Hi everyone,
I’m doing my research about jointers and like most everyone an seeking to find some balance (or near balance) between maximum board width, tool quality, usability and of to some extent price. I’m a hobbiest for sure, although I intend to continue to increase my usage of the shop as I expand my skills and ideas. My current interest in building doors with stained glass inserts so I’m not working with material much wider then 6″ – except as needed when restricted by supply. My realistic choices are a 6″ and an 8″ unit. I can see myself in the future (read, already designing!) some cabinetry and other furniture pieces) where wider stock would be beneficial (isn’t that always the case…) but I know I’m not going to step up to a 12″ or larger tool. I recognize it would be to be benefit to buy a larger capacity unit – and I prefer to purchase a high quality tool and “grow into it” rather than trade up. I will typically put off buying the lesser expensive item in order to save the the more expensive one if need be. For better or for worse, I put my money into the best tooling I can get. By the way, I live in far-flung regions of Montana, so I have to do my shopping via the internet. The only tool I can buy off the floor is Jet – all else has to be ordered. (For purposes of reference, I have the impression that Jet sits in the upper-middle grouping of equipment.) Having said all that, here are my questions. Any and all answers are appreciated.
1. What are the top 6″ and 8″ jointers? If money were no object, what are the top of the line units? Then, why? What separates them from the average?
2. Which are considered to be the bottom of the pile? Again, why? What issues or lack of capabilityes put them there?
3. I have only 110V single phase to the garage/shop. That may effectively limit me to a 6″ unit. Are there any 8″ planers that use a 1hp motor? Or, is that too much work to ask a motor to take on?
4. For those of you that went through the same reserach/buy process, is there anything you have learned that now, looking back, you would have done differently? Any hind-sight-based wisdom you can impart.
Thanks!
Replies
Difficult to sum up 35 years of being a Wood Machinist, Repair tech but I'd be looking at parallelogram table set up and if the money was there perhaps a Byrd shelix head or spiral insert head of other manyfacturer. If a straight knife, 3 or 4 knives makes little difference except you just feed a little slower with the 3 knife. The DJ-20 has a good record. PM has a parallelogram table model just out. The parallelogram can be adjusted easily versus the Dovetialed way models. 1-1/2 hp is typical on many 8" jointers. Read all the catalogs, get totally confused and go see some of the models in person. Bridgewood, Invicta, Sunhill and more!
Go to the Grizzly website, there jointers are rated very good to excellent by many posters.I have several Grizzly machines but not the jointer.
mike
4. For those of you that went through the same reserach/buy process, is there anything you have learned that now, looking back, you would have done differently? Any hind-sight-based wisdom you can impart.
I've learned the hard way that basing a workshop and projects around the limitations of machine capacities is both a frustrating and expensive activity... so I walked away from them... thesedays I do stock prep by hand..
Granted it's slower than the wood munchers, but I can plane any width, any length (that'll fit inside the shop that is) and get a finish that no wood muncher / sander can hope to match...
Additionally I'm healthier too; planes don't generate the same dust as the wood munchers so my lungs don't suffer... the cardio workout I get working a board sure beats going to the gym...
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
Getting 240V / single-phase power to your shop shouldn't be too difficult or expensive. 'don't let that limit you.
Grizzly has gotten good reviews- particularly for its 4 head and spiral cut models. Has anyone used an 8" version of these? I also hear good things about General, particularly with regards to quality and casting. I'd be interested in what experience others have had with these and other machines.
Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too often...
Get Wiring Simplified by H. P. Richter, W. Creighton Schwan
You can buy it locally or pick it up on eBay for $3 - $5 It will show you how to wire 240 to your shop - this book is in its 40th+ printing and is an excellent resource for the home DIY'er
Unless you are planning to go pro, you should not need anything over 8". What I would look for is the length of the tables. Longer is better. "Generally" the larger the size 6", 8" ... the longer the tables will be. Most 6" jointers have tables in the 47" range, 8" ones are 65"-75"
You are looking at about a $200 - $300 differance in price going from a 6" to an 8"
Add a 4th cutter head and the price goes up another $100
For a spiral cutterhead jointer you are looking in the $1,300 + range and the bead lenth does not really go up much. Supposedly a spiral cutter will produce a smoother cut with less tear out.
Rick
1 - measure the board twice
2 - cut it once
3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go
4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
Thanks Rick,
The previous owner ran a single-phase 110 line out to garage from a breaker panel in the house making it a bit more work to put 220 out there. I suppose I should really do it, but.... sigh... maybe next year.
My research (such as it is) shows that only Delta has an 8" jointer with a 1.5hp 110V motor. But, as I've mulled it all over, spoken to a few wizzened old cabinet-makers, I've decided on the 6". I'll probably get the Powermatic 54A since I'm convinced I only need the 6" but like the longer bed. It's a few more bucks, true, but I'm only gonna buy one.
Now about planars... (he he he)
Kevin
Bigfork, I got the Delta X5 and had my outlet upgraded by an electrician for 220. It was easy for him to do. I probably would have burned the house down trying to wire it. Stay in your own sandbox, pay the money and enjoy the 8" jointer for years and years. An expert I am not but it worked for me.
Kenney
I don't know what your budget is, but I just saw an ad for the new Grizzly G0586 planer 8" with 75" bed, 110/220V and 2HP motor
They have it for an intoductory price of $625
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G0586
They also have an 8" 65" bed, 1 1/2HP 110/220v one for $595 G1018
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?itemnumber=G1018&
Was pressed for a bit, I meant to add that for $30 more you get to go from 6" to 8"
from 65" bed to 75" and from 3 cutters to 4
Sounds like the way to go
Bigfork:My Yorkcraft 8-inch runs on 110. Except for the label it looks like a Delta to me and for many dollars less.RoRo
PS to Bigfork:You ought to check out wire gauge and length of line to shop if you want to use 110. Any "previous owner" is likely to have cut too many corners. Running a motor with too little current available is not good for the very expensive motor.RoRo
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