Delta 8" jointers: HELP: "Precision" v. "Professional" & "DJ20" v. "DJ-20"

The 365"X" version is the same machine as the 350"A" but I suspect the
A is being phased out. I got my A for about $1200 at a wood show. X
may get you some extra goodies like a mobile base if the promotion is
still on, but otherwise the only difference is a 5 year warranty and
some snazzy decals, which I don't think is worth an additional $300+.
My 2 cents is that the 380 is lighter duty and of the older design as
someone noted, and the A is in my judgment well worth the extra $300
over the cost of the 380. If the warranty is important to you, get the
X, but with either the X or A you will have no regrets and its likely
the last jointer you'll ever need.

Mutt.

Thanks Barry. Where's "here," in "two of us here bought..." ?

Know of any websites that illustrate the difference between the
dovetail ways and the parallelogram ways (for those who are New, like
me :))

-Chris

B a r r y wrote:
> The two DJ-20's are nearly identical, the X-5 has a longer warranty
and
> a free tool or mobile base. DJ-20, as well as the DJ-15 and DJ-30,
have
> tables that move on parallelogram levers. They are nicer to use and
> easier to adjust than most comparably priced, sliding dovetailed
machines.
>
> The 37-380 uses dovetailed ways for the tables to move, like cheaper
8"
> and most 6" machines.
>
> Shop around, two of us here bought 37-350A's for $1099 last year.
> AFAIK, the 350A has been discontinued in favor of the 365X.
>
> Barry

Seems like Tool Crib (Amazon.com) just ran out of the 350A's two days
ago, minutes before I was going to buy one. It's hard to justify laying
out the additional $320 for virtually the same machine with an
additional three years of warranty. The mobile base is only worth $90.
I'm going to look at the Grizzly 8" spiral jointer before I make a
final decision.

Stu





In article <[email protected]>,
<[email protected]> wrote:

> The 365"X" version is the same machine as the 350"A" but I suspect the
> A is being phased out. I got my A for about $1200 at a wood show. X
> may get you some extra goodies like a mobile base if the promotion is
> still on, but otherwise the only difference is a 5 year warranty and
> some snazzy decals, which I don't think is worth an additional $300+.
> My 2 cents is that the 380 is lighter duty and of the older design as
> someone noted, and the A is in my judgment well worth the extra $300
> over the cost of the 380. If the warranty is important to you, get the
> X, but with either the X or A you will have no regrets and its likely
> the last jointer you'll ever need.
>
> Mutt.
>

On Tue, 11 Jan 2005 09:17:33 -0500, "Mortimer Schnerd, RN"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>> The two DJ-20's are nearly identical, the X-5 has a longer warranty and
>> a free tool or mobile base.
>
>
>
>Free? It looks to me like that "free" tool runs $320.


I'm pretty sure that that expired as of 12/31 anyway.

TheNewGuy wrote:
> Thanks Barry. Where's "here," in "two of us here bought..." ?
>

rec.woodworking.


As far as demonstrations, look at the pictures. All dovetailed machines
have that angular shaped center section, the tables slide up and down on
them.

Look here:
<http://media.ptg-online.com/media/dm/PartsLists/20040512133716_J3D.pdf>

Parallelogram machines have tables that move within the main body:
<http://media.ptg-online.com/media/dm/PartsLists/20040916152159_J3C.pdf>

Barry

TheNewGuy wrote:
> How many 8" jointers does Delta have!?!?
>
> Just got the latest ToolCrib today, and I'm hoping some of you kind
> folk can shed light on the differences between these Delta machines:
>
> 8" DJ20 Precision Jointer (#37-365X) - $1670
> 8" DJ-20 Precision Jointer (#37-350A) - $1350
> 8" Professional Jointer (#37-380) - $1050
>
> All seem to be 1-1/2 hp motors, 115/230 1-phase; 3-blade cutters. The
> "X" is part of their Xtreme line, 5-yr warranty there.
>
> Other than the marketing brochure highlights, can anyone offer any more
> practical/operational differences between these 3?

