Delta DJ-20

[jack dempsey]

Hello, I am in the market for an 8" jointer. Having recently missed a Powermatic from the 1960's. I have come across a Delta DJ-20 which the owner informs me is approximately 17 years old. I have not seen it as of this time. The owner claims the machine is very lightly used and has sat idle in his garage for years. I will look at it this weekend. He claims it is like new. He is asking $1250., I am not sure yet if there is flexibility in the price. I would appreciate any advice on this particular machine. Thanks, Jack

[Cary Falk]

Machine is fine. Price is way high.

[Patrick Kane]

Yeah, i agree with Cary. I think i paid $850-900 for the one i had for a brief stint. Even then that might have been on the high side. Unfortunately for all DJ-20 owners, the latest grizzly installments have depreciated the value considerably. Similar design, both made in taiwan, possibility of a helical/spiral head for not much more. The only complaint i had for the 6-8 months of owning a dj-20 is that it wasnt 12-16" wide.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Differences in value are determined somewhat by location, but $1250 is way too high. I wouldn't pay more than $900 for the Invicta era DJ-20 in excellent condition. Folks argue that the Invicta models have the best quality control among DJ-20.

You can get a Grizzly equivalent new (with straight knife cutter head) for around $1000, so keep that in mind when someone is asking over $1000 for a used 8" jointer.

[David Kumm]

I won't disagree that the price is high. While I don't think the DJ 20 had necessarily the best build it should have a good Marathon motor which at the time was US made and I'll take 17 year old cast iron over new. If you can see it, hear it, and measure how flat the tables are, you are way ahead of a sight unseen jointer. Guaranteed flat tables are worth an upcharge in my world. If the machine checks out, I'd no problem paying what a new Grizzley costs. Dave

[jack dempsey]

David,
Thanks for the advice. When I go to check the machine I will keep the information in mind. Jack

[jack dempsey]

Phillip,
I agree the price is somewhat high. When I visit to take a look I will determine how rigid the owner is on his asking price. Jack

[jack dempsey]

Patrick and Cary,
Will keep in mind when I look at the machine. Thanks for the advice. Jack

[Dave Cav]

That's about what I paid a few years ago for an Invicta DJ-32 (12") jointer with a lifetime supply of Dispoz-a-Blades. If it's an Invicta Delta it'll probably be a good machine, but parts are unobtainable, and the price is at least 50% more than what I would pay.

[Michael Rector]

There was thread a few weeks or so back with someone trying to source parts for a DJ-20 and found that the river is pretty dry in that area.

[jack dempsey]

Dave,
The jointer that I looked at was a Model # 37-350. It looked new and the owner estimated it had less than 20 hours of use. I am not familiar with the Invite line of Delta. Is this only available as a 12" width? I am a little reluctant if parts are unavailable. Thanks for the information.

[Phillip Mitchell]

Invicta is a name on some of the Delta jointers from a particular era (80s-90s?) that were made in Brazil. Not just limited to 12" or jointers. All types of Delta machinery can have the Invicta name on it. I don't have enough experience with different models to say with any authority, but some on the web talk of the Invicta era having an overall better quality control in the manufacturing process.

[Steve Reich]

Not sure where you're located, but for what it's worth, there is a DJ-20 for sale on Craigslist here in western Virginia listed at $1200, advertised as used in a professional's home shop. So, the price may not be all that off. However, I do tend to be wary of machines that are claimed to be lightly used and sitting in idle garages for years. They tend to become tabletops for all sorts of things that shouldn't be sitting atop them. Checking the flatness of the tables is a must in such a situation. I'd much rather have a machine that has been used---and cared for--by a woodworker.

[Barry Richardson]

I have a DJ20 I paid $850 in very lightly used condition a few years ago. If it has a shelix head in it $1250 would be fair price...

[Patrick Irish]

Too high! Wasn't that a $1,200 machine new?

It's heavy and American but a new grizzly with 8" spiral is like $1400 shipped.

[jack dempsey]

Thanks for the advice Steve. If it is still available when I can look at it I will check the tables. Jack

[jack dempsey]

Seems as though that is the general concensus, "too high". If still available I will make a lower offer. Jack

[jack dempsey]

Thanks Barry, I will keep it in mind if I make an offer. Jack

[William Bell]

In 1990 I paid $1400 for a DJ-20 that was made in Brazil. The normal price was $1500. Mine was on sale. $1500 than is equivalent to about $2750.00 today according to a CPI inflation calculator. $1250 may be a little high but it is not unreasonable if it is in excellent condition. I read on this site and others with individuals who are perfectly satisfied with Grizzly and other tools made in China and Tawain. However, there are an equally number of people who had horrific expierences with Grizzly and other Tawainese/China stuff. Iam a Powermatic fan but an old Powermatic fan. The quality of there products have fallen far in my view since they moved to Tawain. In 1990 I drove to the Grizzly showroom. Granted they were only in business for 7 years but I was unimpressed. I also drove to York and visited the Bridgewood showroom. In my humble opinion there quality control was light years ahead of Grizzly at that time. Grizzly has indeed made tremendous improvements but it still seems like a gamble. Bridgewood is out of business and Grizzly has survived. Go figure. I noticed recently long delivery times for many of there products. Not a good sign for them or the economy. Try to get the seller down a little so both of you are happy. I would part with mine for about the same price in the $1100 to $1200 range. Any tool is worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.

[Chris Hachet]

Machine is fine. Price is way high.

Agreed...I paid $600 for a Powermatic 8 inch from the gold era in pristine condition...

[Ed Pollock]

I had been waiting on a backordered Grizzly jointer for some time when I found a DJ-20 on craigslist with Byrd Shelix cutterhead. $1100 which i feel like was a great deal. If it did not have the helical head installed I likely would have held out for the Grizzly (same setup, $1350 delivered).

[Jason White]

I had one. Great machine, but I "stole" it for $300. You can definitely talk him down. Maybe $800?

[Jason White]

A lot of the old "Invicta" DJ-20's had the motor mounts installed backwards, causing the pulleys to not be aligned properly (mine was one of them). Just something to check when you get it home. Not hard to fix, provided you've got 3 hands.