficult for the inexperienced. By inexperienced I mean anyone who hasn't spent a few years as a machine repair tech. However it is unlikely that your jointer will ever need adjustment no matter what you buy.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   bilyo | Feb 04, 2007 08:30am | #9

   Thanks to Mudman for the parallelogram term. That's what I was looking for. I did a google search and found that it is a different mechanizm for adjusting the tables that is smoother, more precise, keeps the outfeed table closer to the cutterhead, and makes it easier to maintain adjustments. Also, seems to be more expensive. Thanks to everyone for your tips and opinions.
   Bilyo

5. 
   BruceS | Feb 04, 2007 12:28am | #6

   Be carefull some of those "low slung" jointers had a  NON ADJUSTABLE  Outfeed table.  Avoid them like the plague. 

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

   
   

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   Edited 2/3/2007 5:14 pm ET by BruceS

6. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Feb 04, 2007 02:56am | #7

   B, be careful, Sears for several years made real junk in an attempt to save money. One of those was the white metal and light tin RAS, the other was a 6" jointer with a bad cast iron fixed out feed table, I wouldn't give you $25 for it with an up graded motor on it. Look out. Paddy