8" Jointer Advice

[Steven Valentine]

Hey guys...another question...I am hunting an 8" Jointer. I have been keeping an eye out for decent used ones, but have had little luck. These ued-but-in-good-shape 8" machines go quick. I'm looking at a few right now. Here are my options so far...I'm still looking too.:)

Grizzly has the G0490 4-knife machine for $895 with free shipping, and if I buy on eBay, I can do the Microsoft Cashback thing, which is still at 8 percent, for a total price of $823.40.

Next, Grizzly has the G0593 with a spiral cutterhead for $850, plus $144 S & H, and with the 8 percent MS Cashback, it is $914.48.

Lastly, I am looking at a used Powermatic (approx. 3 years old) in pretty decent shape about two hours from my house that I can get for about $700. I've obviously only seen pictures of the machine.

Any conclusions or suggestions for me. I am dead set on an 8" but that is really it. I also am trying to get the most bang for my buck, but also get something that I can keep for many years, as I am fairly young (compared). I don't want to have to buy another machine in a couple of years because I've outgrown this one.

Thanks for any input you are willing to give.

[Michael Flores]

Just keep searching until you see that perfect sweet deal, it will come. Im on the prowl for a 12'' jointer (oliver, northfield, scmi).

http://www.exfactory.com/home.aspx
http://www.tauberaronsinc.com/index.html
http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/browse/home?tm=m
http://www.govdeals.com/eas/index.cfm
http://www.professionalmachinery.com/default.asp
http://www.blackhawkmachinerysales.com/
http://www.rtmachine.com/

[Bryan Cowing]

get a spiral!!! I went from a Dj-20 to a 12" Griz with the spiral head. Produces an amazing cut! I now have no trouble jointing edges for glue up. Now I wish for a planer with the spiral head.

[Cary Falk]

I would go spiral also. I just got done putting a Byrd in my Shop Fox W1741.

[george wilson]

Steve,I bought one of the least expensive grizzly 8" jointers for the toolmaker's shop before I retired. It was very satisfactory.Tables very accurately aligned,as was he cutterhead. I recommend it. Many do like the spiral cutters if you can swing it. Failing that,get the Dispoz a Blade sets that Grizzly also sells. They are great and very quick to change blades. Their blades are double edged,and cost less per edge than re grinding.Plus,you wear out regular knives after 2 or 3 regrinds anyway. the re grinders take off way too much per grind,making the blades too narrow.

[Frank Drew]

Just keep searching until you see that perfect sweet deal, it will come. Im on the prowl for a 12'' jointer (oliver, northfield, scmi).

http://www.exfactory.com/home.aspx
http://www.tauberaronsinc.com/index.html
http://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/browse/home?tm=m
http://www.govdeals.com/eas/index.cfm
http://www.professionalmachinery.com/default.asp
http://www.blackhawkmachinerysales.com/
http://www.rtmachine.com/

Good list of resources, Michael. I think searching for high-quality second-hand makes a great deal of sense, and it's certainly worth devoting a few months to finding what you need. Of course, at some point, you'll just have to just buy the best you can find in order to get to work.

I had a 12" Northfield, and think that the performance of the machines at the top of the market is pretty similar, but, still, IMO the holy grail of jointers is Oliver. (Gotta be able to move some heavy iron, of course.)

[Chip Lindley]

That 8" Powermatic @ $700 is Not A Bad Price at all!

If it is PM's current parallelogram-model, those are over 2K! And even the 60B/C is over 1.5K Historically, PM retains its value much better than Grizzly would over years. Your *bargain* PM is only 2 hours away! You can go take a look and *kick the tires!*

A quick search of CraigsList, nationwide, using SearchTempest, finds almost no 8" PMs offered as cheap as the one you are looking at.

I held out until I lucked into a nice Delta DJ20 at estate auction 1.5 hrs. away, for $675. I had to make an extra trip back with a trailer to load it plus a PM66 and an Oneida 3hp DC system, but it was all ShoNuff worth it!

[Steven Valentine]

Here's yet another option for a jointer...$300 16" J.A. Fay without motor...space isn't really an issue yet, so I've got the room for it? What do you all think?

[Chip Lindley]

...Plus,you wear out regular knives after 2 or 3 regrinds anyway. the re grinders take off way too much per grind,making the blades too narrow.

Au Contraire' George! I used the same set of blades on a 13" Rockwell RC33 for over 10 years! (frugal person that I AM!) That set has been sharpened numerous times! I sharpen myself and the blades are still usable, although less than 1/2" Narrow now.

I find your comment odd, because these particular knives are only 5/8" Wide when New! Most planer blades are 1" wide! I only grind off enough metal to get rid of nicks, and produce a new wire edge. Perhaps you better find another sharpening shop!

[Greg Crawford]

Another vote for a spiral head. I have the Byrd on my Griz 12" (also have the Byrd on my PM 15" planer), and the results are amazing. Straight grain, changing grain, figured, no problems, so little tearout, even on figured woods, it takes a thorough examination of the board to find any, if there's any at all. It also doesn't seem to make a difference running with the grain or against it. I think the carbide inserts will turn out to be more economical in the long term, as well.

