I know that this has probably been talked about over and over again, but here it goes one more time. I am in the market for a jointer. Not a full time wood worker and my space is some what limited until I can convince my sweet wife into building a shop.
Thanks for the input
Dave
Replies
Hi Dave,
If I may, I would like to 'join' with you in this search. What size or price range?
I would like something in a 6" benchtop or similar. (8" if the $ are right) I'm willing to go as high as $500. for good quality. I do not have room for a large pro type model. I am a hobbyist with some serious cabinet & furniture work due shortly for a new multi use building we have just put up.
I now have modest shop space available, permanently.
I have done a search and do not see any results less than about 2 1/2 years old. I would rather spend a few more $ than sacrifice quality and dependability.
New is preferred but would consider the well cared for unit someone would like to trade up from. I live in the Pacific NW.
Thanks for anyone's time and advice,
bum
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
6" and benchtop? Not sure that combination exists. The benchtop jointers I've seen are 4" and not terribly versatile (adjustments, rabbeting, etc.).
If you canhandle a 6" jointer such as the Jet, Grizzly, Delta (regular stand), keep an eye on Craig's List. Don't know if you could find one and drive there in time to land it, but they come up periodically.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 3/13/2007 11:08 am by forestgirl
Maybe this is an odd question (and a little off topic)... but do you actually use your jointer for rabbeting?
I've honestly never met anyone that's actually done this...
I think I did once. Hmmmmm, can't really remember. Nice to know you can if you'd rather I suppose, though I seldom think of doing it.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Grizzly has one of their 8" jointers on sale. It has a nice long cast-iron bed and nice handwheels for adjustments. Click this link: http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0586
It is $595, but then you have to tack on $143 for shipping, giving you a total of $738 - might be out of your budget.
Anybody have good or bad comments on Grizzly? I've never bought a new Grizzly machine, but I did buy an old Grizzly 15" bandsaw at an estate sale and I haven't had any problems with it.
aj kelly
Grizzly Grizzly Grizzly. Love'em. Have many of there machines and are completly thrilled with them all.
JK Wood
I think I just might call and see what the shipping would be up here to Valdez.
Thanks
Dave
Edited 3/13/2007 9:52 pm ET by DaveTous
I'm beginning to really like Grizzly. I have a Griz lathe and am buying the 8" jointer. It helps that Grizzly is in my home town:) (well, at least where I live now) Nice show room. I don't think their tools are all the best, but great customer service for a solid tool, and they are definitely striving to be one of the bigger players. I just sold a 20 year Delta 6" that was still going strong. I'm excited to try a little bigger machine. Griz gives you a lot for the money. My experience is that most people use the jointer for edge jointing or flattening one side. I haven't used it much for beveling or rabbiting. Good luck!
Which showroom do you live near??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Springfield, MO. We moved here 3.5 years ago. I lived my whole life in the Denver, CO suburban areas. I even graduated from Columbine Highschool in 86'. I miss the forest:) We had a good business opportunity and now own some franchises in Springfield, Branson and Joplin. SO, I think I'm here to stay for a while. Especially having 4 kids under 11. They are pretty rooted into school. It's a very pretty area. Just different.
Cool! Is Springfield their original warehouse? I live a couple/three hours from the Bellingham showroom, so go up there every few years just to check things out.
"4 kids under 11." Holy Smokes, you a hardworkin' dude. I have trouble keeping up with one 9-year-old grandson (by marriage; never had kids myself).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I think its the original, but unsure. I just left there a few minutes ago looking at the 8" jointer (100.00 off sale going on right now). I have a lot of diversity in tools, i.e. Delta, Jet , DeWalt, etc. But I'm pretty sold on the Griz Jointer for the money and convenient customer service. Do you have a preference or opinion before I drop 600.00? Ha.
4 kids...I give my wife all the credit. She stays home, and if anyone thinks that that isn't the hardest job in the world. I don't think I could do it - home work, laundry up the wazoo, cleaning, food prep, shopping...I'm very proud of my wife and kids. We are blessed.
Where are you at? Is it a wooded area and beatiful? 9 years old...does your grandson live close by you? That gets to be a very busy age. By the way, I always enjoy your posts...your are very well spoken and clearly knowledgeable about woodworking.
I wouldn't hesitate to get a Grizzly 8" jointer. Congrats and have fun!
I live on an island 5 miles west of Seattle, and yep, it's wooded. We have about 1.5 acres only, but some huge old Douglas Firs. Our biggest cedar, ~75-80' tall, fell in a windstorm awhile back, but we have a handful more. The island population is very good about forking out to preserve green space, as the central part of the island is developed. We have what is named The Grand Forest that is very old second growth, and quite a few smaller areas that have been preserved. Here are some pics of the Grand Forest.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Bainbridge?
Wonderful area. I used to be in SE King Co. It, too, was heavily forested. Now it has been loved to death and developed to within an inch of California style clear cutting and development. Houses so close you can hear your neighbor snore. Traffic and gridlock all over. Did that for 26 years. Now we're near Oysterville. Maybe I can hide out here for a while....The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
That really is a beautiful area. Thanks for sharing the pictures!
The opportunity just came up to buy a Delta DC380 planer and 37-195 Jointer, for $1,250.00 OBO. Go figure a. I just bought the 13"DeWalt 735 last weekend. Really don't need a planer that large but what on opportunity. I think the real problem is, the planer is 220 volts.
Not sure what to do. Anyone looking for a 13"?
Doing a lot of reading the last few days on the jointers. I seem to be settling toward the Grizzly but also looking at Jet. Any preferrences? Anyone have comments on quality, dependability, customer service, ease of use or operation?
