I intend to buy a jointer, and while I would like to buy a larger type of jointer, because of VERY limited space in my shed (due to the other woodworking tools) I’m presently looking at buying a “Bench Top Jointer” such as a Delta model JT160 (http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.asp?e=136&p=942).
However, I do not know what other bench top jointers there are available nor what the pros and cons are from one bench top jointer to the next. I am open to any advise you may have.
I should also note that woodworking is a hobby for me that I’ve been doing for about 2 1/2 years now and I have focused on making small boxes. Therefore, the normal length of wood that I run across a jointer is 32 – 40 inches long and 1 1/2 – 3 inches across.
Thanks,
Adze One
Replies
I'm sorry I took so long to get back to you on this, but I had to do quite a bit of research to track down information on benchtop jointers. They aren't all that common and we have never reviewed them here at FWW.
The Delta jointer seems to come in two models that appear to be virtually identical, the JT160 that you mentioned and a model 37-070. They are all aluminum which keeps the weight down to an easily handled 40 pounds. They have variable speed which is pointless, and don't have an adjustable outfeed table, which makes setting them up for a perfectly flat cut very difficult. The machine needs an accessory plastic attachment costing $28.00 to hook it up to a dust collector. The fence has gotten numerous bad reviews on the Amazon site.
The second machine I found is sold by three companies as the Craftsman 0921788, the Palmgren 84261, and the Shop Fox W1694. Except for the paint color and decals they all seem to be the same machine. They are cast iron which increases their weight to 104 pounds, making the tool too heavy to move easily or store away. They have a built in dust blower that connects the machine directly to a trash can. The Palmgren and the Shop Fox versions are reviewed on the Amazon site and seemed to be well liked overall. Like the Delta, they lack an adjustable outfeed table which is a real draw back in my opinion.
The last jointer I found is the Grizzly 4 inch benchtop jointer which would appear to be of the same basic design as the 6 inch Craftsman/Palmgren/Shop Fox 6 inch machines. I couldn't find much information on the Grizzly. Despite having cast iron tables it still only weighs 28 pounds. Like all of the other benchtop machines, it lacks an adjustable outfeed table.
You can find reviews and prices on all of the machines except the Craftsman on Amazon.com and a number of sites selling them online.
Hope this helps, John White
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