Replies

1. 
   snomaker | Dec 30, 2002 06:03pm | #1

   Grouchie,

   I think you might consider where you get the best deal based on location.  I'm in New Jersey and I just ordered the Yorkcraft as reviewed in the last Shops issue.  The freight on the Sunhill added too much to the cost and I also like the idea of the rack and pinion on the Yorkcraft as a Delta copy.  If you are out west, Sunhill is better for you.

   As someone else said in a previous post, since many of these machines have the same foundation, it might be possible to add on the Sunhill extensions, should you find you really need them at a later date.

   It seems both of these importers are sold out at the moment and March delivery is likely.

   Rich

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 30, 2002 06:38pm | #2

   Grouchie

      After much research I got the Sunhill. It came off the same mold as the Jet. The Jet has front cranks and the SH side mounts. The gibs are identical. The fit and finish is excellent for $325. The folks at Sunhill are courteous and helpful. This is an excellent buy. In this case you get the same quality as Jet for less. No middle man.

      Now that I have said this, I will add that Rich has a valid point about truck freight. The Yorkcraft had not come out when I did my research. It is also excellent and I would have narrowed between the SH and York. The York has rack and pinion fence. The SH has 52" table.

      What is more important to you. I prefer table length. The SH fence is smooth operating without the r&p. Think about this and then get prices on shipped to you and you may have a conclusion. Either way you have cash left over (another tool perhaps) <grin>..

      Fit and finish not good. The person that wrote that probaly drives a Mercedes. IMO, that is bogus. Have a look up close..

   Good luck...

   sarge..jt

   
1. 
   GrouchieGrum | Dec 30, 2002 10:15pm | #3

   I made the call today... shipping is $79.00 but they are back ordered til 2nd week in february... which I suppose isnt too bad since the current projects I have on my plate dont require a jointer and will prolly take me til then anyways.... Unless I read something to the contrary, i will prolly call and order by the end of this week... I figure $408.00(w/shipping and handling included) isnt a bad price for a 6" jointer... 

   I am by no means a jointer guru, I have used my fathers 25+ year old sears for the past few projects, but the Sunhill shows their fence has positive stops at 45, 90, and 135... which all other units only go up to 90... I assume thats no big deal though, but it intrigued me...

   keep the replies coming please....

1. 
   Mach70 | Dec 31, 2002 04:00am | #4

   I've piped in here before about how much I like my Sunhill 6" so I won't bore anyone by blathering on. BUT I do want to make a couple points. The fence is very solid & smooth operating. Most other brands have the same range of adjustment but often are expressed 45-0-45, 135 degrees is the "open" 45 and is, I believe, a standard stop on all jointers. A rack n pinion would be a nice plus, but unnecessary. The fit & finish is great--and was a pleasant surprise. I expected there to be swirls in the bed but was pleased the grinding is done to a very fine degree. The jointer was correctly setup right out of the box (tables parallel, knives set properly). Hopefully my unit (purchased about 9 months ago) is typical.

   For very detailed pics and some more blathering visit:

   http://www.wood-workers.com/users/mwg/sunhillwords.html

1. 
   LeeEschen | Dec 31, 2002 09:42am | #10

   Excellent pictures! Thank you!

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

1. 
   GrouchieGrum | Jan 02, 2003 09:53pm | #11

   Ordered my sunhill jointer today... they gave me a free flange for dust collection.. I didnt even ask, not sure if they feel guilty making me wait until february or not.. but it was a nice addition...

   just wanted to give you all a heads up... thanks for the responses...

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 03, 2003 08:20am | #12

   Grouch

      Congratulations and consider yourself a full fledged member of the "Sunhill Gang". ha..ha.. Your membership card will be in the mail soon.

   Good decision and be looking for another tool to spend the left-overs on. <G>

   sarge..jt

3. 
   GrouchieGrum | Jan 03, 2003 05:07pm | #13

   already thinking about the next tool.. prolly gonna break down and buy the 2 speed delta planer... everyone seems to rave about the 10k rpm etc etc....  we have a woodworking show coming up Jan 24-26, here in indianapolis... I will prolly look around then for a planer, and maybe a couple of new blades for my tablesaw..... thanks again for all the help....

   Do you have a better recommendation for a planer?