The two DJ-20's are nearly identical, the X-5 has a longer warranty and
a free tool or mobile base. DJ-20, as well as the DJ-15 and DJ-30, have
tables that move on parallelogram levers. They are nicer to use and
easier to adjust than most comparably priced, sliding dovetailed machines.

The 37-380 uses dovetailed ways for the tables to move, like cheaper 8"
and most 6" machines.

Shop around, two of us here bought 37-350A's for $1099 last year.
AFAIK, the 350A has been discontinued in favor of the 365X.

Barry

B a r r y wrote:
> Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
>
>> Free? It looks to me like that "free" tool runs $320.
>
>
> Delta's words, not mine. Don't forget the "EXTREME Savings Book" and
> extra warranty!


I know... I've seen that same sort of crap at work. We used to get an
employee's discount in the cafeteria. Then they built a food court and when it
opened, dropped the discount. When I complained, they said that was "so
everyone could enjoy the same low priced food". As I pointed out, that would
have been fine had the food been low priced.

$5 for a meal of high quality hospital cuisine doesn't count as a bargain in my
book. Where I currently work I can eat lunch for about $3.25. *That's* a
bargain. For jointers, I was looking at the Yorkcraft YC-8J as a possibility.
Compared to the Deltas, *it's* a bargain at $625.




--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

[email protected]

Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:

> Free? It looks to me like that "free" tool runs $320.


Delta's words, not mine. Don't forget the "EXTREME Savings Book" and
extra warranty!

I bought the non-X5 version.

Barry

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 21:57:40 -0500, Electric Stu
<[email protected]> wrote:


>I'm going to look at the Grizzly 8" spiral jointer before I make a
>final decision.

The Grizzly machine that's truly comparable to the DJ-20 is the $1800
parallelogram machine.

Barry

"B a r r y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> TheNewGuy wrote:
> > How many 8" jointers does Delta have!?!?
> >
> > Just got the latest ToolCrib today, and I'm hoping some of you kind
> > folk can shed light on the differences between these Delta machines:
> >
> > 8" DJ20 Precision Jointer (#37-365X) - $1670
> > 8" DJ-20 Precision Jointer (#37-350A) - $1350
> > 8" Professional Jointer (#37-380) - $1050
> >
> > All seem to be 1-1/2 hp motors, 115/230 1-phase; 3-blade cutters. The
> > "X" is part of their Xtreme line, 5-yr warranty there.
> >
> > Other than the marketing brochure highlights, can anyone offer any more
> > practical/operational differences between these 3?
>
> The two DJ-20's are nearly identical, the X-5 has a longer warranty and
> a free tool or mobile base. DJ-20, as well as the DJ-15 and DJ-30, have
> tables that move on parallelogram levers. They are nicer to use and
> easier to adjust than most comparably priced, sliding dovetailed machines.
>
> The 37-380 uses dovetailed ways for the tables to move, like cheaper 8"
> and most 6" machines.
>
> Shop around, two of us here bought 37-350A's for $1099 last year.
> AFAIK, the 350A has been discontinued in favor of the 365X.
>
> Barry

Does the X have a better fence? My 350A fence is a pos...

B a r r y wrote:
>> 8" DJ20 Precision Jointer (#37-365X) - $1670
>> 8" DJ-20 Precision Jointer (#37-350A) - $1350
>> 8" Professional Jointer (#37-380) - $1050
>>
>> All seem to be 1-1/2 hp motors, 115/230 1-phase; 3-blade cutters. The
>> "X" is part of their Xtreme line, 5-yr warranty there.
>>
>> Other than the marketing brochure highlights, can anyone offer any more
>> practical/operational differences between these 3?
>
> The two DJ-20's are nearly identical, the X-5 has a longer warranty and
> a free tool or mobile base.



Free? It looks to me like that "free" tool runs $320.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

[email protected]