Replies

1. 
   RandMCapozzi | Oct 29, 2004 04:39pm | #1

   I got the the DJ20 X5 about 6 months ago.

   1) The parallel-o-gram tables are ultra smooth and very easy to adjust quickly and accurately. The "lever vs. wheel" adjustment arguement doesn't apply to the parallel-o-gram adjustable tables.

   2) The preset depth stop is nice also. I have it set at about 1/128th and use it as my final smoothing pass. You can hog off some wood and then quickly move the in-feed table to a preset for your final pass.

   3) Dust collection is pretty good. Some chips do come out from behind the fence where the motor belt attaches to the knife pulley.

   4) The extra length on the in-feed table is also very nice.

   5) The fence is quite heavy and a therefore bit awkward to adjust the lilt. The width adjustment works well.

   The machine is excellent machine overall. Fit/finish was also very good. It came very well packaged (wood crate and all). Toughest part was getting the thing in the basement and on the stand.

   Hope this is helpful,

   --Rob 

1. 
   JeffreyS | Oct 30, 2004 02:43am | #2

   I am curious why you went for the "X5" version instead of the "regular" version. 

   Jeff

1. 
   RandMCapozzi | Nov 01, 2004 06:27pm | #16

   I bought the X5 due to the deal at a local tool show. They were offering the X5 with an extra set of knives, plus the mobile base for $1450. Then on top of that I got the X5 tool rebate booklet and got myself a new mobile base with extension for my Uni.

   If it wasn't for that, I would have gone with the regular version. Other than the fancier "chromed" handles and different decal, they're the same machine.

   --Rob

2. 
   mcafee7 | Oct 30, 2004 02:56am | #3

   I got the Bridgewood about six years ago Jeff.  I have no complaints.  The four-blade cutterhead does a really nice job and the fence was reasonably flat and square to the table.  I also prefer cranks to levers for table adjustment.

3. 
   user-126092 | Oct 30, 2004 04:29am | #4

   I have had and used with a great deal of satisfaction for over 10 years a Delta DJ-20 jointer. When I first got the jointer, (I purchased it used from a local woodworker), I just couldn't believe the size of the infeed and outfeed tables. They looked like the landing deck on an aircraft carrier. The fence is easily adjustable and will slide from side to side with the 1/4 turn of a lockin lever. It also has a edge for rabbiting and the infeed table is easily adjusted by unlocking a lever and has a scale that is easy to read to make any adjustments as to the amount of material taken off with each pass. Also, the knives are easy to adjust/change out and are reasonably priced if you ever need to buy a new set. I guess I sound biased but I can't immagine not having it in my shop. It has never failed to deliver great results and super tight glue joints in a few passes over the cutter head. The fence also tilts to up to 45 degrees to bevel edges. It also surfaces faces of boards with dead-on accuracy. I would recommed that you consider buying a Delta. You could probably go to a high school in your area and ask to use it as a trial before you buy, or maybe a local trade school would have one to use. The jointer is probably the second most important tool in any wood shop, so look carefully and choose wisely.

   Termite1

4. 
   JMartinsky | Oct 30, 2004 03:22pm | #5

   Dear Jeff,

   I have a Powermatic (PM) 54A, 6" jointer that I am very happy with except that it is only a 6", not an 8" model. I upgraded the cutterhead to a Byrd "Shelix" cutterhead, that I like very much. If it were me, I would get the Bridgewood for the following reasons:

   1. Wilke will set it up and test run it.

   2. Wilke will install a "Shelix" head at cost.

   The PM is good, but I really like the shelix head and would prefer it to be installed by the manufacturer. Good Luck!

   John

5. 
   Ridgewood | Oct 30, 2004 03:27pm | #6

   I've also got a DJ20.  It's a great tool.  No problems at all.  I can take a fine cut right up to a full 1/2 cut with no problems.  The long infeed table is great and I get a perfectly flat and straight board every time.  It is relatively easy to change blades.  The only thing that I sometimes regret is that I'm not rich enough to afford a bigger one!

   It took me several years before I got a jointer and found that my work improved immensely the day after it was set up in my shop.  It's so much easier to build with flat and square stock!

