Replies

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 20, 2003 05:48am | #1

   Rocky: Any thoughts yes have you looked at the new Grizzly G0500 ???

                                          ToolDoc

   Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 20, 2003 09:19am | #2

   Are you looking at the fence, or at a picture of the fence?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   Timberwerks | Oct 20, 2003 03:47pm | #3

   I have the DJ-20 and the fence is very sturdy and solid. I have had the machine for over three years and it has always performed flawlessly. I have not seen the Powermatic but I am sure it is also a good machine.

   Dale

4. 
   BenA | Oct 20, 2003 04:59pm | #4

   Two other points on the Power Matic 60A

   2Hp. motor on PM 60A and delta is only 1 1/2HP., and cuts per minute is 21,000, on PM and delta is 16,500. Two more things to consider.

   Good luck

5. 
   PnCbWshp | Oct 21, 2003 12:25am | #5

   I second everything Rocky said. I too own a DJ-20 - could not be happier with it unless it was 12" wide. Everything works smooth and its easy to adjust.

   I also own green machines and think tooldoc's advise to check out the Griz is a good thing to do. Good Luck.

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 21, 2003 07:01am | #7

   To check out a Nice review on the Grizzly G0500 go to this web site theres a review there....   http://sawsndust.com/   

                                        ToolDoc

   Proud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

   Edited 10/21/2003 12:02:15 AM ET by TOOLDOC

1. 
   tbhs1964 | Oct 22, 2003 03:11am | #8

   I have had some bad experiences with Grizzly.  i prefer not to purchase their machinery again.  I lea toward the DJ-20.

1. 
   ToolDoc | Oct 22, 2003 06:40am | #9

   Rocky: its your choice,after all your forking out the Bucks..By the way theres nothing wrong with the Delta DJ20,its a fine pc of machinery..I know its always a tough job trying to pick one,I looked at the Delta & Sun Hill & BridgeWood jointers before buying my Grizzly..

                                        ToolDocProud Member of the Delta & Klein Tradesman Club & Milwaukee HD Club & Knots Bad Boys & Girls Club..

   A Non ~ Member of the Knots Bandsaw Guru Club..

1. 
   tbhs1964 | Nov 09, 2003 04:50am | #10

   Any one have the PM60B?

2. 
   jpohja | Nov 09, 2003 06:02am | #11

   rocky: I just replaced my 6" powermatic with the 60B. The 60B is very similar to the 54a, just larger.Fit and finish is excellent.Only problem so far is that the guard sits too high off the table.Email to Powermatic regarding this problem has yet to be answered after a week or so.   john

6. 
   Jaytronski | Oct 21, 2003 04:35am | #6

   Rocky

   I have a new DJ-20, It's one sweet machine.

7. 
   woodworm62 | Nov 09, 2003 07:02am | #12

   Rocky,

   You have to be careful, Powermatic just retired their Made in the USA 60A which used to used to cost a heck of a lot more than the DJ-20. Their new offering, going for about $1100 is made in Taiwan just like all other manufacturers. So now, in my mind, you can really compare apples to apples. The reason I know is because, whenever possible, I like to buy Made in the USA, I just find the casting is infinitely superior.  I had been saving for a 60A when I heard they had discontinued production and where replacing it with the made in taiwan version for half the price. I had a conniption. Fortunately, I was able  to find one of the few left and my wonderful wife gave me the green light to buy it even though I was still short a few hundred. I received it last Tuesday and there is no comparison between the fit and finish on the jointer it replaced (6" JET). I haven't surface a lot of wood yet but it did an awesome job on some curly maple I was saving for it. Definitely worth the price in my mind.

   Carlos

   "Driving a car is more like riding while riding a bike is more like driving"
1. 
   tbhs1964 | Dec 14, 2003 10:17pm | #13

   How does it handle?

1. 
   sculptor | Dec 16, 2003 05:34am | #15

   Rocky,

   I've owned both jointers and in the past was a machine technician for Bear Supply Company, factory trained at Powermatic & Delta. Powermatic has had a history of inconsistent quality. Some machines come in at factory specs and run beautifully, others don't quite make it. I had a Powermatic 8" jointer (American made) and the only way I got it to spec was have the machine beds and the fence re-ground to bring it into factory specs. I gave up fighting Powermatic over the years-they suggested putting the fence between two boards and standing on it to straighten it. I have two Powermatic 66 table saws and they're wonderful, The Delta table saws are toys compared to these machines.

   I  just got rid of the PM 8" jointer and upgraded to a 16" and then decided I still needed an 8" jointer so I got the Delta DJ-20. Though it is a little lighter than the PM, everything came in perfect, the cutter head was within .001 parallel to the beds, though I took out the orginal head and put in a Terminus cutterhead. I have a 6' Starret straight edge and the beds were also within .001. It is obvious that Delta has much better quality control than Powermatic ever had. The fence is true and dead flat. It could be a little longer, but this is a minor complaint-it's definetly heavy enough to do the job. I regularly joint 5" to 7" wide wedges of endgrain weighing close to 100 pounds and it handled it with no problem. I would go with the Delta, it is simply a better enginered machine.

   As far as Grizzly, it's a real crap shoot from what I've read and heard from other woodworks. Sometimes they work beautifully and other times they aren't worth the boxes they were shipped in.

   FWIW, The new DJ20 that is being sold in their new "5X" series, is IDENTICAL to the old one except for the warranty and extra tools. Amazon.com and Woodworker's Supply did have a few of the old ones at 1299.99

   Good luck,

   Mark Levin   [email protected]     http://www.marklevin.com

8. 
   kensshop | Dec 15, 2003 10:35pm | #14

   Rocky,  I've got an 8" Delta Jointer - AMERICAN MADE.  It's an older machine, about 15 years.  I'm the second owner.  The first owner and I both have just used it in a home hobbyshop application.  I really like it but have decided to move up to a 12" machine.  If you would be at all interested in buying this one I'd like to hear back from you.  It will be Feb or March '04 before I'm ready to let it go.    You can e-mail me at [email protected].

   Good luck, Ken

9. 
   hammer1 | Dec 16, 2003 06:31am | #16

   The Delta fence is strong but it takes more room out back than the PM. You will probably hear 50/50 on the two brands in this forum. My experience with Powermatic over the years has been bad. There should be no reason to adjust a Delta unless you drop it off the fork lift. I have never regreted spending the extra for an Industrial level Delta. I wish I could say the same for PM.

1. 
   ownersrep | Dec 16, 2003 09:53pm | #17

   Another vote for the DJ-20.  Haven't used the Powermatic but I own and heavily use the Delta.  I wouldn't pay the extra for the X5 - buy it at Amazon or somebody else that still has the pre-X5 and save the money.