Struggling with what jointer?

[Jim Andrew]

Have already read everything I can find in the search for jointers, but just
have to ask "What Jointer?" Have looked at all the off brands, woodteck
67"long 819$ Sunhill 795$, yorkcraft 649$, 72", bridgewood 66" 949$, griz
GO500 953$ Delta 950$ 72".
Looking at my preferences, it is the Delta DJ20 1350$ from toolcrib, or
the Powermatic 60B, 73" 1145$, or the Powermatic parallelogram think it is
1514$ with the 6" longer table. The Powermatic has a 2 hp motor and
a little more rpm. The biggest thing about the PM to me is the knife setting
gauge. 30 years ago I did 2 years as an IA teacher in a school with all
PM machines, and I could replace the blades in 5 minutes or less with that
gauge. Had 2 jobs at that time and found it hard to spend a lot of time
doing maintenance. So it was very handy to be able to change them quickly.
Any comments?

[Tom LaRussa]

Have already read everything I can find in the search for jointers, but just
have to ask "What Jointer?" Have looked at all the off brands, woodteck
67"long 819$ Sunhill 795$, yorkcraft 649$, 72", bridgewood 66" 949$, griz
GO500 953$ Delta 950$ 72".
Looking at my preferences, it is the Delta DJ20 1350$ from toolcrib, or
the Powermatic 60B, 73" 1145$, or the Powermatic parallelogram think it is
1514$ with the 6" longer table. The Powermatic has a 2 hp motor and
a little more rpm. The biggest thing about the PM to me is the knife setting
gauge. 30 years ago I did 2 years as an IA teacher in a school with all
PM machines, and I could replace the blades in 5 minutes or less with that
gauge. Had 2 jobs at that time and found it hard to spend a lot of time
doing maintenance. So it was very handy to be able to change them quickly.
Any comments?
Jim,

You didn't say how WIDE each of those jointers is.

Also, regarding the knife setting jig, are those not available as generic aftermarket jobbers for like $30?

[David LaRue]

I have the Yorkie, and it works just fine, and leaves a nice finish. And, although I have not seen it the 8" Powermatic parrallel table would seem to be the cat's meow. Not to add to your list but have you looked at the 10" Olivers?

[Jim Schmoll]

I have a Oasis MB 203H, Has the same parts manual as the Delta DJ20. The two things different are color (pea green) and cost ($699.00) Not bad for a 8" import with a Delta big brother. Got it at Tool Mart in Sothern Cal. I have had it for about four months now and love it..

Jim from Idyllwild CA

[sascha gast]

I'd go for the 10" oliver, got mine in october $1695, 4 knife cutter, 3hp 84"bed. everything i could want.

sascha

[David Dixson]

On the Oasis jointer, the color is no longer pea green. They ran out of stock on those and the next batch is to be somewhat of an industrial cream color.

Dave

[Kirk (KC) Constable]

I'm not sure we can call Grizzly an 'off brand' anymore. The 8" jointer is a STEAL.

KC

[Peter Leib]

I'm in the same situation...but I'm also buying a cabinet saw, planer and band saw as well!

I've had the Sunhill 8" in a previous life....great jointer and good customer service.

Sunhill is selling the Oliver 10" now for $2295 including shipping...no more of those 'blemished' models for $1695... :( Though I imagine shipping on those monsters can get up there.

Another question is whether to get the Byrd Shelix head...no more blade adjustments??

So many options...so many questions...

Chow for now...

Peter

[David LaRue]

Welcome to the Creek Peter! Tool decisions are half the fun! :D

[Peter Leib]

Hi Dave...

Thanx...I didn't realize that I'd never posted here before...guess I have a few posts on Woodnet...

The frustrating thing is, I keep rationalizing more expensive tools instead of going for much more reasonable ones that would suit me just fine!

Ok...thread hijack over... :)

Peace...

Peter

[Jim Andrew]

Appreciate your comments. I also have a unisaw on order, would love to
go with a 10 or 12 " jointer, was going to settle for an 8" for now, have to
check out this oasis.Jim

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Jim, agonize no more. Buy what you want if you can afford it, and if you can't afford to buy the one you want, buy the one you can afford. Just a quick comparison--the DJ-20 is around $1300 or so and the lowest price is somewhere south of $700 right? So the difference is $600 bucks or so. If you can afford $1300, then $600 isn't significant.

[Steven Wilson]

I had a Powermatic 60 which was (is) a great jointer. My tastes now run towards larger jointers with quick change cutterheads. If I were looking at a more standard jointer with a regular cutterhead (spend lots of time aligning knives) then I would probably go with the Grizzly 8" - fairly cheap, decent, nothing great, nothing wrong with it.

[Jim Andrew]

I checked out the Oasis from Toolmart. They wanted 259.24 freight on
the website, so I called, and they dropped it to 200. So that is 899. It
would be a great deal in California.

[lou sansone]

my advise is to go with the widest jointer you can afford. I have a 16" newman and I wish sometimes I had a 20" machine.

[Dave Avery]

Lou,

Welcome to SMC fom a fellow Connecticut guy...... Dave.

[David Dixson]

I checked out the Oasis from Toolmart. They wanted 259.24 freight on
the website, so I called, and they dropped it to 200. So that is 899. It
would be a great deal in California.

Jim,

Where are you at? They quoted me $450 for two machines. Sounds like I could get the one machine for a good bit less.

Dave

[Dennis McDonaugh]

my advise is to go with the widest jointer you can afford. I have a 16" newman and I wish sometimes I had a 20" machine.
Holy Cow! Is it hard to push a 16" wide board acoss that jointer?

[Jim Andrew]

I'm in the middle of Kansas, a little too far to go just pick one up in
CA. Talked to my wife, and she said go for the Oliver 10"! Course now
I have to wait for the money to appear in my account. Thanks for the
input. Jim

[David LaRue]

Jim,

Congrats! Isn't it fun when you get help from friends, when it comes to picking out tools? :D heehe

David

[David Dixson]

I'm in the middle of Kansas, a little too far to go just pick one up in
CA. Talked to my wife, and she said go for the Oliver 10"! Course now
I have to wait for the money to appear in my account. Thanks for the
input. Jim

Jim,

You oughta hug her neck.

Dave

[lou sansone]

Holy Cow! Is it hard to push a 16" wide board acoss that jointer?
Actually it is pretty easy, which I was as supprised as you are when I moved from an 8" machine. I always use those rubber padded handle things when ever I am using it though. To be fair, most folks do not face 16" wide stock very often.

[lou sansone]

Lou,

Welcome to SMC fom a fellow Connecticut guy...... Dave.
good forum... thanks for the welcome
lou