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 03, 2003 06:54pm | #14

   Grouch

      I just bought the Delta 22-580 2 speed after a lot of checking. I got a good price at Amazon. $409 to door. I also like the Ridgid and Dewalt. All three get the job done. I choose the Delta as it has a few extras the others don't. I also got the price right and the dust collection is IMO the best of the three.

      Shop the best deal for you after looking at local taxes, shipping and the features you can live with. All three are excellent in a portable. If you need commercial duty, jump to a 15" or bigger.

   Have a good day.....

   sarge..jt

5. 
   mattsanf | Jan 07, 2003 07:36am | #15

   I just joined this board and intended to ask about the Sunhill Jointer....you guys have already done the work for me.  I'm sold.   Thanks

6. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 08, 2003 11:15pm | #16

   Matt

      And pretty intensive work we did. Don't forget to join the "Sunhill Gang". We'll send a membership card. Ha....

      BTW, just posted on your DC thread. Hope to get a picture of the system soon.

   Regards....

   sarge..jt

3. 
   Mach70 | Dec 31, 2002 04:17am | #5

   I'd like to clear up a couple errors about the Sunhill I have read. The Oct. 02 Popular Woodworking has a spec table showing the Sunhill has no dust port and uses springs to lift the knives. Wrong. What do they think that 6x6 opening in the side of the cabinet is for? Odd that ONLY the Sunhill is listed that way. And the cutterhead uses jack screws for knife adjustment, NOT springs. American WW also listed springs in their '99 test so maybe Sunhill changed this design at some point??

1. 
   jeffn7 | Dec 31, 2002 04:23am | #6

   it's also worth mentioning that while the sunhill is basically the same jointer that Jet and others sell, there are some bonuses... like a 4 knife cutterhead that gives you more CPI that the other machines (I have the 8").

   whatever that big hole in the side is for, it also works great with a dust collection adapter... it's even conveniently predrilled for one :)

1. 
   Mach70 | Dec 31, 2002 04:44am | #7

   Yes, and even better--the predrilled & tapped holes are the correct location for a standard plastic Delta adapter (Got one at Lowes, $5.00 I think).

   So even their 8" jointer has that big hole that PWW can't figure out...they also say the 8" doesn't have jack screws. Did they get that right?

   >whatever that big hole in the side is for, it also works great with >a dust collection adapter... it's even conveniently predrilled for one :)

1. 
   Marcello | Dec 31, 2002 08:13am | #8

   I bought the 6" SH about a month ago and it came with a big hole in left side like you guys describe, but, they threw in a free 4" DC adaptor.  It covers the hole, works great.  It has been the most fun I ever thought possible...

   Marcello

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 31, 2002 08:52am | #9

      The "big hole" is the dust port. It's just like the Jet, but the big hole on the Jet has a standard jointer 4" dust port connector with the unit. Maybe that's why it cost the extra $175. Ha...

      Also notice that it has 1/4" x 20 threaded holes. Alas, you add your own 6" jointer dust port and now you have the same as the Jet. These are available various sources. One is made for 4" dust port for both 6" jointer and 8" jointer. Be sure to specify. Stone Mountain Tool is where I bought mine, but they don't have a web-site. Highland Hardware, the old southern stand-by has them on-line and in their catalog. Web as follows: http://www.highlandhardware.com  Part # 195626 for 6" and 192627 for 8". This is not really a hardware store, it's a WW tool mecca and has been since the mid-seventies.

      BTW, if you don't have a 4" DC system you can put a 4" port on and add an 2 1/2" adaptor for your shop-vac. Same results, just working with less cfm. They've got that item also. If they don't have it, it probaly can't be got. Ha... The catalog if free. Call and get on their mail list.

   Late EST, ya'll take care....

   sarge..jt

4. 
   patjoja | Jan 08, 2003 11:35pm | #17

   I purchased the Sunhill jointer several years ago and am very pleased with it.  It is an heavy duty machine.  The only warning is that the 52" length is made up of two 4 or 5" extensions you bolt onto the ends of each bed.

   Patrick

1. 
   Marcello | Jan 17, 2003 09:35pm | #18

   Patrick,

   It took me about 5 minutes to figure that one out.  Seems like an afterthought for extra length.  The molds for the main table were probably done and they did not want to go thru the expense of redoing them.  Or maybe it was shipping issues.  Once installed though, the pieces are perfectly flat with one another.  It works for me.

   Marcello