Jointer,Tell me about your `s

I am very happy with my Grizzly G0604X. It is solid, dependable and simple. Simple is a virtue. I’m confident that if anything ever needed to be repaired I could easily do it myself and getting parts from Grizzly is amazingly easy. They have great customer service.

The parallelogram feature is great for assuring you that the infeed and outfeed tables are perfectly parallel. The built in mobile base works great and I like the elevated switch.

Only issue – - You must have a dust collector connected and running when using this jointer. Otherwise, the discharge chute will plug up.

FWIW – I am in the minority, but I see no need for the spiral cutterhead. You get very clean cuts with the straight blades. I’ve used my jointer quite a bit for over a year and I have yet to sharpen the blades.

Observation – I don’t recall exactly what I paid for mine, but when I checked the website I see a price that is quite a bit more than I paid. I think I paid in the low $500s. In my opinion, even at this higher price, it is worth it, but, Grizzly often has sales and they may put this model on sale one of these days.

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

I found my Grizzly 8in G0593 w/Spiral Cutter on CL and just an hour from my house. It was ~2yr old at the time and I paid $700 and picked up locally. I have had it a year and have never been happier. Sure I lost any warranty, but that being said, I figured the bugs had been worked out by the time I got it and saved ~$350 (33%) when you count not having to pay shipping. I did call Grizzly on some set and operation questions and they were great in talking me through my rookie status, even when I told them I picked it up used.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

I have the Hammer 12” JP. Super performance, Super fast blade changes I don’t think TERSA is very much faster or easier. Instead of a hammer I use an allen wrench

I’ve planed 10’ long lumber in it no problem without any extension tables

Of course one could get one of these
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6IsEoLJzaA
And I’d be jealous a little

Hammer is selling their Sliding saw Hammer K# winner at a Four Thousand Dollar Discount right noe maybe they are discounting their JPs too.

-- When the moderator chooses sides, his site sucks.

I have a nice General 6”. All you could ask for in a 6”. I wish I had held out for an 8” or larger model.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I have a Powermatic 6” with helical cutterhead. That one tool has changed my life. I slices of wood so quietly and effortlessly that it scares me a little bit!

-- Paul, Clinton, NC

I have a 40 yr. old hunk of iron made by Simpson tool and sold by Sears. I find it adequate for edge jointing. 6” is a bit narrow for serious flattening for most folks, but I make do. Been thinking of getting a helical head for it, but I can almost buy a new jointer for what a new head will cost me.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I recently bought a Masterforce Jointer from Menards. Granite Top and Fence for $349. Similar to the Craftsman granite top. Works like a Champ. Here is a Link to it. http://www.menards.com/main/tools-hardware/power-tools/woodworking/6-1-8-jointer/p-1456193-c-10089.htm

-- He: Can I get the plans for that? Me: Plans???

I bought one of the Sunhill SM150B 6” bench top jointers when they were on sale for $99.00 (not knowing they were clearancing them out to shut the company down). I have had it now for about 3 years, and so far I like….

#1. The size. I know longer / wider beds are better for bigger stock etc… But I don’t have a huge shop. This being a bench top machine, with fairly long tables for a bench top machine makes it easy to stash out of the way.

#2. Dust collection. Even though it is only a 2.5” port, it has proven to be very effective.

#3. Cast Iron tables. A LOT of the bench top models I looked at like the Delta had cast aluminum tables. This thing had cast iron, and was VERY flat and coplanar.

#4. Easy / accurate depth adjustments.

#5. Quieter than my planer or router.

#6. Relatively easy to change knives.

What I don’t like…

#1. Short beds limit me somewhat in what I can mill… carefully adjusted roller stands radically increase that without sacrificing performance otherwise.

#2. Only 6” wide cutting area. Wider jointer would be nice. I make do and use alternate jointing methods when I need to face joint stock that is wider than my jointer can handle using a planer sled.

#3. The universal motor is pretty loud.

#4. Even though it works very well, the 2.5” dust port does bother me. I wish they would have rigged it with a 4” port…

#5. Aluminum fence. While it is easy to use, and holds settings well, it is lightly enough built that I would have killed it by now if I were a more ham fisted operator.

Out of all the things I don’t like about it, the one that bugs me the most is the width of the jointer bed / cut area.

IF they work out the serious production / quality problems with them, which at this point is questionable, but IF they did, and made them accurate, and reliable, I would be looking to replace both this, and my lunch box planer with a Jet JJP-10BT0S 10” combination jointer / planer. I don’t mind so much if it is lightly built as long as it isn’t flimsy. I don’t expect tools to stand up to obvious misuse and torture, but I do expect them to stand up to normal use for a LONG time… The reviews on the Jet seem to be very hit or miss, with the typical problems being with the jointer fence not being flat, and the planer table extensions not lining up / lacking adjustments… When they iron those problems out, and these machines start getting decent reviews, I may just jump on one…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

I had a 6” Jet jointer for many years and loved it. It was smooth running, solid, stayed tuned, and delivered a great cut. I recently upgraded to an 8” Grizzly 490X (more for additional length than width), and aside from some initial setup issues I like it a lot. It does not run as smoothly as the Jet, but good enough and a great value for the money. I like the spiral cutterhead quite a lot.

-- PaulMayer, http://www.vernswoodgoods.com

I have a Delta 37-380 8” jointer. It was built in 1999. The base is made in the US and the jointer itself is made in Taiwan. I bought it on CL about three years ago. With a very good mobile base, I paid $700.

I have used the jointer quite a bit and am very happy with it. I had to make a few adjustment when I first set it up. The only problem that I had was that the motor pulley would work its way toward the outside of the shaft. I replaced the key and set screw, but it kept happening. Then I replaced the pulley with one having two set screws and installed a link belt. Since then, it has not moved at all in the last three years. Overall, this is a rock-solid machine.

I talked with Delta customer support several times, and they were very helpful. Every possible part is available from eReplacementParts, and probably many other sources.

-- I was walking down the street, something caught my eye, and dragged it 15 feet.

My Ridgig jointer has been trouble free for several years and the blades have held up well [I.ve never sharpened them, just hone them on the machine occasionally]. The only thing of concern is the fence tends to creep slightly out of square and I check it frequently. It is easily “resquared” with no tools required.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

General 8”, used mostly for jointing edges for glueups and flattening rough stock.

Had it for 15 years or more, carbide knives, never an issue with performance.

-- Randy "You are judged as much by the questions you ask as the answers you give..."

8” Grizz here.Does what its supposed to.636

Got the ridgid and it works well. As stated, just check the fence for square and its good to go. Paid $240 new at HD. Cant beat it for value, if you can find one on closeout

General International 6”. Great jointer, plenty of power. If I could do it again I’d get an 8” though.

-- Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario