Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
is quite a good brand. Am I right? The machine looked great, though I
did not pull out a straightedge or square yet. On the other hand, for
the same money I can get a higher Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly
with a higher RPM. Since I cannot see the Grizzly, and must get it
through the mail, I am not as secure in such a purchase. I know some
folk like the Grizzlys, but am under the impression it is not as good a
brand as powermatic. Is the higher quality of powermatic a better
choice? (I know it partly depends on how likely I am to want to joint 8
inch boards: truth is when gluing up a table top, I have usually ripped
larger boards down to less than six inches, often four inches, and them
glued them up. I guess if I had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch
boards, though.)
General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
toolseeker.com.
Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
product has is better!
Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
Please read article on Jointer in Fine Woodworking winter 2002 issue It
compares 11 jointers . This is "Tool test 6 In Jointer " You might be able
to download this article from their web site.
"Sanford Levy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
> a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
> I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
> thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
> local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
> swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
> is quite a good brand. Am I right? The machine looked great, though I
> did not pull out a straightedge or square yet. On the other hand, for
> the same money I can get a higher Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly
> with a higher RPM. Since I cannot see the Grizzly, and must get it
> through the mail, I am not as secure in such a purchase. I know some
> folk like the Grizzlys, but am under the impression it is not as good a
> brand as powermatic. Is the higher quality of powermatic a better
> choice? (I know it partly depends on how likely I am to want to joint 8
> inch boards: truth is when gluing up a table top, I have usually ripped
> larger boards down to less than six inches, often four inches, and them
> glued them up. I guess if I had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch
> boards, though.)
>
> General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
> be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
> product has is better!
>
> Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
>
Star machinery makes an affordable 8" jointer...
http://www.starmachinery.com/wood.html
I like mine!
Tom
"Sanford Levy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
<snipped>
Sanford Levy <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
maybe the $800 Grizzly has a 4 knife cutter head?
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
> be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
> product has is better!
my delta has a handwheel on the outfeed and a lever on the infeed table.
l think it works out ok.
l would not want a lever on the outfeed, but have never used one on the outfeed.
Thanks, Tony D,
>
> Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
Sanford Levy <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
> a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
> I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
> thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
> local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
> swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
> is quite a good brand. Am I right? The machine looked great, though I
> did not pull out a straightedge or square yet. On the other hand, for
> the same money I can get a higher Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly
> with a higher RPM. Since I cannot see the Grizzly, and must get it
> through the mail, I am not as secure in such a purchase. I know some
> folk like the Grizzlys, but am under the impression it is not as good a
> brand as powermatic. Is the higher quality of powermatic a better
> choice? (I know it partly depends on how likely I am to want to joint 8
> inch boards: truth is when gluing up a table top, I have usually ripped
> larger boards down to less than six inches, often four inches, and them
> glued them up. I guess if I had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch
> boards, though.)
The extra width is useful for more than face jointing. Say you are
jointing edges on 4/4 wood for a glue-up. You are only using 1" of the
knives at that moment. There is no reason the fence can't slide to a
different section of the knives next time you joint. The point is that
8" knives can edge more linear feet than 6" between sharpenings.
I have an older 8" Grizzly that a) had a mal-formed casting on the
infeed table when it arrived, b) was replaced without too much hassle
except for the extra loading, lugging, and unloading, and c) has been
problem free ever since.
>
> General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
> be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
> product has is better!
I have levers, have never had the (joy? pain?) of handwheels. I
hardly ever (never say never) adjust my outfeed table. When knives
are sharpened or changed they are set to the outfeed table height.
The appropriate question is whether you need the ability to precisely
adjust your infeed table height. Do you joint one side, then rip to
width on the table saw? Or do you joint one side, rip the other wide
then joint the ripped edge -- like Norm used to do and maybe still
does -- in this case you better know how much your jointer is removing
on each pass with good precision? Personally, I prefer to use a
really good saw blade and don't joint the ripped edge.
