Advice on used jointers

[ADAM GROSS]

I'm looking for suggestions on what to look for when looking at used jointers. Any help would be great. Thanks.

[Alex Shanku]

This is an often discussed topic.

I am sure there is more than enough info on this topic in past posts.

Check these links out.

http://www.google.com/search?q=buying+used+jointer&sitesearch=www.sawmillcreek.org

[Chip Lindley]

MY list; (not necessisarily in order) other's WILL differ:

First decide what size jointer fills your needs; how much can you spend?

1- Obvious damage; repairs to CI brazed or welded.
2- Overall condition; severe rust or pitting. Bad paint. Bad bearings.
3- Used by hobbiest or commercially?
4- Both tables flat, co-planar and easily adjusted?
5- Round cutterhead which includes jack screws for knife adjustment?
6- Flat straight fence, easily adjusted to 90 deg?
7- Single phase or 3-phase (can you use 3ph?)
8- Sufficient horsepower (at least 3/4hp-6"; 1.5hp-8"; 2hp-12")
9- Extra knife sets or mobile stand included?
10- PRICE (all above determines a machine's real price. Is seller motivated to bargain or FIRM?

[ADAM GROSS]

Thanks Chip, I going to possibly go look at a PM 54a this weekend and maybe in a couple of weeks a bridgewood 8". Just looking for areas to look for on machines becouse I have never owned a jointer so not all to sure what goes bad on them. Thinking about going with the 8" right now but not able to look at it for a couple of weeks.

[Steve Rowe]

Chip offers some good suggestions although I would go higher on the HP. I had a Bridgewood 8" 2hp jointer for 20 years and it was a great machine. I sold it to a friend 6 years ago and it is still going strong. Mine didn't have the knife jackscrews which would have made knife changes a bit easier but it is not an absolute necessity IMO.

If you intend on milling your own lumber from rough, I wouldn't consider anything smaller than an 8". I originally had a 4" jointer and to put it politely, it was woefully inadequate for anything other than edge jointing. Given its short table length, it was also limited on the stock length it could joint accurately.