Has anyone had an experience with the Ridgid Jointer. It sells for about $399 at Home Depot. I’m considering this one or the Delta jt360 for $369 at Lowes. Comments please.
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That's what I have. It works well. The fence and tables seem to stay in alignment over time. Changing the knives is pretty easy. Dust collection is good, but not perfect. No matter what jointer you have, you always want one that's just a little bit wider, but for the money, I think it's a good value.
-Steve
Thanks for the info. I've read a lot of reviews, but you never know who is actually writing them. I'm leaning toward the Ridgid as I already have their 10 inch table saw and it works great.
I'd give the advantage to the Ridgid in this case, though Delta also has a 37-275x/37-195 that's a very nice machine. The JT360 has a lighter duty fence support and a smaller motor than either, but will still do the job.
I looked at the Delta at Lowe's and the Ridgid at Home Depot. The Delta was made in China and the Ridgid in Taiwan, which helped me to decide on the Ridgid. I am glad I bought it. It was correctly set up and accurate right out of the packing. It has worked perfectly for me.
The Ridgid is heavier than the Delta. I feel it's much more rugged. Because of the weight (nearly 250#) you may need help when turning it right side up after assembling it upside down as they recommend - and they're right. (Although after pondering how to get it upright I merely reached down and picked it up in my arms. It wasn't all That hard.)
Merry Christmas!
Pete
The Delta was made in China and the Ridgid in Taiwan, which helped me to decide on the Ridgid.
And Taiwan is in what country???? !!
Kinda like saying "I'd never buy anything made in Mexico, but I'd only buy from Tijuana. "
Unless you are a member of the PROC, Taiwan is an independent republic on an island off the coast of China.
They have been at the quality control thing about 25 years ahead of mainland China, so you at least have a chance of getting consistent quality from Taiwan as opposed to the mainland.
... And ruled by what government?
My point is that Communist China is well on their way to owning us due to the vast majority of products now produced by them which once were produced by us. They are now buying up much of the USA and definitely and absolutely pose a threat to our future and our position as a world power.
Taiwan, on the other hand, has neither the power nor the inclination to do us harm, and is an ally of the USA.
Respectfully, Pete
Taiwan is part of (and referred to as) "Taiwan, ROC" (Republic of China). It is not it's own country as evidenced by 1) it has no official standing in the U.N., 2) there are no diplomatic relations as demonstrated by a lack of an ambassador representing it to the US and 3) the US has no ambassador to "Taiwan".
Kinda like trying to say, "The Republic of Arkansas " makes it a separate country.
MANY chinese owned companies have their HQ in Taiwan and their products get produced in China (mainland) and stamped "made in Taiwan" which appears more palatable to unsuspecting importers.
So okay I'm a sucker. It's not the first time nor will it be the last time.
But the Ridgid (and that's the correct spelling) is still the better product. You don't happen to know where it was designed, do you?
With respect, however difficult after having my toe firmly mashed,
Pete
Sorry Pete, I apologize for the tone of my post to you. I meant no malice. I only wanted to point out that nowadays things aren't always what they appear.
You did the right thing in evaluating the product on it's merits. It used to be we could depend on the "made in USA" label as a quality indicator. But with so much off shoring, it's tougher to find quality.
The blame is squarely on US, the U.S. companies. THEY are the ones who set the quality standards. I maintain that IF THEY WANTED TO, Delta could have a UniSaw manufactured in China that would be absolutely indistinguishable from it's US counterpart. And it would be cheaper because of the Chinese labor rates.
But... it seems that once the company decides to "lower the cost of producing" the product, they also often cut the "quality" of the product by either specifying or just accepting poorer fit / finish or content.
I no longer am either hung up on buying American or not buying foreign. I do try to look at the product and compare what I can see or feel.
I used Delta as an example because (in my mind) they were an example of a great product. The name itself almost guaranteed a quality product. I own a 11 year old Unisaw, 10 year old Delta jointer and bandsaw. (The jointer was made in Brazil). They served me well and continue to do so.
