Jet JJ-6CSDX vs Delta DJ-20 Jointers
mrmikeman2
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi everyone, I’m hoping you can help me figure out which of these is a better deal. I’ve been searching for a jointer, but have not been able to find anything local. Both of these machines are a 6+ hour drive, so I want to make sure I choose correctly…
The Jet is the JJ-6CSDX 6″ jointer and was purchased brand new in 2020. Brand new knives, and will cost me about $900. Bed length is 56″.
The Delta DJ-20 is an older 8″ jointer with a 77″ bed, and only $600.
It effectively comes down to a new 6″ 1HP JET that’s still under warranty vs an older 8″ 2HP Delta. I would love to have the longer and wider bed, but maybe the newer machine is worth the ease of mind? Would love some thoughts.
Replies
The only function of a 6" jointer is to convince you that you need a wider jointer. (for those of us that believe in jointers at all)
I would go with the Delta for 3 reasons, longer beds, larger and older, 3 qualities.
The Delta is a good machine; great if in nice shape. Those extra 2" make a big difference, I've found. Starting out I only lasted a year with a 6" jointer before going to an 8" machine.
I started with a 6" Jet and sold it for a used DJ-20. Later I swapped out the cutter head for a helical carbide cutter head from Grizzly tools. It's the same size so fit right in there. Same issues as everyone else 6" jointer short bed limits length of boards you can joint, and when you want to glue up a panel, 6" width vs 8" width can make a big difference. On the downside, Delta is out of business and many of the parts you won't be able to find if you need replacement. Make sure it's in good shape so you don't have that problem. Good luck.
Run don't walk to buy the Delta it's not even close or a fair competition. The DJ20 was one of the best light commercial jointers available.
PS. If you don't want it and you are anywhere close to Virginia tell me where it is and I will buy it.
Check on the availability of parts for each of those machines. Delta seems largely unsupported. Check out ereplacement as they only deal with original manufacturer parts. If you get alot of " obsolete"or not available parts for either of those machines you might want to give it a pass.
I have a 30+ year Delta Unisaw, Drill Press and other tools and haven't needed a part for any of them. The old American made tools would last decades with little maintenance it's the imports like Jet and Grizzly that fail more often.
No doubt they are 6 hours in opposite directions!
No opinion on the specific machines, but 1HP is very light for a jointer. I'd pass on anything that puny. I have a 2HP 8" and it never, ever struggles.
Newer machines and piece of mind are two things that don’t necessarily go together. In the past 8 years I have upgraded four machines and for each one I had to repair or replace parts within the first hours of operation. There was the Laguna 14SUV that had a defective motor, it ran fine but one of the threaded rod that keeps it together was stripped and loose, Laguna quickly sent another Baldor 3hp motor on which the tie rod design was different and sturdier. Then the 8 inches Craftex jointer that ran so loud, the V belt was so stiff and the belt cover so close that it rubbed, I replaced the belt with a link-belt and the machine ran smoothly afterwards. A year or so ago it was the 20 inch planer that after a few hours would make a terrible noise, I called The retailer thinking the bearings were gone, they directed my search to the cooling fan that had come loose, and sent me a used one for repair, I kept it as a backup since the problem was the fit on the shaft, and since it a design flaw, the spare fan will one day get used. Lately I got a Shopfox dust collector, and guess what, the awful noise started after about 5 hours of use, on startup, when rotating the fan blade it came awfully close to the fan cover, which I removed to find that the center bolt that holds it in place was completely unscrewed. I tried to put it back but the threads would not engage, I went for my next larger tap and machine screw to fix the problem but then taught that this could be a CCW thread, and bang, I just put back the original screw after grinding the flattened threads on the end, guess the factory had also used a CW screwdriver and it never was set at all before they closed the cover.
Get the 8-inch, and check if there is a Byrd cutter head for it. Well worth the $400+ for it, but you'll be glad for the 2 horse motor if you get the helix cutter head. I have a 6-in Powermatic, and as a previous poster said, it has only convinced me I need a wider machine. The PM with helix cutter head is a joy to use until you want to work on wider stuff.
This is the one I put in my DJ-20 along with a couple new bearings. Isn't the stock motor in a DJ-20 1 1/2 hp 220v? I don't know. At any rate there is no detectable slowing down of the motor when flattening an 8-inch board with this set up.
https://www.grizzly.com/search?q=H8803
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