Old Craftman Jointer .... Yea or Nay?

[Lisa Starr]

I've got the opportunity to be given 4" Craftman Jointer, but don't think I want it. I've done without a jointer for a very long time, and question if I'd use it. Currently, I joint an edge with my router table. For surfacing across a board, I use my 15" planer with a sled. Am I missing something?:confused:

[John Donhowe]

Although the price sounds right, it's probably not worth your time and effort. For the few times you'll probably use it, you'll likely need a lot more time- sharpening and aligning blades- than you'd save from your current methods. OTOH, you could use it as a cheap trial balloon- see if you like the results coming off a jointer enough to get a "real" one (6" or even 8") down the road.

[Frank Pratt]

I'd pass. At 4", it's not big enough to do much more than edge jointing & your current method will do a much better job of that anyway.

[Jeff Heath]

4" jointers are cute to collect. Not so much to use, unless you make small birdhouses. Then, they're just the right size.

[Bill Orbine]

Can't complain about the price and it is worth to see what you are missing, if anything at all. Just taking baby steps! So I'd go for it if I were you and if it doesn't work out, somebody else may benefit if you pass it on for free. If it does work for you, the you might grow onto bigger things later.

[Don Jarvie]

Yes. It’s free so it cost you nothing. It’s also a nice intro on fixing up a machine and getting it running. You mess it up no biggie. Old machines are readily available so it’s a nice starter piece to work on. Knowing how the machine works is helpful should it break down when you need it.

[Andrew Seemann]

For anything more than free I would say no. I have an old 4 inch jointer somewhere that I fixed up and almost never used afterward. It was just too small to do anything very useful for the size of stuff that I typically work on. Actually, I could probably say the same thing about my 6" jointer now.

[Lisa Starr]

Went to see it this morning and hauled it home with me. Not sure I'll ever do anything with it, it doesn't have a motor and I'm not sure I'll spend the money to get one for it. Figured I can move it on, if in time I decide not to monkey with it. The machine appears to be in decent shape and the tables (if that's what they're called) don't seem to have any low spots in them. No rust on it either. I'll give it a good coat of rust inhibitor and put it in my closet until I feel the need to mess with it or dispose of it.

[John Donhowe]

Repurpose the tables for a scary sharp setup, or any other situation where you need a flat surface (small assembly platform?)

[Lisa Starr]

John - thanks for the idea. I sharpen on a granite surface plate, but maybe a small assembly table.

[Bradley Gray]

Lisa, I think if you have room for it you would find a jointer (even a small one) useful.

With sharp, well adjusted knives it will leave a much better surface than your router table. Straightening edges will go much faster. You can set up your router to do something else.

I have a 16" jointer and an old Sears 6" and use the little one 10 times as much as the big one.

[Paul Schaefer]

I have an old 5" Montgomery Wards jointer. Everyone says 6" is barely big enough, and you should be for 8" minimum, but I find I'm able to do an awful lot with that little jointer. I wouldn't be without it, and in me small shop, the compact size is a bonus. I think there have been maybe a half-dozen times I wished for a larger jointer in the five years or so I've owned it. For the prince ly sum of 'free' it's well worth playing with.

[Ron Citerone]

Lisa, I think if you have room for it you would find a jointer (even a small one) useful.

With sharp, well adjusted knives it will leave a much better surface than your router table. Straightening edges will go much faster. You can set up your router to do something else.

I have a 16" jointer and an old Sears 6" and use the little one 10 times as much as the big one.


I used to have 4" Craftsman jointer and liked it for jointing cabinet doors and small drawers. Sometimes it's more about having space for it...........I'm sure you could use it sometimes, but if you want it find one with a motor and save some time.

[Michelle Rich]

put one grit of sandpaper on one side and another grit on the other and sharpen your chisels?

[Carl Beckett]

I used a benchtop jointer for years. Mostly edges. I found it very useful. If nothing else you wont have to change a router table setup every time you want to do an edge.

[Mike Cutler]

Lisa

Look for a motor for it. A 3/4-1HP, is probably about right.
I think you'll be surprised at how much you use it, even at only 4" wide. It will also allow you to not have to reset your router table in the middle of projects, should it come to that.
You may not do anything other than edge joint smaller boards, but it's a one time set up. "Set it, and forget it". My Jet 6" was setup probably 20 years ago, and other than moving the fence, I haven't touched the table height adjustments since then. ( After I change blades I have to check them and set them, but that's not often.)
It's nice to just turn a machine on and be done a minute or two later for a given task.

[Art Mann]

My first jointer was a 4 inch model manufactured by AMT Tool Company. I think I gave $35 for it used and then salvaged a washing machine motor to power it. I used it to make bee hive frames. At first, they were for my own use but I eventually began to sell them too. The thing paid for itself hundreds of times over. I gave it away but wish I still had it 45 years later.

[Andrew Howe]

If it is the bench top version, pass on it. Mine had plastic bearing houses and gave way after a few years of light use. Cannot get parts for them. 6 in jointer is likely better quality