I know, I want it all. ;)...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
"Anyone have comments on quality, dependability, customer service, ease of use or operation?" You didn't mention what size jointer you're considering. There are plenty of people around the various forums who have an 8" Grizzly and are quite happy with it. Haven't read as many reports on the 6", but a few and they were positive too.
Given the price differential between the Jets and the corresponding Grizzly jointers, and the good track record Grizzly has with this particular type of machine, I (personally) would go for a Grizzly, so to have money to actually buy wood with! Disclosure: I own a Jet 6" jointer 'cause I got a demo model for about half price. I have no complaints about it.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Grizzly is now having a sale on the G0586 8". I'm really tempted but don't know if I can justify the jump from 6". I know that sooner or later I would probably want to switch to the helical cutters.
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
I've had a time or two when an 8" would have helped. Much depends on what types of projects you build, no? Mine so far have been smaller non-furniture things. As soon as furniture enters the picture, it seems like the bigger jointer becomes useful.
Nothin' wrong with getting the basic machine now and adding the helical cutters down the road. Like an installment plan with no interest, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
OBB,
I have a jet jointer that I am pretty happy with. When I set it up I put a straight edge diagonally from the bottom right of the fence to the top left and found that it was convex about 3/64". I called the toll free number on the owners manual and told them the problem. I expected someone who didn't know what I was talking about to ask a lot of questions, what I got instead was..."Well that certainly is out of tolerance. We'll ship a new fence out today."
I couldn't ask for anymore than that.
Rob
Thanks for the info. It is that kind of service and response that counts. More than just price. ...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Hi Forestgirl,I am in the market for an 8" jointer. The one from Grizzly with the spiral cutter (G0586) has my eye for the moment. The only other tool I have from them is the spindle sander. It does the job. My concern is the table top. Nice and flat but it has these spots on it. It came like that. Can't get them out and I was wondering if this was some sort of sign that the casting is inferior. See the two pictures. On the plus side the FW video review of the Grizzly jointer was very good indeed.Comments good and not so good appreciated.Cheers,Peter
I'm no expert on the casting process, but those look like simple exposure spots to me. A little discoloration. Errors in casting, as far as I know, tend to show up as cracks or lack of flatness which is, after all, the important feature. Perhaps a few drops of sweat got on the table before the cosmoline was applied. Oh, yuck! Sorry.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thanks. BTW, did you post something in another thread about a Y connection for dust collection? I was trying to find it in order to show you the setup I used.Cheers,Peter
"did you post something in another thread about a Y connection" Yes! It's in the "DC First Connection" thread <click>. Thanks!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Agreed. Haven't seen much in the smaller sizes other than the Delta Shopmaster. What I've seen of the 'Shopmaster' line fromm Delta does nothing for me. I equate anything with that label as I would today's B&D (broken & defective?). But, that could just be me. I haven't seen anything from them I like in over 20 years.
I 've seen some Delta models that interest me but many reviews advise that their customer service and qc are sadly lacking. Would Jet or Ridgid be any better? I've never dealt with either one.
Of course for that kind of money everything SHOULD come out of the box in working order, not counting set-up....The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
I would get a Jet over the Rigid. Of course, I have a Jet, so what else am I susposed to say, LOL? What about the Grizzly's are you anti-Grizz? Their 8" jointers are great, and although I only know a couple people who have the 6", I haven't heard any complaints so far.
Delta's customer service seems to go thrugh periodic meltdowns. Have no idea what that's all about.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Looks like this is going to be a good topic. I think I would try a 8" Grizzly if I were in the Seattle area. I'm thinking the shipping would even be more to Valdez Alaska. Besides, I needed it yesterday. I could get a Jet out of Anchorage. I think I'll do some research on the web tonight.
A bed day of fishing is steal better then a good day at work.
northernmagiccharters.com
Dave
This topic ties into a thread "across the street" at Breaktime (FHB) in the "Feedback" folder.
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Some good reliable recent/current tool reviews done by pros would help. I just cannot take the customer testimonials too seriously. I prefer these forums or independant 3rd party comments better. I'm not looking for bad, per se', but if there is any kind of percieved problem it gives something to gauge against the ads.
...The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...
Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home.
...aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Edited 3/14/2007 12:24 am by oldbeachbum
I picked up a Rigid 6" from HD and it seems to be a nice machine. Look for a floor sample and you can save some $
Troy
I have really been impressed with my Jet 6".
Great fence, solid as a rock, easy cut-thickness adjustment.
Frosty
Do you find that you have a need for more than the 6" for jointing?Regards,
Buzzsaw
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
In my opinion, your situation and question like that of several of those who have replied, needs a little different line of thinking than what I have seen up until now.
Instead of just concentrating on the idea of buying a new jointer, think in terms of finding a used one. They are out there, you just have to actively seek them out.
Newspaper ads, classifieds on the different forums and other sources of woodworking machinery for sale. When you find one, take your time, carefully evaluate the item and don't be afraid to make a counter offer if you think the asking price is too much.
As an example of what you can do, my jointer is an 8" Powermatic. I bought it used nearly 20 years ago. It vibrated badly when I tried it out. I surmised it had a bad bearing. So, I made a counter offer, quite a bit lower, and the owner took it. A set of bearing cost me about $20 and my own time to replace the bearings. This unit today is worth nearly twice as much as I paid. The same is true of other equipment I have in my shop, including my Unisaw.
Patience and careful attention to detail is the key. I would suggest you consider this approach of buying used.
Billy B.
Billy,
Thank's for your input. I just missed an 8"jointer and a 15" planer in the Anchorage paper, $1,200.00. Both Delta.
The weekend before I bought the new 12" Dewalt for $550.00. I'm steal kicking and wining.
Dave
Hi Dave,
Got the 8" Grizzly jointer with the spiral cutterhead about a year ago. Outstanding. Highly recommended.
Paul
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