However, most of their products are now produced overseas and SOME is crap, some are ok and some are good.
My point? The NAME no longer has the cache it once had. I'm willing to look at anything, made anywhere.
AND HERE IS WHERE MANY COMPANIES FALL DOWN IN THEIR MARKETING: I am will to pay extra for quality!!!!! Veritas knows that - Lie Nielson knows that- Coca-Cola knows that- Rolex knows that- St Pauli Girl and Grolsch know that. Those are all products I own or drink. I hope I live another 20 years and you and I can look back and see what companies are still around!!!!
Thanks for listening!
"It used to be we could depend on the 'made in USA' label as a quality indicator."
I don't think that was ever true, in general. We just didn't know any better, because we had nothing to compare to. Over the years, quality of U.S.-manufactured goods has been as hit-or-miss as quality of imports. Just look at reality TV. ;-)
"But... it seems that once the company decides to 'lower the cost of producing' the product, they also often cut the 'quality' of the product by either specifying or just accepting poorer fit / finish or content."
That, unfortunately, is nothing more than supply and demand. They reduce the quality because it reduces the manufacturing cost, and the majority of consumers don't look past the price tag.
-Steve
I agree that with regard to quality control the blame is on us and the U.S. companies IF AND WHEN IT CAN BE ENFORCED. Realize that these products come through brokers.
How? Brokers approach domestic companies and ask to bid on the company's designs and products. They then go overseas - the most competitive are going to China, India and South American countries - and work with suppliers (manufacturers) there to get numbers to take back to the U.S. companies. I have been there and I have worked with them.
(An interesting side note: I have a Kodak digital camera that says on it "Designed in Japan, Made in China". It says it's a KODAK, for cripe's sake! It hurts but I have it.)
There is a background to this that I have seldom heard acknowledged:
It all really got started back in the early eighties when the environmental laws became effective and began being enforced. The multi-national computer company for which I was a senior staff engineer was forced to close its circuit board manufacturing plants and to seek outside sources. (That put a whoooole bunch of people out of work!) Of course those outside sources had to be offshore because NO ONE in the U.S. then had the technology to avoid contaminating the environment with cyanides and tri-chlor. Yes, some companies, both large and small, held on for a while but eventually, over the course of about ten to fifteen years, they disappeared. It wasn't just circuit board manufacturing. It was foundries and metal-working (and heat-treating) and anything that involved the then banned chemicals and processes.
Surprise though: The offshore products cost less than our own! That's when the (procurement) process REALLY accelerated.
Then the Internet struck and the world flattened, just as the book says.
These things I understand. I don't like it because China will own us, but I understand it. One thing I don't understand is why my toothpaste has to be made in China or even Mexico. It's all automated, darn it, or at least it should be! Can someone explain how cheap labor is a significant part of that product's cost?
Look a product over carefully before you buy regardless of where it claims to have been made. Caveat emptor has always applied and it still does.
Respectfully to all and thanks for a chance to vent, Pete
Pete,
I was going to buy the Ridgid Jointer, but ran across an older Grizzly 6" this weekend, original owner, for just $125...the model 1182, bought in 1994. It was just in great shape, so it's a Griz jointer for now. Solid steel...not a speck of rust on it.
However, I just finished assembling my Ridgid TS3650 table saw this weekend, and just ran my first cut this afternoon. Smooth as silk. I even left the stock blade and stock drive belt on for the time being, and I'm thinking that it just might pass the nickle test as is. The smoothness and quietness surprised me.
The fit and finish were far better than I expected. The assembly instructions left something to be desired, however. All the screws, bolts, etc came in well marked blister packs. However, after the first 2-3 pages of instructions, they stopped referring to specific bolt/nut/screw sizes, and it became a guessing game. The fence and rails are solid and move smoothly. I don't think I will be needing any after-market fence system.
I still need to get a band saw and drill press. However, the reviews on the Ridgid products have been mixed, at best. Any additional input from current owners would be welcome.
