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Is this a good deal for a jointer/can you recommend a benchtop jointer?

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12K views 29 replies 11 participants last post by  ADHDan 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm in the market for a benchtop jointer, and saw this posting on Craigslist: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/tls/4647981473.html. Does this seem like a good deal? I was thinking of offering $250 and hoping to land around $300, although I don't think $350 is totally unreasonable. I've seen other JJ-6's sell for $200-$300 but I'm willing to pay more if this one has good sharp blades and is set up to go right away.

Alternatively, can anyone recommend a decent 6" (or bigger) benchtop jointer in the $200-$500 price range? I've been checking out the Delta 37-071, Steel City 40610GH, and Porter-Cable PC160JTR. The Amazon reviews for these machines are kind of helpful, but I don't really know what I should be looking for. I have no experience setting up or using a jointer, but now that I have a large amount of roughcut stock I think it's time for me to dive in.

Edit: Or, if anyone sees another good deal on the Minneapolis Craigslist I'm all ears. It does need to be a benchtop model, because my shop is 11×17 and I don't have space for a big standalone machine.
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
Loren, considering you haven't posted a single sentence you're surprisingly helpful ;-). I did check out that review, and the Steel City looks like a decent machine but it has some bad reviews on Amazon compared to the P-C.

Edit: I see you added an actual sentence - and a helpful one. Thanks for the tip re: aluminum tables.
 
#6 ·
The portable jointers aren't going to be in the same class as a stationary jointer. All will be very loud, all will be short, light, and a bit sloppy, which inevitably will get some bad reviews, especially if the author has been exposed to larger jointers. A portable is better than none, but if there's any way possible, I'd encourage you to see if you can figure out a way to make a stationary jointer fit.
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
I had a benchtop Delta jointer for awhile. It had
aluminum tables and I bought it new at Lowes.
It was an adequate tool. It had variable speed
and wasn't very loud. I used it on job sites
here and there. Whether it is still available or
not I do not know or care. If they've replaced
the soft tables with something heavier, good
for Delta (Chang Iron).

If you're looking at new, it's basically all coming
out of the same Asian factories and fundamentally
the same stuff.
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
What do you think a reasonable price would be for a Craftsman 113-20651 with a resurfaced bed? I've got a friend who's willing to trade one for some of my hardwood slabs. Apparently the bed got cracked but he had a new one fabricated, and it's been tuned/calibrated and has pretty much new knives. The problem is, it's so old that I'm having a hard time finding information on it - such as fair market value, and also whether I can still get knives for it. Anyone know anything about this machine?

It isn't a benchtop model, but I suppose I can find a place for it somewhere in my shop or garage. Considering the consensus against benchtop jointers - and the fact that I'll probably be working with longer slabs - I'm leaning towards this option.

Thanks!
 
#19 ·
I agree with Knotscott and Loren about bench top jointers being inadequate for most jointing work, unless your only going to be working with wood that's 30" long or less .As for a repair and resurfaced jointer I would stay away from that also. In my area 6"-8"Jointers pop up on craigslist in the $150-$300 range. I would holdout for a floor model . If $350 is a price range that works for you, for a little more you can get a Grizzly 6"jointer http://www.grizzly.com/products/6-x-46-Jointer/G0654
 
#20 · (Edited by Moderator)
Alternatively, can anyone recommend a decent 6" (or bigger) benchtop jointer in the $200-$500 price range?
I agree with knotscott (edit: and Jim) that no new benchtop jointer is going to give you acceptable results for anything but small pieces-the beds are far too short. The only people I know personally that are happy with their benchtop jointers are turners that use them to square up small pieces, but never for anything over a foot long. I'd promote purchasing a jointer hand plane before buying one of those.

Several people have linked good options for used machines.

Good tip from wahoo about searching alternative misspellings.
 
#21 ·
Thanks for the advice. I have the option of trading lumber for that Craftsman jointer, which is attractive because it means no out of pocket expense and I came into a giant stock of hardwood slabs recently. But maybe I should just focus on selling off slabs and putting the money towards that Grizzly jointer.
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
Decent and bench top are usually mutually exclusive when speaking of jointers. The bench top Delta still exists with a Porter Cable sticker on it now, very little if anything has been changed. It would be worth considering only if you can get it very cheap and you'll be using it on a jobsite. Outside of those parameters it would need to be free. Patience and ability to act quickly should net you good 6" jointer for around $150 needing nothing (at least that's what I can expect in my area). If you need one sooner than later, you can expect to spend more.
 
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