   Long Tables are good tables!  The 1 1/2 HP motor has never bogged down.  The tables were flat and square and the fence came square to the tables and never has needed resetting (5 years or so).  I love the parallelogram design and the levers are easy and quick to adjust.

   My thoughts,

   Doug

6. 
   mudman | Oct 31, 2004 06:49am | #7

   Another vote for the DJ-20. The best 8" on the market. Though look at Grizzly's parallelogram 8" as well. Looks well made.

   mIKE

   please excuse my spelling.
7. 
   forestgirl | Oct 31, 2004 07:59am | #8

   I'll second the motion to take a look at the Grizzly 8".  There are some Knotheads out there (Frenchy comes to mind) who have it, use it hard and have reported positively.  I think the G0500 is the specific model.
   http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G0500

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   mudman | Oct 31, 2004 08:01am | #9

   I was refering to the G9859. http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G9859  It looks like it might be better than the DJ-20 for near the same price.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 31, 2004 11:22pm | #11

   Holy Smokes, now that's a jointer! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   BarryO | Nov 01, 2004 12:32am | #12

   This one's better:

   http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G9859Z

   'don't have to fuss with the knives.

1. 
   mudman | Nov 01, 2004 05:43pm | #14

   Barry,

   Do you have any experience with that type of cutter head? In the Grizz catalogue they really sell it as the greatest thing ever. Looks like there is no allignment to worry about, and there are 4 cutting edges to each cutter thing (I forget what they call them). But I wonder if they leave any kind of ridges or marks..... I am looking at getting the model you showed actually, or the 12" with regular knifes.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   BarryO | Nov 01, 2004 06:11pm | #15

   No I don't have one (yet), but I asked about that cutterhead a while back; the thread should be in the archives.  Avoiding alignment and sharpening, and carbide cutters, looked like a big plus to me.

2. 
   mudman | Nov 01, 2004 05:36pm | #13

   Yea I am seriously looking at it too. Remember that it costs the same as the DJ-20. but it looks like may be better made. The base is one giant piece of cast iron!! Plus I don't have any green tools in my shop.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   RandMCapozzi | Nov 01, 2004 06:38pm | #17

   Hey! Wait a minute. It says it's the ulitmate 8" jointer yet the specs say its maximum width is only 7-7/8".  :-)

   The only other "feature" that I didn't like was the shorter overall length in the beds. Otherwise, it looks like a nice 7-7/8" jointer.  ;-D

   --Rob

8. 
   DennisS | Oct 31, 2004 08:34am | #10

   Jeff -

   I've got the DJ20, don't know about this "x-something" model. Mine just has the lever arm adjustments. As far as the lever vs handwheel arguement, I don't use my jointer for milling stock to specific dimensions rather squaring a surface and an edge. The thickness planer and table saw take care of the other two sides. Thus *precise* adjustment of the cut doesn't seem to be an issue as far as I'm concerned. Your mileage may vary.

   I find I have to check the fence for square *any* time it's moved. Knife changes aren't a walk in the park - if you're as anal as I am about such things but that's part of the fun (hehe). It has *plenty* of power for just about anything I've done. In retrospect I think I should have taken a closer look at four knife cutter head machines rather than the three on the Delta. Mine came with a mobile base - this is handy if you have limited space in the shop.

   ...........

   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.

   Dennis

9. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 02, 2004 05:46am | #18

   Ahhhh -- I just today helped a friend move a DJ 20 into his ground floor shop.

   I'd like to underscore Rob's comment about moving this thing around. The base is easy enough, since you can get it on a 2 wheeler. But the jointer itself is another story. It took a forklift at the warehouse to get it onto the truck bed, and it was all that two of us could handle to slide it out of the truck and on to a table (with casters). If you set it on the floor, I would guess you will need four burly guys to lift it up to the base.

   I can't even imagine how you would get this thing down a flight of stairs into a basement shop. Even with an appliance dolly, it would be awkward -- since the crate for the bed is so long.

   So if you end up buying one of these behemoths, you want to plot your strategy for getting it into your shop.