Lon
Hi Lon,
Congrats on your Grizzly AND your new table saw! I haven't seen one up close but I imagine the Grizzly has some advantages over even the Ridgid jointer. $125? Some guys have all the luck!
As for a drill press and bandsaw I can't comment on new stuff. My bandsaw is an *old* Sears 12" (80" blade) and it's suitable for a guy who is trying to be a woodworker as long as I work around it's weaker points. My drill press is also old. It's a bench-mounted Rockwell radial arm job that has served me well for over thirty years with virtually no maintenance save keeping it clean and squaring it up every few years. I wish I could but I can't speak for what's on the market now.
I should have mentioned that I am not happy with the Ridgid jointer's dust/shaving collection system but I'm putting up with it. The stuff backs up in the chute and has to be cleaned out frequently. *Maybe* if I had a real dust collection setup instead of my Fein Turbo III which has only a 2 1/2" hose, but I don't. Other than that the machine is fine - but that won't be a worry for you now.
Thanks for the note. Now go make some sawdust.
Pete
Pete,
Yeah, couldn't pass up that Grizz, and he threw in a mobile base, another set of knives, and a magnetic knife setter for that price, too. But, he made out well on the other end, getting a Bosch router and router table, a Delta 8" jointer, and a 13" planer for a grand total of $250 from an estate sale. So, he could afford to let the Grizz go at a good price.
How do you like the radial arm drill press? I'm very nearly committed to the Grizz radial arm. Just looks to me like it would be a lot more flexible than the fixed head. What's your opinion? FWW's test indicated that there might be a little bit more movement and setup issues with the radial arm, but apparently not enough to be a "deal killer".
I got my TS from Home Depot about 18 months ago, on sale for $300. That was a very good deal. However, the garage/shop that we were going to add to the house had to be put on hold when my 31 year old daughter was thrown from a horse and suffered traumatic brain injury. Then, when she came home from the hospital, we were forced to buy a different home entirely, with level entry and bedroom(s) on the main level. (We live in the mountains of SoCal). We had just moved to the new house, with garage, when the October fires burned down the old home....and all of my existing WW tools with it. Thankfully, the TS was stored elsewhere.
So, the TS came up the mountain two weeks ago. I've got the jointer now. And, with a little insurance money that I received, I've set my sites on BS, DP, and planer. However, since there are so many hand tools to replace, I'm looking for "gently used iron" before I spring for the new stuff.
If you happen to hear of anyone in the SoCal area who's upgrading, let me know. I might be their buyer.
Lon
Last year I purchased both the 14 inch bandsaw and floor height radial drill press from Grizzly. The drill press is fine, I don't use it that much, but have not had any problems with it. The bandsaw on the other hand is more tempermental, it seems I have to constantly adjust the tension on the blade. The fence on the bandsaw works well, however, I think the constant adjustments sort of turned me off from Grizzly. I just purchaed a new Ridgid 6 inch jointer as I already have a Ridgid 10 inch table saw that works fine. I am very pleased with the jointer and do not have a dust problem as I hooked it up to my shop vac. Have just purchased a Oneway multi guage indicator to really refine the alignment of the jointer. It should arrive this week.
Hope you enjoy your TS as much as I do mine.
I'm really beginning to lean toward the Ridgid BS after all. It fits my budget, and I'm a WWW (Weekend Wood Warrior) only, not building for a living. Thanks for the input. Sure like my Ridgid TS.
Lon
If you're not in a hurry to use it, you might want to build a nice solid, heavy table for it. It comes with a metal stand but it seems to allow lots of vibration. Andy
Cary,
Thanks for that bit of advice. I've seen that same information posted elsewhere, so the sheet metal must be pretty thin. A stand would be a good way to go.
