Replies

1. 
   Pierre42g | Oct 25, 2002 09:25am | #1

   You can have some informations on the website: http://www.toolsofthetrade.net , there is 6" jointer's tool test.

   Peter

1. 
   kjwells54 | Oct 26, 2002 09:41pm | #14

   Thanks for the address. I checked out the jointer tests and have more info than when I started. One big problem with these tool purchases is finding some place to actually see the machines. Oh well, we are all in the same boat.

1. 
   Pierre42g | Oct 27, 2002 01:03am | #15

   You can see another Jointer's tool test on the website:

   http://www.americanwoodworker.com/199912/tools_and_materials/tool_test.html

   All  6" jointers seem pretty good, the General International (model 80-100L M1) have a table of 55" 1/4, it's a nice feature! 

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 27, 2002 03:33am | #16

      Did you go to the General website http://www.general.ca and click on distributors. I found one here in Atlanta and didn't have a clue it was there. Might not work for you depending on where you're at, but worth investigating.

   Good luck..

   sarge..jt

2. 
   riverr1 | Oct 25, 2002 09:42am | #2

   This is from Generals web site:

   http://www.general.ca/product/inter/80100an.html

   If you near the Canadian border, you can get the machine for a large savings over anywhere you will find the machine in the states.

   I assume you mean the General International also. General does not make a 6".

   Don

1. 
   Lar55 | Oct 25, 2002 06:01pm | #3

   Don,

   Your right, General of Canada stopped making the 6" Jointer I think last year.  There is a shop in Iowa that bought a boat load of them and is selling the Canadian 6" for alittle over $700.  A bit much for a 6".  The General International is now making them.

   Lar

1. 
   Adrian | Oct 25, 2002 06:18pm | #4

   700 doesn't sound like much....I paid $2200 for my General 8" five years ago. The Canadian made Generals are very fine jointers, BTW.cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

1. 
   Lar55 | Oct 25, 2002 06:45pm | #5

   Adrian,

   In my opinion General Canadians Jointers are the best next to Northfield.  I try to buy the Generals whenever I can.  On second thought, if you can get the 6" Canadian General for $700+ that isn't so bad.  But the $300 in shipping they wanted put the machine over $1000.

   Lar

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 26, 2002 05:51am | #6

   Adrian & Lar

      Could you explain to me the differnce between General and the General International. Adrian got me interested in general in the General ha... and from what I see checking out good. We have a General dealer here in Atlanta, but am I talking G or GI.. before I drive 40 miles to the showroom.

      Any help will be most appreciative.. Thanks both.

   sarge..jt

1. 
   RRiverr1 | Oct 26, 2002 06:00am | #7

   Sarge,

   Generals are made in Canada, internationals are imported. I was told this though for what it's worth. General owns their production facility in Tawain. They are not made by someone else to their specs. The same quality standards are enforced.

   Don

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 26, 2002 06:35am | #8

   Don

      Thanks for the quick reply. Just getting ready to let the old dog walk me. Ha.

      Do you mean by same quality standards enforced that G and GI are owned by the same Co. and that the imported stuff they farm out as GI has to meet the same standards as the Canadian General plant they personally oversee?

   Again thanks mucho..

   sarge..jt

3. 
   Lar55 | Oct 26, 2002 08:21am | #9

   Sarge,

   Don explained it well.  Adrian may be able to add a few details.  I own both General of Canada and General International.  The Canadian machines are more costly but are usually a lot heavier and more of a rock solid feel.  The General International in my opinion is just as good if not better than any of the other companies that manufacture in Taiwan.  General of Canada does send a few of their engineers or whoever to oversee the General International line.  Yes, there is one General that has two divisions.  They found last year it was too costly to compete with their 6" Canadian Jointer against Jet, Delta and all the other Taiwanese made 6" jointers.  So General moved that operation to their International line which can produce it in Taiwan much cheaper. 

   Lar

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 26, 2002 08:26pm | #10

   Lar

      Thanks. I have been doing some research on General as Adrian got me interested. Here in the southeast we don't see General a lot. I have looked at their site and am quite impressed with what I saw. Turns out their is a pretty large dealer here on the other side of Atlanta. I'm going to get a first hand look this week.

      I have looked at the General BT mortiser and it's one of the best two made in the category without going to a production floor model. I have a feeling the rest of the line is good also.

      BTW, I'm assuming you're in Canada. If not, just mention in some other post and I'll probaly catch it.

   sarge..jt 

5. 
   riverr1 | Oct 26, 2002 08:39pm | #11

   Sarge,

   Before I bought my General TS, I called the offices in Quebec. What they told me was that they own their own production facilities in Tawain. I don't remember exactly what they put where, but they named some factories in Tawain that produced machines for competitors. This may not be accurate in name, but for example, the same factory over they may be producing Grizzley, Jet and Woodtek. Basically the same machine with a different name. Any machine that General now makes in Tawain is made to the same specs as when they were made in Quebec. Besides making their own machines in Tawain, they do also make parts for other manufacturers. When I first posted this, Jeff suggested this may have been a slaes pitch hype, and it may have been although I didn't end the conversation with that impression.

