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Jet or delta jointer

6K views 30 replies 12 participants last post by  RogerM 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey guys, I'm looking into buying a jointer within the next few days…..I've narrowed it down to 2, the jet jj-6csdx or the delta 37-275x…...they're both 6" jointers And it's pushing my budget for one so I can't really go more expensive. They're both around 650-700, if anyone has either of em and can give comments on them or has a cheaper alternative that is of decent quality please let me no, I'm new to this and don't want to regret my purchase
 
#2 ·
Are these both 6 inch jointers? If so, I would NEVER pay that much. You can get a Grizzly for @ $400.

See my link, I got my Craftsman 6 inch jointer on a Craftsman club sale for $344 out the door and it works great.

The Ridgid is also a quality tool and much less than $700. Please shop around a bit more.
 
#4 ·
I have a grizzly and I love it. They have 5 or 6 in your price range. There base model floor standing is 395 and is a great little machine. I don't want to try to change you mind but if you need more info let me know.

What ever you get will be great money spent. Start stocking up on glue!
 
#5 ·
Well whatever I buy I definitely want it to be high quality, I looked at grizzly and was sold on it until I found out that it's your responsibility to get it off the truck when delivered and that it's so expensive for shipping, the grizzly was 465 plus 75 shipping so in the end it wasn't that much cheaper…..I don't want to buy craftsman I've had they're tools and don't have luck with them except for my mechanic tools…..I would love to spend less money but I have shopped around. The Ridgid is 650 so that's not cheaper and jet and delta are better names…..believe me id love nothing more then to spend less money as long as its the right tool
 
#6 ·
Yea, I have a Delta, not the model you listed, and probably wouldn't purchase it again. Jet is alright, longer bed plus it's easier to adjust. Why don't you look in the used market (Craigslist, Auctionzip, ebay). You usually can find good deals on great equipment and if you keep a sharp enough eye you can find some nicely conditioned equipment for great prices. i.e. a Powermatic 54A Longbed in great condition 400obo, is a listing i just saw near me 400. Plus they probably will throw in extra blades and accessories for free. Worth looking into.
 
#7 ·
Every time I start a thread on here about something I might buy somebody tells me to try the used route and I always give the same answer. I have gone the used route before and it always comes back to bite me, I don't like buying used tools. I'd much rather spend the money for a new tool that I know I can take good care of and that will last me. I appreciate the suggestions tho, I Looked at that powermatic but it's not in my price range right now unfortunately.
 
#8 ·
Where do you live Canada? Reason I ask is I see the Ridgid at HD all the time and it's never been 650 in Texas. More like $450.

The jointer is a very simple tool. Cutterhead, fence, and motor, so in my world paying $300 more for a little better fence is not worth it when it stays @ 90 degrees 99% of the time and $300 will buy another tool or a ton of wood.

Quality is important no doubt, but quality and price is not always linear. Is the Delta worth $300 more than the Grizz, Ridgid or Craftsman?

It is if you think it is and are willing to pay the $$$.

I agree with Bull, check CL.
 
#9 ·
Most of the shippers will help you get it off the truck and into the garage. It's to their advantage. They are on a schedule. Of course you need to be home when it arrives. Grizzly quality is as good as you can buy nowadays, for the budget minded hobbiest. I have several grizzly tools. No problems. It's still a family owned business. Great customer service. I mean really great.
 
#10 · (Edited by Moderator)
Iggles88, I'm not being a smarta$$, but I make a very good living and can easily afford Powermatic anything, but you'll see my entire shop is Craftsman and Ridgid. I do this for a hobby, so I prefer value and to me the Powermatic or Delta is a super tool but in my eyes not a super value.

Others disagree with me, and prefer to buy higher end tools and if they do this for living they should buy the best they can afford. Yes I have been burned, see my planer review, but overall I prefer more $$$ in my brokerage acct.

If you feel you are a high end tool guy then either the Jet, PM, or Delta will make you happy and they are all great jointers.

Good luck!
 
#11 ·
I have seen the Ridgid on amazon for 650, my hd in Philly doesn't sell the Ridgid jointer…..the cheapest price I found was 650, believe me I do not want to spend 700 I'm not happy about it at all, I definitely am looking at the grizzly….it's nice and it was the one I was looking at first and I liked it but the tax and shipping made me think spending the money on the next level jointers would make sense but I guess I'll look at the grizzly a little harder and if anyone can give me a link to the Ridgid at about 450-500 please let me know.
 
#14 ·
Guys listen I don't think your understanding me, I do not want to spend that kind of money on a jointer, the time ive spent shopping around have given me the bench top models for about 2-350 then it's all been like 500 or more for a floor model with bigger infeed and out feed tables so I looke at the jet and delta, I haven't seen the 4-550 range jointers that people are telling me about but that's more of my price range
 
#17 ·
I own the Jet you are considering and I have been happy with it. I have used it for seven years now. There are three things I have found problematic. In my shop and with my work habits I neglected to wax the exposed iron and in the summer the humidity put a small film of rust on the infeed and outfeed tables. I was able to clean it up easily, but don't forget the wax. The Delta probably would be the same, that problem was me not the tool. Setting the knives was pretty easy. More important is the adjustment to the fence. I am not a machinist and have not measured precisely, but my eye tells me the fence is straight, but it does not always stay square. The adjustment is held in place with a sheet metal bracket that is tightened with a bold against the linkage mechanism. It holds but … THe stop is a bolt with a jam nut and that has worked loose several times with the effect of having to resquare the fence to the table. I suspect the Delta probably has a similar issue, although I do not know. The third is the dust collection when using the rabbet feature. It is real handy, but only about half of the chips go into the dust chute. The rest come right out on the floor. The dust chute probably gets 98-99% of the chips when not cutting on the edge. Adjusting the knives is very easy and the knives that come with it are pretty good, I sharpen them every six or seven months and I am a weekend worker.

I chose the Jet over the Delta when I was buying based on reviews and availability. It basically came to price and availability locally. shipping costs would have been high and I was able to pick up the Jet from a nearly local dealer.

If it sounds like I am critical, I am not. I would have preferred to buy the 8" and I regret not saving and making the upgrade. It is limiting to have to glue up any board over 5 1/2". However, I use lots of rough sawn lumber and have used it to make my lumber flat and square for seven years and have not had a failure.

Ham
 
#26 ·
That's big bucks for a 6" jointer…both good machines, but not significantly different than a 6" Griz, Ridgid, newer Craftsman, Shop Fox, Steel City, Rikon, etc., that are quite a bit less. What's an 8" Griz running these days?
 
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