Jointer .... Delta? Jet? Ridgid? or other

[Effie Lever]

Looking for a 6" Jointer in the $400-$500 range, any suggestions?

[simono71]

I had a Jet 6" that I recently sold when I upgraded to an 8" DJ-20. I liked it fine worked great. My only advice is if you have the room and the power (most need 220v) find a used 8" jointer in the same price range. Just about all the rough boards I would find would be over 6". I was constantly wishing I had just a little bit more width, and would have to dig through the stacks to find wood under 6". Also the tables on the Jet 6" are rather short. I had trouble jointing longer stock, not so now with my bigger jointer. Hope that helps.

[Tom Hintz]

I have a reivew of the Ridgid jointer at the link below. Also, I will be posting a new review of the Delta 6" Professional Jointer in the next day or two. I do not have anything on the Jet as yet.
Right now, from what I have tried, I like the Delta though the Ridgid is not a bad machine. the Delta is a little better made, has a bigger fence, enclosed cabinet, better fence control system, handles stock down to 1/2"-thick and a bullet-proof cutterhead.
I'll have more and lots of photos in the reivew.

the Ridgid review - http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/rgdjntrrvu.html

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Effie, Welcome to Saw Mill Creek! We are glad that you have joined.

During your search for a jointer, have a look at the 8" Grizzly that is currently on sale. It is a little more than you want to spend, but it is a good looking machine.

If you need to stay in your budget (we all do :)) the biggest thing to look for would be table length. The longer the tables, the longer board that you can joint successfully.

As far as not being able to face joint wider boards go, if you take really shallow passes with your planer, you can get buy with not face jointing them. I have gotten by with a 6" benchtop jointer to this point.

[Effie Lever]

Jeff, is this the GO500 on Amazon, or did you find it for a lower price? Looks like a fine machine

[Dan Gruber]

I just ordered the 8" Grizzly the G0586, it's on sale for $625 plus $78 for shipping. It looks like a fantastic machine.http://images.grizzly.com/grizzlycom/pics/jpeg288/G/G0586.jpg

[Mike Cutler]

Effie. Bigger is better when it comes to jointers. I have a Jet 6" and it's a nice machine, but it is just not long enough or big enough. It's the next machine on the upgrade stategy. Have fun lookin'

[Brian Hale]

Welcome to the Creek!!

I've been hearing good things about the Yorkcraft jointers from Wilke Machine in York Pa. I have their 6" Bridgewood and it's a fine machine. The Yorkcrafts are $339 for a 6" and $649 for a 8"

www.wilkemachinery.com (http://www.wilkemachinery.com)

Brian