All,
I just started a small part time woodworking bus and was looking for some input on the Rigid Jointer and Planer? I don’t really see many of you commenting on the Rigid line. Is this really junk or just not for production? All your thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,
RJ
Replies
Depends on what your plans are for the machines and your budget.
If thats what you can afford at the time and they do the job then great. If you feel that you need to step up to a higher quality machine at some later time when money is more available then you can.
My policy is always buy the best you can afford. I've seen some pretty remarkable work done with Harbor Freight tools!
The Rigid line is far from the best you can buy but its far from the worst.
Doug
The Ridgid wwing machinery is pretty good in general, but I think it's intended more for homeshop use than industrial use....doesn't mean it won't work out for your needs though.
Thanks for the input guys! Any thoughts on how it may compare to grizzly's 12" portable planer. Yes, I always try to buy the best that I can afford, I have been bitten many times on that one.
I like many of the Grizzly machines, the jointer included, but find no price or mechanical advantages with their portable planer over more popular brand names that are available locally....Delta, DeWalt, Makita, Ridgid, etc.
You can (should!) get a waaayyyy better planer than the benchtop Grizzly, but their jointers are nice. The Rigid planer is a good, solid benchtop machine. I have a friend (ex-cabinetmaker) who uses one for remodeling his Arts-and-Crafts home, making bookcases and such, and is extremely happy with it. A question whether it would stand up to production work, depending on how heavy you use it.
IMHO, stay away from the small Grizzly planer: no head-lock, produces quite a bit of snipe. One of their stationary planers might be a different story.
If you get the Rigid jointer, check it carefully for flatness and co-planer infeed/outfeed. You might want to look at the better of the Grizzly 6" jointers, see how they compare in features and price. Can you afford one of their 8" jointers???forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hi forest Girl.
I recently purchased a General International 6" jointer. Haven't used it yet though. I need to know if paying 2X as much for the General International 8" jointer would be a better investment of my money. I can always bring back the 6" and exchange it for an 8" .
I paid $789.00 not including taxes for the 6" jointer. The 8" jointer would cost $2070(Canadian) not including taxes. So $2380 (taxes in..8" jointer)- $907(taxes in.. 6" jointer)= $1473 So for $1473 more I could have an 8inch jointer. I have to justify the extra cost. ( Instead of going on a vacation this year I could pay out the extra $1473 and buy myself an excellent 8" jointer) how's that for rationalizing?) LOL So I have to decide if I will bring back the 6" jointer and move up to an 8"
When building dressers/chest of drawers... What is the average size of the drawers? The dressers I have are around 7" on average. I realize a 6" jointer is fine for jointing narrower boards for table tops and side panels for bedside tables but not so great for dressers if you drawers are wider than 6".
Right now I am in the middle of building drawers for an old birch dresser. The top drawer is 5" in width and the other 2 drawers are 7" in width. Naturally you can't joint a 1X8 board on a 6" planer. Someone told me I could rip the 1X8 pine board in 2 and then glue up the boards.. then cut them to 7".. hmmmm Depends how much time you have I suppose. Glueing up boards would be time consuming.
Since it's an old dresser I"m using pine for the drawer fronts/fasle fronts and inside "box"...( back, front, and 2 sides) The top of the birch dresser is stained so I've decided to paint it rather than stain the dresser. The stain is too far into the wood fibers to sand out. Bleach didn't work either.
Anyways what would you do? I know people like to say buy the best that you can afford. But sometimes it's better to put off purchasing something and saving till you can afford the better quality machine. This is a once in a lifetime purchase and I don't want to regret my purchase down the road....
Wanda
Of course your dresser's top will be as wide as the depth of your drawers. But you don't have to own a 20" jointer to do it.
You can prep the stock before gluing to make a wider panel. If you glue up two dead-flat boards with perfectly 90° edges, with care you'll end up with as flat a panel as you would have gotten from a jointer wide enough to handle the whole thing.
The point is, if you let the width of your jointer dictate your design, you're going to be very limited indeed. Draw the line at a point that doesn't kill your budget, then use a combination of gluing, hand work and other techniques to handle the stock wider than your jointer.
