Need to upgrade from my 8″ jointer and can’t seem to make up my mind between a new 12″ Laguna ($4,500) and an older but lightly used SCMI 12″ ($2,500). The Laguna has a helical head which is great whereas the Italian machine has a straight knife head but is of course quite a bit cheaper.
Part of the reason I’m having trouble making a decision is I can’t find much info on SCMI jointers; most of what I see are reviews on the combo machines which are much more common. Any thoughts?
I’ve currently got a Laguna jointer and like the machine but the customer service has been a nightmare.
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Disclosure: I own a Hammer j/p combo and looked at the SCMI version before buying. And now I'm thinking I am going to buy an SCMI 440p bandsaw, maybe this spring. And I have looked at the laguna tools quite a bit too.
SCMI tools will be much more robust (as a rule) than those from Laguna. The cast iron castings, the machining, etc. Not that buying new doesn't always have its appeal! But, SCMI is really engineering their machinery for heavy, hard use and to be serviced as necessary. Does the SCMI have the Tersa cutter head -- a make for quick changes of blade? Many folks swear by them and their ease of use. Straight knives will definitely be noisier than a helical head. Are the motors the same? 4HP? Same phase? Have you seen it running under power or have a relationship with the owner? If so...hard to argue with an industrial machine that'll leave $2000 for other uses.
And btw, you can buy a brand new Hammer A3-31 with helical head (12" Jointer and Planer) for (probably less than $4500) and I adore mine as much after 8 years as the day I started using it.
MK
SCMI is well engineered and offers very good value for the money. If it's in good shape, this one is a no brainer. I would suspect Laguna is just out sourcing from China.
Thanks for the good intel; I should note the Laguna I'm replacing originally came with a warped casting which was of course a nightmare to deal with. I suspected as much far as the engineering/quality level of the SCMI...it is a straight knife but plan to save the money for now and maybe replace with a Hermance cutterhead down the line. Will look into those Hammer combos though sounds like a deal!
The helical insert cutter heads are over rated and over sold, they have disadvantages as well as some advantages. Especially if your machine has indexable knives such as the Tersa. Generally speaking, straight knives will produce a superior finish, and are a good choice, particularly for a small shop. I am Not saying always the best choice. Just ignore the marketing hype and do your homework before spending your hard earned money.
Right on, thanks for the tip. I've heard similar sentiments from other folks. I've also heard the HSS can get sharper than those carbide inserts ever could, but they are a bit more trouble to change out I suppose.
As others have said, the Tersa system which is pretty common on the SCM machines doesn't have any of the alignment issues of conventional knives as they slide in and wedge in place, no setting required
Carbide inserts are not overrated, they are as much an improvement to planing as carbide circular saw blades were to hardened steel blades.
When I started out, regular steel 10 inch blades were still more common than carbide tipped. Man, were they awful. I'd have to swap blades twice during a project. They dulled and burned just looking at them. I can't imagine the days when they were the ONLY choice. But still, some old timers refused to switch.
Very much agree. I switched to helical-head carbide for both jointer (Jet) and planer (Rikon). It's the rare piece of wood that I find doesn't fare well with carbide (some tearout). That said, I don't think the Rikon is all that great. It's not actually helical, the inserts only have 2 edges (so just one change before replacement). But still lasts MUCH longer and cuts better than my old Dewalt 3-knife machine.
I can only conclude that people who have had bad experiences with carbide either have machines that have a flaw, use odd wood, or had exaggerated expectations to start with.
I bought a lightly used 2018 SCM 12" j/p combo machine a few months ago and could not be happier with the machine.
It is robust, very well built, and handles all I throw at it as a professional cabinetmaker. It has Tersa knives that will make changing them a breeze (and faster than a helical head at that size).
I agree with 27B_6; if the SCMI is in good shape it is the better choice. It is a far superior machine that is built to last.
The JX12 is nowhere near the quality I expected. Don't buy it!! I have had to replace the fence and still every time I move it, I have to spend upwards of 15 minutes getting it back to 90 degrees. As everyone knows Laguna's Customer Service is bad. Their rep basically told me I should expect to have to check for square every time I move the fence. I have a Knapp combo machine circa 2003 and I have removed and replaced the fence a thousand times or more and never had to adjust the fence (of course, I did check from time to time).
Very disappointing
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