Picking a Jointer

[headshrink]

It is time my friends to add a Jointer to the DIY workshop of headshrink. I am going to start building a small boat (hovercraft actually) and want straight wood. It sure would have come in handy for my reef projects too. The below are some options I am looking at that are readily available to me at the local hardware stores.

I don't know much about Jointers, never used one. The Delta JT360 looks to my untrained eye to have the best specs. $350 is kind of a lot for me to spend right now, also considering a planner and welder. Any constructive feedback would be appretiated.

-Ridgid 6 1/8" Stationary Jointer/Planer #JP0610 ($350)
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Real nice looking
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 1HP belt-driven motor
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 6 amp
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 5000 RPM
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Comes on a stand with dust port
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Dual bevel fence with stops at 45 degrees, 90 degrees and 135 degrees.
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Convenient dust port quickly slides out of the way when not in use. Provides on-board storage for blade alignment tools.
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Versatile bed/table-long 45 In. bed gives greater support to large work pieces, rabbeting ledge for precise rabbets up to 1/2 In. deep, adjustable front and rear tables.

-Delta 6 In. Variable-Speed Bench Jointer #JT360 ($350)
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 3/4 HP, induction-type motor
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 10amp (I think, webpage wasnt't real clear)
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Max cut width = 6-1/8"
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 4800 No-load RPM
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 3 knife blade
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Heavy-gauge steel stand with built-in dust chute
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Lever-actuated infeed table with lock handle for quick, easy height adjustment
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Center-mounted 4-7/8" x 35" fence for
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Fence tilts for beveling and chamfering operations; features adjustable positive stops at 90 degree and 45 degree positions; functions as a rear cutterhead guard on narrow cuts
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 0 to 1/2" depth-of-cut scale with automatic stop at 1/8" setting facilitates fast set-up for repetitive finish jointing
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Full 6" x 46" table handles extra-long stock
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Infeed table features cast-iron 8-3/4" x 3" support ledge for rabbeting operations

- Delta 6" Variable Speed Bench Jointer #JT160 ($250)
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 10amp
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Variable 6,000 to 11,000 rpm speed range (no load)
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ 6-1/8" cut width
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Poly-V belt drive for maximum power transmission with minimum belt slippage
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Two-knife cutterhead with jack-screw knife leveling arrangement for easy replacement and adjustment of individual knives
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Convenient, infeed table raising/lowering control with dual
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ English/Metric scale facilitates depth of cut adjustment; lock knob securely holds desired setting
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Built-in chip chute
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Center-mounted fence
ââ"šÂ¬Ã‚¢ Fence tilts 0Ã"šÃ‚° to 45Ã"šÃ‚° outward for bevel jointing & chamfering; features positive stops at 45Ã"šÃ‚° & 90Ã"šÃ‚°

 

[MayoBoy]

I'd probabaly go with the Ridgid just because Delta's quality has gone way down lately. Stay away from any benchtop model - the tables are way short.

The longer the table, the longer the board you can handle.

(My shop is all old Delta, old Powermatic, Walker Turner, etc. so I'm not brand loyal or anything)

 

[headshrink]

MayoBoy - is that a brand loyalty position, or does the Ridgid have better specs too?

 

[radone]

Agree with MayoBoy
stay away from the bench models I have one and it works ok on stuff less than 24" but longer than that and I use my router or ask a friend

My search for these has ended because of the use of my router for this which I can run any length with no problem.
Generally the longer the bed the better width is nice to have if you use it to plane your lumber to some degree.

Good luck in your quest

 

[MayoBoy]

In various reviews, Ridgid almost always scored right up there with the medium and higher end Delta (X-5, etc.).

Delta's overall quality has gone down quite a bit since they were sold (again) while Ridgid's has stayed even or gone up. I'm not sure who's making their stuff now - Emerson or Ryobi but everything I've read has been positive.

 

[headshrink]

I have a Ridgid Shopvac, finishing sander, 12V cordless drill, and fullsize drill-press. So far I like them all, although I haven't used any of them extensively, except for the drill.

The drill is the only one I would consider not buying, and that is only because the battery drains pretty quickly. It got pretty bad ratings for its battery. But other than that, it feels good, functions good, and looks good.

 

[headshrink]

So the 6amp vs. 10amp is not a big enough difference to sway a Delta vote? Does the 1HP motor and belt drive make up for that?

 

[MayoBoy]

http://groups.google.com/group/rec....92f21e?lnk=st&q=jt360&rnum=7#ee4214853492f21e


Longer bed, more powerful motor. Go Ridgid.

 

[headshrink]

That is what I will do then, thank you.

 

[WiscSea]

Grizzly www.grizzly.com

They ship direct from Grizzly which saves you some money. I bought their 6" jointer last year and love it. Solid piece of equipment.

 

[headshrink]

Yeah, I didn't think about them. Their equivilant is $325 +$69 shipping. There is no tax so it comes close to the same cost of the Ridgid. Cool, thanks for the tip.

 

[Vincerama2]

How are you using a router? Do you have a long straightedge and trim or pattern following bit?

How do you joint a face with a router? (Yes, I'm a woodworking newb)

V

 

[MayoBoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7211856#post7211856 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vincerama2

How do you joint a face with a router? (Yes, I'm a woodworking newb)

V

You turn it upside down and set 3 beers on it while you use one of these:

:rollface:

 

[Roland Jacques]

oops

 

[Vincerama2]

dang, those must be some heavy beers!

Mayoboy.... how do you plug that in? How much horsepower does it have?

V

 

[cannarella]

Replace the belt right away with a link belt for smoother operation.

I have a Grizzly and it works just fine. I just looked a their site and the newer model looks really nice. Built in tool movement. That is a plus. The fence is much longer and taller. On the down side, a rack and pinion fence will take up more room.

After looking at the Ridgid, I like the fence adjustment, you can get closer to the wall unlike the Grizzly. It has a nice wide stand, but that does not matter b/c the top weighs over 100lbs.

One thing you noted was a 6 amp motor on the Ridgid. That is at 220V. It will be 12 amps at 110V.

I would go with the Grizzly. Haveing the tool mobile is a good thing and a long tall fence is nice. I would learn to put up with the rack and pinion fence. They have good customer support also.

Andy

 

[radone]

Vincerama2
Yes that's one way to do it

 

[dattack]

Since we are on the topic of woodworking, does the ridgid shop vac sufficient for portable dust collection and small item pick ups? I need a portable dust collector. Not sure if I should also consider a shop vac. Any suggestions? I just need something small for my garage.

 

[BigJPDC]

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=UBB2

 

[MayoBoy]

I have a Harbor Freight dust (chip) collector in my garage/shop. The difference between that and a shop vac is like the difference between a Tunze Turbelle and a MaxiJet 1200 (actually, almost literally - one is high flow, low velocity, the other is lower flow, high velocity).

A shop vac has its place but hooking it up to a big tool for dust collection isn't one of them. It will work in a pinch but a dedicated DC just can't be beat. HF models are fairly cheap when you catch them on sale which happens 2 or 3 times a year.