Lon
Ya, I'm going to do the same for the Ridgid planer but for a different reason. Hoping to get rid of snipe and stop dropping pieces on the floor by making a long bed to mount it on with adjustable in/outfeed tables. It was nice of them to include stands when other companies did not, but I think they were meant to tide you over until you build your own. :) Andy
let them buy as much as they want,remember back in the 80s everybody was worried about the Japanese doing the same and we just sold them a bunch of over priced real-estate I think the same thing will happen again. Anyway it is disturbing to see so many things that used to be made here being made in China now. Troy
Pete:"My point is that Communist China is well on their way to owning us due to the vast majority of products now produced by them which once were produced by us. They are now buying up much of the USA and definitely and absolutely pose a threat to our future and our position as a world power."I really think this Chinese threat is overblown. It makes sense to export low-cost, low-skill activities, while retaining the high-skill, high-cost and high-profit work here. Presently, China needs us to buy their stuff more than we need to them to make it. Without it, their economy and political system would collapse.Being the only super-power has not really benefitted the USA, competition in commerce and power is generally a good thing; and monopolies not so good.For the USA to stay on top (whatever that means) it needs a higher educated and more productive workforce doing ever higher value-added things. We don't need to blame others.Regards,Hastings
Thanks for your thoughts, Hastings. I agree with virtually all you say. Certainly our educational system needs improvement to assure that we stay a leader in the world. That's a whole 'nother problem area. It is not only our kids that need and deserve improved knowledge *and understanding*, it is also our so-called leaders - from local governments all the way to Congress and the White House.
Please understand that I am not blaming the Chinese. I am blaming, if it is blame that must be assigned, our own aggressively enforced environmental laws *and* our tax structures that encourage companies to use foreign sources for so many of our goods. These elements have accelerated the movement of production facilities from within our country to Mexico, Central-South America, Asia and other areas.
One simply *cannot* buy American goods in most stores. It has gotten to the point where I am relieved if the label in a pair of trousers purchased in a high end store says "Made in Paraguay of American fabric" (or some such wording) - but even that is frustratingly rare anymore.
On the environmental side though, we surely have exported pollution to China in *proportion to the manufacturing we have exported* if not more so. How they deal with it and whether or not they overcome it will be interesting to watch. We have done them no favors in this regard. Greed rules.
Respectfully, Pete
Pete:You make some excellent points. Maybe it's not right to profit from lower pollution costs and labor, but those are the incentives that exist and we should not blame business for taking full advantage of them.It's a complicated situation for sure. I'm glad I don't have to come up with the answers!Regards,Hastings
it needs a higher educated and more productive workforce..I was and had to train three college kids to do my job and..I was OK with that at the time.. But I had this strange thing in my mind.. I worked for this place for MANY YEARS and fed my wife and children and hardly ever got hassled about anything...Been in China a few times.. Like anyplace on Earth.. DO not blame anything on the workers! They work their buts OFF!
You are kidding right? Taiwan is not CHINA. If you visit there you will see a world of difference in both QC and QA programs in manufacturing. And that doesn't even address the political differences, cultural differences, but then that is a different forum....
My experience with Rigid tools is limited to their random orbit sander which is a quantum leap in performance and comfort from my old one. Based on that alone I would enthusiatically endorse rigid, though, I am not familiar with the jointer to which you refer.
I have the ridgid and am very happy with it so far. Lifting the table wasn't too difficult but all the screws in the base were a pain to me.
I have the Ridgid and I love it. A very good quality machine, and the price was right when I bought it two years ago ($280 if you can believe it).
I chose it for the quality, but it also has a better warranty than the other machines I compared it with.
Thanks to you and all for your input. I purchased the Ridgid JP0610 (6") last night and started putting it togethr. Since I have a Ridgid table saw I expect the same quality from the Jointer. Should have it completed by the weekend and then a trial run.
thanks again for your input.
While the diplomatic issues with Taiwan vs China is a mess, if you want to start a fight I suggest you go talk to people from Taiwan and tell them they are part of China. They are so insistent that they are not that they have their own Air Force with some local built and also forgien built aircraft that would make China very unhappy if they ever tried to cross the water to visit. Also the do not pay anything to China, they are not ruled by China, and while the US may not have an ambassador (I will take your word for it) we have more then once sent a carrier into the area to make sure that China stayed on the mainland. (I have a friend that was on on of those carriers when it was sent into the area, a few years back now)
So I would not call them the same country. You may as well call the Falklands part of Argentina. Just because a country claims it does not make it part of the other country.
