Replies

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 10, 2002 10:19pm | #1

   forest_girl, Jet sells their 6" jointer with three sets of blades. I always assumed that meant one for the machine, one spare and one being sharpened. However, it may also mean that these are supposed to be disposable and you just buy new ones. These are sharp on both sides so they can be flipped. Effectively you end up with 6 sets of blades (3 in each set). Each set runs about 49.00 (depends on where you shop). I could buy nearly 4 new sets, (read as if 8) for the price of the Grizzly disposable system so the disposable system does not sound to me like a very good investment.

   I am viewing it from this perspective because I am not in a high production environment. If I were, I would likely have a much larger Jointer and the cost of the blade would be such that sharpening would likely be the better option. I'm still on my first set of blades and have honed them per the Jet instructions with excellent results.

   John

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 10, 2002 10:39pm | #2

   Hi John, thanks for the info on the Jet.  One of the things I'm curious about is how easy/hard  the blades are to install correctly.  With the (relatively) new quick-change planer blades systems, their position is pre-determined and you just pop 'em in.  Am wondering if the Jet blade installation is similar, or does one need to learn how to "set" the blades.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 10, 2002 10:56pm | #3

   A friend, (cuttoff), gave me a tool for setting the blades. It is a magnetic thingy that holds the blades at the correct height while you tighten them. I've never used it and can't remember the name but it is one of the more popular products for performing the task. He said it worked great but upgraded to the next model up so he could set his planner blades too. He's never used either of them for his Jet Jointer either.

   John

   Edited 6/10/2002 4:03:51 PM ET by John

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 10, 2002 11:15pm | #4

   Hi John :-) Hmmmm, well, if I decide to get a Jet jointer instead of the Grizzly, I'll have to get me a set of those dealiebobs I guess!  I was looking at the Grizzly because of the Dispoz-a-blade option, but if it's going to end up costing me as much as a Jet, might as well get the Jet!  Need to do something soon, fer sure.  It's frustrating not having a jointer.

   Probably will get the 2-speed Delta planer.  Had originally planned on getting the Rigid, but since the new Delta came out at nearly the same price, that has moved to the top of my wish list.  So I'd be able to use the regular dealiebob (rather than the more advanced model you referred to).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 10, 2002 11:22pm | #5

   I just sent you an email, did you get it yet ? I think the Delta two speed would be sweet to have. I was at one of my favorite toy shops this past week and picked up a Jet Dust Collection system. I was looking for the Delta because a friend recommended it but they told me that everything from Delta has been on back order for nearly 6 months. I'm not sure how much stock to put into that statement since it could have just been a sales thing. I am glad I got the Jet instead of the Delta because when compaired the Jet seems just as powerfull and is about half as noisy.John

2. 
   cuttoff | Jun 10, 2002 11:24pm | #6

   Almost forgot... I wish I had room for the 8" jointer, the 6" is fine but I think the 8" would have been the better choice in the long run.

   John

1. 
   sschefer | Jun 10, 2002 11:45pm | #7

   Jamie, I'll have to agree with John, you should probably look at the 8" jointer. Weird huh, finally I agree with someone. I wonder if he has my sense of humor too. LOL.Steve - in Northern California

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 11, 2002 06:56am | #10

   Hi Steve, how'z thingz??  Appreciate the tip on the 8" jointer, but am afraid that's waaaayyyyy out of my budget (ask me what I brought home today!).  I have a friend on the island here who had once talked with me about sharing the cost of a new saw, but since mine's working fine now (yes!), we are now on track to share a jointer instead.  I'm going to call Ram Tools tomorrow and see if they have any scratch-n-dent available (Jet).

   I split from Knots in mid-reading early this afternoon, so I have to go back and read what John and q-sawn et al. have to say.  Spent the afternoon price-matching again :-)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 11, 2002 07:08am | #11

   Whoa, girl.. way to much time on your hands... ... Cool,,, take the time, think about the share and buy the powermatic 8" instead of the Jet 6". Take Steve's advice and get the 8" at least. You will end up salvaging so much of what you consider to be garbage wood that it will easily pay for the extra expense of the 8".

   For instance... remember that old piece of junk wood that you found at the lumber yard and got for nearly nothing... Well... is it still sitting there in your shop... Probably because you don't have a way to straighten it out ... right... Well with the 8" jointer you can fix that piece of wood and make something out of it... Think about it...John

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 11, 2002 07:37am | #12

   Well, John, I'd love to take your advice but there's no way financially (that's today, money in the bank, no loans, no over-extensions) an 8" jointer is in the picture.  Just have to live with reality sometimes, like it or not.  I'll be happy to have a 6" if it comes to pass.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   alexlisa | Jun 11, 2002 12:00am | #8

   I think the only small-shop sized jointer with "registered" blades that just drop in is the Inca combination jointer/planer available through Garrett Wade. It is, of course, very expensive. That system is called the "Tersa" blade holder, and I imagine it's similar to the Delta 12.5" planer blade holder system. That seems so simple, I don't know why they dont just use the same system on the jointers. It seems like a no brainer, but nobody has done it yet, at least on affordable jointers.

   I bought the Jet 6" jointer. It works very well. I checked the top of blade height against outfeed table with a magnetic base dial indicator, and it was dead on right out of the box. I have one of the "magnaset" jointer knife setting widgets. I regret buying it. These are really designed for jointers with spring blade lifters. The magnets are supposed to pull the blades up level with the outfeed table. The Jet and Delta jointers have jack screws that force the blades up out of there slots. Problem is, when you tighten the lock screws, the knives creep, so you tend to lose any alignment you started out with anyway. I set the knives just below outfeed table at top dead center, then creep them up reading against a dial indicator till it hits zero, at which point you are theoretically dead even with the outfeed table. It is not fun, but I get a little quicker each time I do it.

1. 
   gerry001 | Jun 11, 2002 05:50am | #9

   Having tried several methods of setting jointer blades, I'll endorse q-sawn's use of the dial indicator. I start the blades a bit high and snug down the lock screws just a bit. Then use a piece of wood and a small mallet to gently tap down the blade. That way the final tightening doesn't move them, and it's the fastest process I've found for getting them dead on.

   Gerry

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 11, 2002 07:53am | #13

   Hi q-sawn, good to see you again!  Want to thank you and Gerry for the tips on setting jointer blades.  Might be about to take the plunge on one.  This is one of those situations where I've probably done too much reading for my own good -- seen too many frustrated WWers yelling for help with their jointers.  Sounds like I'd do OK with your method, though.  Thanks!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)