[David Keller NC]

Here's yet another option for a jointer...$300 16" J.A. Fay without motor...space isn't really an issue yet, so I've got the room for it? What do you all think?

Generally speaking, old iron is better than new iron - with one exception. Not all old jointers have a circular head. While that type of cutterhead was invented in the late 19th century, it was patented for a number of years, and after it went off patent other manufacturers were slow to take it up.

The older cutter heads look like an "H" when viewed end-on, and they are not acceptable for use. The circular type is made that way to limit the depth of cut, and also to prevent accidental contact with the knives from pulling a whole arm into the machine.

So...the J.A.Fay may well be an inexpensive way to get a really nice, heavy 16" jointer, but be prepared to put the money into re-doing the head and bearings if required, in addition to putting a 5 HP motor on it.

[Danny Hellyar]

Steve
I've been using my Grizzly G0490 since 2005 and it's been all I need. Although if I were to purchase it again today I think I would spring for the spiral cutter head, which I still may do in the future. I don't think you will find a better new 8" jointer for the price. The only thing I don't like about this model is the mobility set up that comes with it. The wheels are solid enough as they are all made from steel, but they don't come with bearings, so consequentially it doesn't roll as easily and smoothly as I like. So I purchased some better poly wheels and made my own rolling base ,which also brought it up to a better working height for me. I'm six foot , so it was a little to low for me. I own three major tools from Grizzly and am very satisfied with their equipment and service.

[george wilson]

Chip,I was sending the blades out for sharpening,but that was when the museum was paying for them. We had a list of "vendors" that we had to use,which were "approved". That's what you have to put up with in a museum,or in some school systems,too. I don't know how some of those vendors got on the list,either!! I,for example,don't know why a sheet of 3/4" plywood was $60.00.

We ran so much wood at times that the edges on a set of blades would last only a few days at times. Our blades certainly would not last 10 years.

I didn't want to spend my time grinding the blades as the time spent would have been expensive,too. I switched to Dispoz-a Blade,and was perfectly happy with them.

It might be best to understand the circumstances before making comments. I wasn't running a hobby shop.

[Steven Valentine]

Sounds like most of you guys are giving your vote to a spiral head on whatever machine.

I own several Grizzly machines and currently have been pleased with almost all of them. Exception being the bandsaw. I probably just need to take some more time and go through the setup again to make sure I have it right.

Anyway, other than resale, is the Powermatic machine worth the money? I never have understood brands such as the Powermatic being so much more money (new) than others such as Grizzly. What does one do better than the other?

Also, is there anymore input on the old 16" J.A. machine? 16" is a lot of machine for me, but bigger is better, right?

Thanks for all the input so far!!!!

[george wilson]

Our millwork shop bought a Powermatic 8" jointer against my advice. It was very expensive,and the tables were horribly out of alignment.I mean 1/8" out of alignment lengthways,and across the cutterhead too! I have a Bridgewood,very similar to the Grizzly,and it has been a very accurate machine. I bought a new,least expensive Grizzly for our toolmaking shop. I had read a Fine Woodworking report that placed the Grizzlys among the most accurately aligned jointers out there. I found the jointer to be extremely accurately aligned,and would recommend it. I didn't get the spiral head due to budget constraints.

[Chip Lindley]

Point taken George, but a sharpening is a sharpening. I could have known your circumstances if you were to elaborate, instead of making what I deem a "blanket statement." So, I propose we are even at this point!

True, you used your planer constantly in a commercial environment, and planed 1000s of BF. Still, a sharpening is a sharpening! Just more often! The only way I can save your *vendor's* reputation, is if you had huge nicks in your knives which caused them to need be ground off much more than a *normal* sharpening! (??Planing nails in used lumber??)

I still stand behind my original statement, assuming *normal* dullness, any decent set of high-speed steel planer knives can be sharpened many more than three times before they are too narrow to use.

[Tim Knight]

My choice would be the Powermatic, provided it was in excellent shape. You could always add a helical head later if you think it is warranted ( I have my doubts you would make the change unless you are running tons of lumber through). I am not knocking the Grizzly products but reality is, what it is...and that means the PM will definitely hold its value over the long run, much better than the Grizzly.

Tim

[Bob Genovesi]

That 8" Powermatic @ $700 is Not A Bad Price at all!


I was thinking the same thing!!

[John Carlo]

I bought one of the last of the American made PM jointers. It was milled and set up true and I love it. It had a list price of about $1800. I bought it new for $1400. About a year later I bought an 8" Grizzly for $650 for my school shop. It rivals the PM. Sadly, the school shop now sits idle and has been taken over by the district maintenance crew. Sadder yet, every child shall become a doctor, lawyer, or rocket scientist!

[george wilson]

Yes,blades can be sharpened more carefully,Chip. I wasn't able to go elsewhere. I just got Dispoz-a Blades. Change knives in about 15 minutes on the thickness planer or jointer.