Doug
Congrats on your new jointer. In this case, it's probable that you've got similar quality as your saw, but it's not always possible in this day and age to draw conclusions of one tool based on another tool with the same name. Best to evaluate each tool on it's own merits IMO.
My recent foray back into woodworking started with the Ridgid TS2400L portable table saw. Cutting 8/4 rock maple through the little direct drive saw, which it did admirably, was an abuse on my part and the drive bearing gave out. Completely, my bad. I returned the saw without a receipt and was given a store credit which I used towards the TS3650. The larger saw went together well and was easily dialed in. While I hate the contractor saw's general design regardless of brand my experience with the BORG and these tools has been positive.
We all have to be smarter consumers in the world economy. Country of origin has little to do with overall quality of individual brands. The company provides the quality control with its production tools, materials, training, and assembly processes.
America has been for sale since the 1700's, China just happens to be the the current labor de Jour and unregulated environmental manufacturing zone.
Vic
I am interested in that question also. I have all of the other Rig stuff, but can't decide if a jointer is worthwhile, so far have been doing 'relatively' fine without one.
I love having a jointer and use it for nearly every project. Do you ever need to flatten the face of a board? There's no tool better suited for flattening an uneven face, then adding a 90 degree adjacent edge.
I have only been doing 'serious' woodworking for 2 years, but during that time have completed maybe 10 projects. I don't know if it is luck, the sources where I live, but I have yet to have any issues with the lumber I buy need anything more than sanding.
The only real need I have seen is to square up lumber and that I have been able to do successfully with just a table saw.
Maybe I am missing the point on the real benefit is of a jointer, but considering it was so low in the recent poll here on FW, I am not sure.
I have it (the newer orange one) and it's a well-built machine. Easy to adjust, straight, and true. My only gripe is that I wish the bed was longer. Any board longer than 4 feet is hard to manage.
It's also very "tippy" on a mobile base, so be careful (it took a dump in my driveway once).
TP
Edited 12/7/2007 2:38 pm ET by Toolpig
i have the rigid edger and find it ok
the only gripe i have with rigid is they have a 23 gauge pin nailer on at HD but have no pins available , seems somebody screwed up big time
38856.27 in reply to 38856.26
"i have the rigid edger and find it ok
the only gripe i have with rigid is they have a 23 gauge pin nailer on at HD but have no pins available , seems somebody screwed up big time"
They tend not to stock replacement sleeves for their own spindle/belt sander either.
The only 23 gauge pins I've found, at a specialty tool store, are by PC, and very expensive.
Jim
Woodcraft stocks the 23ga pins here, Columbus, Ohio. I would imagine most do, if one is near you. ANd Woodcraft ships same day for mail order. Maybe this helps, maybe not.
Have a great Christmas!
H D store manager says they will have 23 gauge pins by mid jan he expects
i discovered the pinner came with 1000 pins only problem is they are the longest usable
cheers have a good christmas and a happy new year
woodctr,
I wanted a 12" jointer, so I bought two of the Rigid 6" jointers and put them side-by-side. It works pretty good, but I still get a ridge down the middle. I remove that with my #3-sweep adze. Works pretty good.
Have fun.
Mel
PS there is one little problem with the setup. With the two sets of cutters working in opposite directions at the same time, it is impossible to find the one best direction to put each board through. Oh well, you can't have everything. At least I got a quasi-12" jointer cheap. :-)
Measure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
You might try welding 6 #7 jointer planes together. The you'd have a 13 ½" joiner!
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
what are you doing in this thread?
You should be over in the thread which is a survey on the next woodworking skill you want to learn.
,e;
or if I put my hands on the right keys,
MelMeasure your output in smiles per board foot.
Mel,
They're talking about new woodworking skills. I just got a new welder so I can make a new 12" + joiner. Oh, and I've mastered ALL the woodworking skills so there aren't any new ones. :-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
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