Good luck,
hex
-30-
I can't comment on any of them except the Grizzly. I worked superbly - 6" -
handwheels - set up time with assembly was about 1 hour and every time I
ever checked it for accuracy - it was dead on.
Jim Mc Namara
"Sanford Levy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
> a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
> I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
> thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
> local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
> swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
> is quite a good brand. Am I right? The machine looked great, though I
> did not pull out a straightedge or square yet. On the other hand, for
> the same money I can get a higher Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly
> with a higher RPM. Since I cannot see the Grizzly, and must get it
> through the mail, I am not as secure in such a purchase. I know some
> folk like the Grizzlys, but am under the impression it is not as good a
> brand as powermatic. Is the higher quality of powermatic a better
> choice? (I know it partly depends on how likely I am to want to joint 8
> inch boards: truth is when gluing up a table top, I have usually ripped
> larger boards down to less than six inches, often four inches, and them
> glued them up. I guess if I had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch
> boards, though.)
>
> General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
> be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
> product has is better!
>
> Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
>
Sanford Levy wrote:
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this
> is a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given
> finances, I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million
> newbes, I was thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6
> inch Pwermatic in a local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs.
> 46".) I can just about swing the price (under $700) and am under the
> impression that Powermatic is quite a good brand. Am I right? The
> machine looked great, though I did not pull out a straightedge or
> square yet. On the other hand, for the same money I can get a higher
> Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly with a higher RPM. Since I cannot
> see the Grizzly, and must get it through the mail, I am not as secure
> in such a purchase. I know some folk like the Grizzlys, but am under
> the impression it is not as good a brand as powermatic. Is the higher
> quality of powermatic a better choice? (I know it partly depends on
> how likely I am to want to joint 8 inch boards: truth is when gluing
> up a table top, I have usually ripped larger boards down to less than
> six inches, often four inches, and them glued them up. I guess if I
> had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch boards, though.)
>
> General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed
> to be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one
> their product has is better!
>
> Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
=========================================
I have used and owned a Rockwell 6 in Jointer for close to 40 years and
it has been bullet proof
and extremely dependable... THE ONLY PROBLEM I have ever had using
this jointer is its short bed (about 40 inches)...
Personally the only reason for I can think to upgrade would be for a
jointer with a longer bed... PERIOD.... Sure an 8 in jointer would be
useful a hell of a lot of times but that limitation usually does not
become a factor in 90 percent of my usage...BUT the lenght of the bed
has been a problem... In short I "value" the bed length much much
more then the cutting width...
Yes the Powermatic is a good (lol actually good is an understatement
imho) brand...
Whereas I also have this thing for Big Block (rat motor) older Chevys ..
I can live with a "mouse motors" (small blocks) ...so I do not see
anything wrong with a jointer (6 in) using a 1 hp motor...
I have used jointers with wheels and levers...(the rockwell has levers)
and I just do not think one is any better or worst then the other...my
prefenrece would be for levers but only because I am used to using a
jointer with levers... to me this is not a critical "deal"
The only Grizzley tool I own is a dust collector...had it for about 15
years now and it has been
100 percent reliable ..only thing I ever did to it was replace the bag
with a bag which filtered smaller particles... From what I have read
(in this news group etc) I would not be afraid to buy a Grizzley tool....
.Bob Griffiths
Sanford Levy <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Another jointer question SNIP
I went through the same decision about a year ago and chose the
Powermatic 54A (Extra long bed) over the 8' griz, primarily because I
didn't think that I could get the 460 pound Griz 8" down the basement!
The 54A is fantastic and I have no regrets. I saw the Griz at their
show room in Springfield MO and was very impressed with it. If I had
a bigger shop with easy access I probably would have gone with the
Griz. The 54A by the way has a unique way to raise and lower the bed.
You have a handle that raises it up and down for fast course
adjustments that also rotates for fine adjustments.