For my own shop, I decided to pay the $$ to get the 8" (it was an increase of only a couple hundred bucks) Grizzly, but I'm not chasing a wider jointer any time in the near future. Wider panels get worked by hand.My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
Depends on how important vacations are to you, I guess. I haven't had one in so long, I had to look it up in the dictionary, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Dear Wanda,
I think that an 8" jointer would serve you far better than a 6" machine. I have a Powermatic 6" jointer that is great, but I am constantly running up against the fact that it is only a 6". Just like in your post, drawer faces and what not, for my purposes at least the 8" would be more than worth the extra $. As for costs, Amazon lists the Grizzly 8" @ $655.00 (US) and the PM @ $1199.00 (US). I don't know how that translates into Canadian, but the Grizzly seems like quite the deal. Here is the link :http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=br_ss_hs/104-8102472-5900765?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=jointers&Go.x=0&Go.y=0&Go=GoGood Luck!John
Dear Wanda,
While I'm spending your money, I noticed that Grizzly sell its 8" with a spiral cutterhead for $995.00 plus $139.25 shipping for a total of $1134.25 (US). Again, I don't know how that would work out in Canadian, but that seems like a steal! : http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0593 I have a spiral cutterhead on my jointer and it is great! No knife setting, reduced tear out, quieter, and reduced pressure to pass the piece over the cutterhead. You should know that some spiral cutters leave lines in the piece that are easily cleaned up a quick sand. Good Luck!John
Wanda,
The real problem for us Canadians is the lack of low priced equipment. Grizzly doesn't ship to Canada. So we're left with a rather small collection of value priced equipment. General is priced a little higher, but in my opinion it's much better than most of the alternative (Busy Bee, Canwood, King...).
I've gottne along with a 6" jointer for the last few years. I have access to an 8" and an occsaional 12" if I really need it, but to date I haven't taken my friends up on their offers. It just takes a little imagination in your design. For instance for a 7" drawer face you could get 8/4 stock 4" wide, resaw it and bookmatch the peices to get the 7" drawer face. If you reall want to use a 7" wide board you could always hand plane it.
From my point of view I think you're always going to find a wider board than what your jointer can handle. If I were you I'd take a little bit of that money and getting yourself a 14" bandsaw. As I recently discoverd as my favorite tool in the shop.
Dear Buster,
Amazon must ship to Canada, no?John
john,
last time i tried amazon wouldn't sell tools to canada - must be some kind of agreement with a tool supplier up here. same as grizzly.Rick in Cowichan Bay, B.C. - 50km north of Victoria, B.C.
My Website: http://www.rickswoodworking.ca
Dear Rick,
Wow, so much for the Global Economy! That's a bummer! Move to the US!John
Unfortunatly no. Amazon will ship Books, DVD's and CD's but nothing 'good'.
You'd be surprised how much we are limited to up here. Never seen a Powermatic around here, I once saw a 14" Jet Bandsaw... Delta and General are common. Laguna will ship to Canada; they ship it to a central location in the east or west then it gets shipped from there. I don't know if they arrange it or if you have to. I noticed Sawstop is being sold retail up here.
Don't feel too bad for us... There is a Lee Valley store 15 minutes from where I work.
Hi,
I've been toying with the idea of purchasing the delta 14" bandsaw for ages. But I really can't justify a purchase like that since I don't do a lot of resawing, and isnt' that what the bandsaw excels at. Plus I own a jigsaw so I can cut curves using that. What interesting things have you done with your 14" bandsaw?????
Yup, unfortunately Grizzily doesn't ship to Canada. If they did I'd definitely purchase the 8" Grizzily jointer. Wouldn't mind purchasing a 3hp Powermatic table saw either. But they just don't ship to Canada. We pay way too much for good quality tools here in Canada. I can't believe Grizzily's prices.
Wanda
Hello Buster,
Have you ever used any Canwood machines. I noticed they have an 8" Canwood jointer selling for $999 canadian. If only I could get my hands on a Grizzily!.. LOL
I don't know much about Canwood woodworking tools. I've only read reviews on General/GI , Delta, Powermatic, Jet and Grizzily.
Wanda
Wanda, I'll reply to both messages at once.
I've been toying with the idea of purchasing the delta 14" bandsaw for ages. But I really can't justify a purchase like that since I don't do a lot of resawing, and isnt' that what the bandsaw excels at. Plus I own a jigsaw so I can cut curves using that. What interesting things have you done with your 14" bandsaw?????
I admit the bandsaw is one of the underutilized tools in the shop. Buyt I find new uses for it everyday. This could be a whole new thread. Since I buy all my wood rough I need to break it down to rough size. These days I use the bandsaw to rip to rough width (or jointer width if I intend to flatten t that way). I'll joint a face then resaw to a rough thickness. Resawing to a rough thickness saves wood if you are going from 2" to 1 1/2". Woods expensive and isn't as renewable as we'd like to think.
