saltysteele

I'm looking to get a joiner. It would seem as though they are pretty basic pieces of equipment, in that they are basically a 1) table, 2) cutter, and 3) fence. Do I really need to go buy the best and greatest? I really don't have the budget for it, as I also need a dust collection systems (which I'll soon be posting for info on - would really like to see some reviews in the new review forum)

Obviously, it would be best to get the widest available for my budget, and more cutters is usually better.

Can anyone help me out?

Thanks!

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ChevyNomad

Last Dec. I was also in the market for a new joiner and did a lot of research. You are correct that they are pretty basic pieces of equipment and the bigger (longer) the better. I only use mine for staightning & squaring up lumber for glue up's so I settled for a 6". Besides wider ones cost a lot more and take up a lot more room. I ended up buying a Ridged from Home Depot as I felt it was the best value. After using it for 4 + months now, I still love it.
If you are going to use it as a planer also you would want something with a wider cut, say 8" or more if you can afford it.
As far as dust colection is concerned I built a whole shop cyclone from information from Bill Pentz's site. Again I highly recommend the cyclone type of collector. I ran 6" ducts everywhere to blast gates and then went down to 4" or what ever the tool needed. Check out Bill's site at http://billpentz.com/Woodworking/Cyc...ycloneKits.cfm
Hope this helps

Bob

I purchased the Rigid 6" jointer also and have been very pleased with it. Well made and does a good job.

__________________
Cheers,
Bob

reible

You have the basic idea, some of what varies is the width of cut..... 4", 6" and 8" are common sizes, I own a 4" and 6" got them in that order.

The next part is the length of the table, the longer the table the better.

Next is if both the infeed and outfeed table are adjustable. Some lower priced ones might have a fixed outfeed.

Most will do rabbets, a feature I don't use but you might.

See how hard it is to change blades.... This can take a while and it is not too hard to nick a knife and that will leave a track on the wood so you will have to change/sharpen them and getting them set again can be time consuming.

Neither of mine have dust collection.... the 6" one I built a sheet metal duct to keep it from building up under the machine.... now you don't really get dust.... it is wood chips and a lot of them but it would be nice to have them sucked up.

I guess that is a short list of things to think about.....

Ed

boxer

I have the Delta 6" benchtop jointer, and am very happy with it. I, too, was constrained by budget and don't really have the room for the floor model. Reible's point of a long table being better is a very good one. Although most of my pieces are only 3 to 4 ft. long, a longer table would make things easier.
Kevin

saltysteele

Okay, thanks guys!

I'll head to Home Depot to check out the Rigid (hopefully they have it in stock here). I was looking, and Grizzly makes a model in the same price range ($25 more, +shipping, - tax). I've read reviews that the base is pretty flimsy, though.

Thanks for your input!

Bob

I believe you will find the Rigid to be a good and well built machine. Let us know when you bring it home

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Cheers,
Bob

saltysteele

will do!

saltysteele

Well Bob/guys,

Didn't get the Rigid. Happened across Sear's sale yesterday, all Craftsman bench tools were 20% off, plus I had a Craftsman Club 10% off coupon. You may remember I've stated before that the planer I have been using is my father-in-law's. Well, he want's it back.
So, I went down to Sears and picked up the 13" planer (normally $429) and their 6" jointer (normally $399) for 343 and 319, plus another 10% off. Walked out the door with both for 633 after tax. Couldn't pass that deal up.
I had seen the planer before and had liked it (it has a built in fan to help remove wood chips, and an attachment to blow them into a 30 gal tash container), but it wasn't really rated any better than the Ridgid that I had been using (info obtained from a recent woodwoorking magazine), and it was $80 more.

So,,,,,,,,, now I have to get a dust collection system and move everything from my garage, down to my basement. I have central air in the house, and it will be nice to have a constant temp/humidity.

On to dust collection!

Bob

Saltysteel,

Congrats on the purchase and the savings as well. I know you will be extremely happy with the new toys and especially the $ saved that can be applied toward the DC.

I remember back around the end of last year, I looked for every bargin I could find and saved more than enough to pay for a major piece of equipment. Seems like everyone was offering 20% off and then some when you make the borg price match plus 10% for having to do so. Kind of gives you that warm fuzzy feeling to beat the system once and a while huh?

Good luck on the workshop move. Seems like I'll never get finished setting mine up "just the way I want it".

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Cheers,
Bob