Scott
www.vmtw.com
If you buy the 6" powermatic or whatever, in a few years or month you will
want the 8" Grizzly, and by the way lots of info here on the 8"
Grizzly,sounds like a very good buy as well.
--
Knowledge speaks, wisdom listen.....
Jimi Hendrix
"Sanford Levy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
> a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
> I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
> thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
> local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
> swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
> is quite a good brand. Am I right? The machine looked great, though I
> did not pull out a straightedge or square yet. On the other hand, for
> the same money I can get a higher Hp (1 1/2 vs. 1Hp), 8 inch Grizzly
> with a higher RPM. Since I cannot see the Grizzly, and must get it
> through the mail, I am not as secure in such a purchase. I know some
> folk like the Grizzlys, but am under the impression it is not as good a
> brand as powermatic. Is the higher quality of powermatic a better
> choice? (I know it partly depends on how likely I am to want to joint 8
> inch boards: truth is when gluing up a table top, I have usually ripped
> larger boards down to less than six inches, often four inches, and them
> glued them up. I guess if I had an 8 inch jointer I might joint 8 inch
> boards, though.)
>
> General questions: how important is RPM? Oddly, the $800 Grizzly has
> lower RPM than the $700 Grizzly, 3450 vs. 5000, according to
> toolseeker.com.
>
> Also, do handwheels vs. levers make much difference? Is one supposed to
> be better than the other? Advertisers seem to say which ever one their
> product has is better!
>
> Thanks for the help. Sanford Levy
>
"Sanford Levy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Another jointer question (seems to be a million of them!) Hope this is
> a bit different from the many others I have read here. Given finances,
> I cannot get the jointer of my dreams. Like a million newbes, I was
> thinking about a 6 inch delta or jet but noticed a 6 inch Pwermatic in a
> local shop with a much longer bed. (66" vs. 46".) I can just about
> swing the price (under $700) and am under the impression that Powermatic
> is quite a good brand.
The Powermatic is the one to get. My second choice would be the 6", closed
stand Jet, (JJ-6CSX). Third choice, an open stand Jet,(JJ-6OS).
The 6" Delta, (37-195), is off my list after looking at one last night at a
local tool store. The Delta's table height adjustment is a little cheesy
IMO, also the support for the fence sticks WAY out the back side of the
machine.
I would by a Grizzly before I would buy the 37-195 Delta!
Greg
Which feature?
I looked the Delta over well, even the salesman recommended either Jet over
the Delta. After looking at them I had to agree. When I walked in my first
choice had been Delta, but after "messing" around with them the Delta was a
looser! The height adjustment had this screwy ratchet affair, it did not
inspire confidence. With the support sticking way out the back it also
lowers points for the jointer.
Both Jet jointers had good feel with the adjustments and were easier to set
to a certain height with the cranks. The Jet machines were also a bit more
compact, with the same length tables. The Delta wanted to be set where ever
the ratchet stop was. The salesman was nudging me towards the open stand
Jet, he felt it had the most bang for the buck. I probably will spend the
extra $100 for the closed stand though.There are some differences between
the open and closed stand models, I tough they were the same other than the
base. The cranks on the open stand are under the tables, and it has a 3/4 HP
motor. The closed stand Jet has a 1 HP motor, and the cranks are on the
side, slightly easier to reach.
Greg
"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Strangely, you have discarded it from your list based on the one feature
> which a recent reviewer found most useful.
>
> "Greg O" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > The Powermatic is the one to get. My second choice would be the 6",
closed
> > stand Jet, (JJ-6CSX). Third choice, an open stand Jet,(JJ-6OS).
> > The 6" Delta, (37-195), is off my list after looking at one last night
at
> a
> > local tool store. The Delta's table height adjustment is a little cheesy
> > IMO, also the support for the fence sticks WAY out the back side of the
> > machine.
> > I would by a Grizzly before I would buy the 37-195 Delta!
> > Greg
>
>