I don't know much about Canwood woodworking tools.
Canwood is House of Tools 'house' brand. When I was looking at jointers I compared the Canwood and the GI 6" and 8" jointers side by side. They were virtually identical. The general is has better fit and finish, and better quality control (as explained to me by the sales rep). I would have bought the Canwood if I would have have 220V power in the garage at that time.
Which is the other thing about 8" jointers. Realistically, you need a 220V line to run it.
Good luck.
Hi Buster,
hmmm I have my table saw wired for 220volts. I had a 30amp breaker put in and a special extension cord custom made for the table saw. I paid out $100 for the ext. cord believe it or not . So running an 8" jointer wouldn't be a problem in my small basement tool room.
What exactly do you mean by "fit" I know the finish is better on the GI. Now as for quality control... Don't know if you can believe everything sales people tell you.
Yup, I've heard of House of tools. I get their monthly flyer. I even have their webpage bookmarked. :)
If I did decide to buy the Canwood... I wonder if my local tool shop would take back the GI 6" jointer I purchased from them at the beginnning of the month.... I haven't used it. Haven't even plugged it in yet. I've just been admiring it's good looks! Its' just sitting their in the corner of my workshop.
do you know if the Canwood jointer comes with the same jack knife cutter system????
Wanda
Indecision is a terrible thing!
Hi Buster,
Just got off the phone with House of Tools .... I'm waiting for them to call back. I have to find out how much it would cost to ship a heavy machine like an 8" jointer all the way from Alberta-Newfoundland. She estimated $420 but said she'd make some calls and get back to me.
I was talking to their tech and he said the Canwood is equivalent to the General International jointer. Both are made in the same factory overseas. The Canwood is so much cheaper because they ship directly to the customer. Canwood and GI are not as good as General woodworking machines.. that much I do know. because General is made in Quebec. I was told that Canwood and GI are not industrial strength machines. but for the small workshop I'm sure the Canwood would be fine.
Now to find out how much they charge for shipping/handling. If they only charge $420 for shipping and I'm able to return the 6" jointer I have for a full refund. then the 8" jointer is affordable.
Shame Finewoodworking doesn't do a review of tools in Canada.
Wendy
Wanda, as an Irishman of Newfoundland heritage* I an stunned and bummed out with how you are treated with regard to buying equipment. What's the reason and which politicians make it this way? If you have wood workers clubs/groups Newfie or all Canada, get them to beat on the politicians in the press! This is wrong. Pat
*Dad from Argentia, Mom Fox harbour and a raft of relatives in the St. Johns area-a chief of police, the head passenger agent for CNR and an uncle who owned a major millwork shop.
As luck may have it, the shop I just worked in had a Ridgid 6" jointer when I started there. Total piece of garbage. We replaced it twice before getting a GI long bed 6" jointer. I have worked with GI machines at several places over the years and, while not suited to high-volume production, are more than adequate for a smaller, limited-production shop.As an interesting sidebar, the last 20" GI planer I used was identical in every way except colour to three other planers I've used over the years. I guess they all come from the same factory and are just branded differently.
I have found that no matter what size woodworking machine you have, you will always run into situations where it would be nice to have a larger size. Usually you can adapt the work to the size of your machine. For instance, if you have an 8" jointer , what if you decide to plane a 9" board? Of course, you would rip it in two. The same holds true for a 6". Having used both for many years, I have a 6" Ridgid and get along fine. However, I am retired and time is not a problem. When I taught three or four wood shop classes with 15 to 20 students per class, my jointer really got a workout. It not only would plane a wider board but knives last much longer on a wider machine. Once again, if I am not going to subject the machine to a lot of pressure, I prefer a 6" machine.
In my younger days I seem to remember there were quite a few four inch jointers. I haven't even heard of such a machine for years
The first jointer that I owned was a 4". It was fine for edge work if it was not very long. Two problems with 4" machines. The beds are too short for accurate long work and it seems you are always in need of sharper knives. I have a Ryobi benchtop 6" jointer that I like for small work but it has the same problem as the 4" in that it is too short for accurate work longer than about 30". Before I purchases my Ridgid, I would joint long stock with a jointer plane. What I do like about the Ryobi is the quality of cut. It runs on a universal motor, variable speed at, I believe, 8000rpms. Like a router, you have to be careful not to overheat the knives on very hard stock.