   Don

6. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 26, 2002 08:50pm | #12

   Don

      The Taiwan thing doesn't scare me. Most do it now. If they are calling the shots on specs and carefully inpecting to see if they are produced up to those specs it will show up on the showroom floor. I always take mics and squares when I actually go look at the machine.

      There is a showroom here in Atlanta and I will go take a look up close. It's difficult to hide defects and bad machining tolerances from me..Ha.... The satisfaction level comments are good from this forum and elsewhere. Half way home. I'll personally navigate that last half and see what me thinks..

   Thanks for the info and have a great day..

   sarge..jt

7. 
   Adrian | Oct 26, 2002 09:22pm | #13

   can't add much to what the others have said....I do believe the GI tools will be at the very least the equivalent of other Taiwanese tools, and probably better, but I don't have any at this point (my own shop and my school shop are pretty much General green though....in my own I do have some taiwanese machines, and I think they are underated, BTW).cabinetmaker/college instructor. Cape Breton, N.S

8. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 27, 2002 05:34am | #17

   Adrian

      Thanks for the reply. Yes, there have been some very helpful posts here. I've read the tool test given by Peter. I am looking forward to seeing the 80-100 LM. I can't believe a 6" jointer has a 55" table. Sounds like from the test that the casting are good and this Tai is gonna be the ticket.

      If you read above post to Don C. I'm not afraid of the Tai's. As long as the engineers got it right and the factory meet those specs, I have no problem. I too think that some get unnecessarily slammed. A good going over and a micrometer and straight-edge tell the story. I think I'm going to find all is well in greeny world. Why didn't you tell me all this years ago. he..he..

   Have a good evening and I'll let you know what I find..

   sarge..jt

9. 
   corners | Oct 27, 2002 07:03am | #18

   I bought a General International 6" Jointer 3 months ago. Great fit and finish. Has cast iron table extensions which add about 6" to each end - a good thing. The fence movements are slick and solid. The cut is smooth. I am very happy with it.  

10. 
    RANGERP75R | Oct 27, 2002 08:57am | #19

    Corners

       Thanks. You might post that to Ventura also. He started the thread as he is looking strong at the GI. I was toying with the idea as Adrian kind of got me to investigate the power of the green from remarks made.

       I have not read anything but good reports and everyone that has made personal contact with the G has spoken highly. I will go look next week as I discovered several months ago that we have a G distributor here in Atlanta. It looks good on paper.

       Question: Was it the 80-100 LM. Where are you at and how much did you have to pay. Did you have it sent truck frt or are you close to a dealer. Just some things I need to factor. I have to pay sales tax here, but can pick up local.

       Have a feelin' at this rate I might be sporting the green by next week-end. Ha.. Only drawback I can see is it doesn't match the color scheme in my shop. Oh well, nothing is perfect except for my wife, who is looking over my shoulder. Grin<> Gotta run, got a super sales job to take care of. Ha...

    sarge..jt

11. 
    corners | Oct 27, 2002 05:32pm | #20

    I'm in western Canada so the price I paid won't be usefull to you. The dealer is 2 miles away. I dropped by and picked it up. Came in 2 boxes. Wasn't hard to load or unload from my pickup - the heavy box is long enough to slide one end up or down and then lift the second end. Assembly was simple and took about an hour. First cuts were bang on. I have a small shop so I put it on a General International mobile base. The price of the base was good and I liked the base so much I went down the next week and bought 2 more to replace the bases on my drill press and bandsaw.  Now my equipment moves around smoothly and easily.

12. 
    RANGERP75R | Oct 27, 2002 08:06pm | #21

    Corners

       Thanks again. You answered a valuable question when you mentioned moblie bases for GI. I have a 28' x 36' shop with pretty much fixed base tools and benchs. It's getting full. I do have the same space in basement for wood-rack and a low-boy assembly table. The main assembly table and work-bench is in the shop. I keep the sawdust producers in the front of shop. I still have room, but I like to roll a sander or big sawdust producer outside when the weather is good. That is about 7 or 8 months of the year here.

       Transporting should not be a problem. I have an old 85 GMC mini-van I gutted the rear in to haul panels and lumber. With the help of a dolly when I slide the boxes off at home I should be able to do it myself.

       I hope I like the GI when I inspect it as much as I like it on paper. I have a feelin' the street price is about $500 US or a little more. I could get something cheaper, but that extra 9 1/4" lenght on the table is something I can't overlook. The whole thing looks solid as a green rock, also. I prefer the wheel type adjusters as they are slower, but they get you a lot closer to exact.

    Have a good day..

    sarge..jt