Give her a Jointer for mothers day!

Sarah, everybody knows 6” is not as user friendly as 8”.

If you have to go for a bit of financing and (you really need a planer) then shoot for the 8”.
A this point I doubt you can put a $50.00 bill between and of them.
That’s small price to pay given the cost of lumber now.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Sarah I bought a jointer/thicknesser combination machine so far so good & saves buying two separate machines & space as well.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Bob#2,
So, when you say the 8 is more “user friendly” are you saying it is just inherently easier to use because it is an 8 (regardless of brand) , , , due to the stability of mechanical adjustments, or something.?)? Or, that in the long term, everyone wishes they had an 8 (regardless of brand)?

I think of something like the Craftex as perhaps not the same quality but, does the advantages of a lower end 8 outweigh a 6 by one of my more favourite companies? (I’m not that experienced with tool brands so don’t anyone be offended by my prejudices, of which I could be dissuaded.)

The difference between the granite top and steel top on the SC was $50 . . .but the difference between the Steel City 6 and say the Craftex 8 was about a third more. I could almost handle that, but the Steel City 8 was out of my price range.)

Do you see my dilemma , (or what I perceive as one)?

Grumpy, fortunately I do have a thickness planner already but that would have been a good idea.
SM

I would not go for King or Craftex not my choise of tools

-- - - Tools are nice to have but you need someone to work them - -

I have to say almost any 8 is a better value than any 6.
There is little to choose from in 8’s and several differences in 6 ’s.
It would be too intense to discuss each one in comparison here.
I beg you to go to a dealer and take and expert with you.
If I were on a budget Iwold look at craftex or King. They are good value for prices,
If I wee buyig for life I would consider Gernera or House of tools. privae label

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I understand. Thanks for the clarification. Fortunately, I cannot purchase anything tomorrow, so I will have to sleep on it (always a good thing for me when it comes to buying shop tools!)
Good night from the North Atlantic Coast.
SM

Well, I am not familiar with the brands that you are discussing (King and Craftex) but I would push for an 8” jointer.

I had a Jet 6” jointer and I outgrew that almost immediately.

I bought a Powermatic 54A 6” jointer because it had a longer bed on it. It must have been at least 20” longer. This was a dream machine for me at first.

Then the types of projects that I was doing demanded a wider cut. So I got a Grizzly 8” with a spiral head cutter. This is the bomb! I can face joint highly figured woods with no tear out. 90% of the boards that I get will fit the capacity of the jointer once they are straight edged. Meaning that if they are over 8” when purchased, once I clean them up with two straight edges, they usually fit the capacity of the jointer for face jointing. With a wider capacity you will find that you face joint a lot more.

I have to say that most could live with the longer bed and cut capacity of the 8” jointer forever. Many will find that a 6” jointer will be quickly outgrown.

The type of projects must be taken into account. The longer the boards to be jointed, the longer the bed needs to be. Much of my work has dictated a larger jointer. (I am dreaming of a 10” now.) If all that you are doing is small boxes, an 8” is not necessary.

When I had the 6”, I was always wishing for something bigger. The reality of my situation is that the 8” will suffice for the level of work that I am doing.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Just remember that a planer can do most of the work of a jointer with the right technique and fixtures.

They are 12” minimum width.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I don’t know if this is an option for you but you might consider the Grizzly G0490X 8” jointer. Benefits of this jointer:

3HP 220V Motor
Spiral carbide cutter heads.
Parallelogram infeed and outfeed tables.
Infeed Table Size: 43 3/8”
Outfeed Table Size: 33”
Total Table Size: 76 3/8”
Built in mobile base.

$1075.00 US

Or you can get the G0490, same machine as above but with 4 high speed steel knives.

$795 US

I have a Grizzly 6” jointer and will upgrade as soon as I can afford it. The extra bed length and width are worth the money. I want the carbide cutter head because it’ll leave a better surface and it is easier to change nicked blades.

-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter

I own the GO490 and love it. Wish I had the spiral cutterhead. Might upgrade someday.

-- Pat, Colorado