Hi,
I haven't visited the forum in ages. Just catching up now... I thought all small power tools had universal motors and many of the larger woodworking machines had Induction motors. I believe the universal motors are a lot quieter.
Wanda
Universal motors are loud as compared to induction motors.
I now have an 8 inch by 83 inch bed. It is certainly long enough but a lot of the boards I will be working with are 12 inches wide and I think "it would sure be nice to have a 12 inch jointer." I guess there is no end to it. I'm going to get rid of the old Craftsman jointer that does'n have an adjustable outfeed table and besides it is twisted.
Edited 12/19/2006 10:12 pm ET by tinkerer2
I don't blame you for getting rid of the Craftsman jointer. I prefer to have an adjustable outfeed table. As for the 12" jointer, I used one when I was in college and found that it took too much down pressure for a guy my size. I weighed about 150 at the time and when I applied enough pressure to hold the board down, I lost traction at my feet even standing on a rubber mat. I guess a person just has to select machinery to suit his individual requirements. If I had a very large shop I would prefer an 8" but things as they are, my 6" fits fine.
Edited 12/23/2006 7:45 pm ET by wdrite
Wanda, I started off without a jointer, and sure wished I haden't. It one of those tools that do it so much faster and more accuratly than by hand, or oher machines. That said, I am very satisfied with a 6" Delta, and don't pine for a larger one. I don't quite understsand about 7" boards. I would run them through my thickness planer, or am I missing something? Anyways, Think twice before filling your shop with a big expensive tool, if you can get away with something smaller that will still do the job.
Hi Forestgirl,
On a different note I hope the bad weather missed you. That's almost hurricane weather you had. What was the high gust where you were? I live in FL now, raised in Oregon, so I know a bit about big wind storms now.
ks
Regards,
Ken
"Do as you would be done by." C.S. Lewis
Hi, Ken. See my thread in the Cafe for into on the storm. I don't know what the local gusts were up to, but they brought down some big, big, big trees! Five houses fell victim on the island. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Dear R,
I can't speak to the Rigid jointer, but I had the planer when it came out a couple of years ago, I wasn't pleased with its performance, that coupled with the fact that the first time that I attempted to change the blades, the second bolt that I tried to loosen, promptly stripped. I was done with it right there. I am a contractor and I can't be fooling around with these things. I need them to work. I used to burn out about one Delta per year, I tried the Rigid, which lasted less than a week. I finally bit the bullet and bought a Makita. That was about four years ago, maybe longer. I work that thing to death, well not to death, because it won't die. Ipe, Oak, Maple, Brazilian Cherry, you name it, no problem. I highly recommend it. In general, I don't buy tools from HD, but that is for another thread. That being said, I did buy the Rigid 14" bandsaw, because I needed it NOW. It's OK, if it was lighter, I would return it and get a good saw, (PM, Delta etc.). It is in my shop, it will do for now. It is not a tool that I use all of the time. I went for 20 yrs. without a jointer and on site I still do. On site I use a Hitachi 10" slide saw, a makita 10" tablesaw in a Rousseau table, with the Makita 12" planer. That is the "golden triangle". In the shop, the only carry over is the planer. It is so good that I just can't justify a bigger planer. (try as I might). My jointer is a 6" PM 54A with a Byrd "Shelix" cutter head. My only complaint is that I should of gotten the 8". If you want to make money, you are going to need good tools. I understand about budgets, I have four kids and we are single income, so every dollar is a must. The money that you might save will be quickly eaten up by time. Get the Makita planer, it will serve you very well. As for jointers, I like mine, but the Grizzly, Yorkcraft, and Sunhill are all good units and will price out better as well. Get the 8". Let me know if I can help any further spending your money!
John
hi,
i have both the ridgid jointer and the planer. i bought them just a little over 2 years ago and am extremely happy with both of them. i've heard only great things about the jointer especially - it's solid, easy to use and dead-on accurate right out of the box.
i haven't had any problems changing blades on the planer - i found it to be one of the really nice things about the planer - fast and simple blade changes. the blades are doublesided and i guess i've changed them about 3 times in the past 2 years with no trouble. the planer is also very easy to operate and dead-on accurate.
Rick in Cowichan Bay, B.C. - 50km north of Victoria, B.C.
My Website: http://www.rickswoodworking.ca
I got the Rigid 6" jointer about a year ago. Very quick assembly and it worked perfect right out of the box. It continues to do a very good job.
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