new to me, used jointer

[Mike Rambour]

I am going to pick up a used Powermatic 8" jointer and not sure how. I have a car trailer, so I will take that with me as the truck bed would be too far off the ground, I was thinking of taking my cherry picker engine hoist with me also. Ok, I know I can't pick up the jointer via the tables :) I am thinking straps under the base but that should make it very top heavy. Maybe I should separate the base from the jointer and move them separately but would prefer not doing that. Seller states its currently on a furniture moving dolly to move to his driveway. It will be just me and my wife to move this thing, seller states its around 700lbs. and will not be able to help. My wife is a tiny little thing, but quite used to helping me move heavy stuff. I could rent a pallet jack but not sure that would help as I think no matter what I will have to lift onto car trailer, I doubt a pallet jack would go high enough. I could cover the ramps on the trailer with plywood but due to the angle of the ramps, I assume the jointer would again be top heavy.

Oh, if I buy it, it's about a 3 hour drive each way, so no friends to help me load it, but I will have friends to help me unload it, I will be picking it up on a return trip from a family visit so only 20 minutes or so out of my way.

[mike stenson]

Take the jointer off the base.

[Cameron Wood]

With a sling under the center casting, and an engine hoist, it seems like it could be lifted 30" or more.

[Michael Burnside]

Most powermatic jointers have retractable handles that pull out and are intended to lift the machine. Never use the wings, ever. If you have a hoist that can lift it high enough to back in the trailer, that would be ideal. To tie it down you could use the same handles and crisscross straps to keep the jointer secure.

[Mike Rambour]

I did not know they had handles, I will ask the seller if it has them, that would also solve my other issue on stabilizing it for the drive home. And to the other poster, I agree if I separate the top/bottom, I should be able to lift it onto the truck and also prevent a tip-over.

[Bill Dufour]

If possible flip it upside down and slide it up some 2x4's. It is much more stable upside down. Obviously remove the fence and guard before flipping. To flip it over strap a long 2x4 vertical to the base. Use that as a lever to tip it on its back. Then reposition the lever to flip it upside down. Two levers make it easier to control.
BilL D

[Dan Barber]

If possible flip it upside down and slide it up some 2x4's. It is much more stable upside down. Obviously remove the fence and guard before flipping. To flip it over strap a long 2x4 vertical to the base. Use that as a lever to tip it on its back. Then reposition the lever to flip it upside down. Two levers make it easier to control.
BilL D

What? I would never do that to a jointer, too many chances for damage to even begin to try that. It's not that difficult to load a jointer on trailer with an engine hoist...

[Richard Coers]

The seller is way off on the weight. The new 50HH has a shipping weight of 485 pounds, that means the jointer is actually less. I'd take an appliance dolly, strap that to the back of the jointer, lay the appliance dolly on the back of the trailer, and pull it on with a come-along. You can have it loaded and strapped down by the time you unload the cherry picker.

[Russell Hayes]

Take off the fence. Use the sellers pallet jack to get it to your truck's tailgate. My 80's model 60 uses three nuts and bolts to attach the jointer to the base, remove them. Using the pallet jack get the top of the base close to your tailgate height and slide it off the base and onto your truck bed. The base should be manageable by itself, but if it is too heavy remove the motor. If the jointer is older than 10 years I would be changing motor bearings anyway. When you get home do the reverse. Thats how I've done it by myself.

[Russell Hayes]

I did not know they had handles, I will ask the seller if it has them, that would also solve my other issue on stabilizing it for the drive home. And to the other poster, I agree if I separate the top/bottom, I should be able to lift it onto the truck and also prevent a tip-over.

No handles on a jointer, that would be a planer.

[Michael Burnside]

No handles on a jointer, that would be a planer.

That statement is incorrect.

https://powermatic.com/catalog/product/view/id/95734/category/2682/

Page 8 of the manual...

Ones that don't have such posts usually can be disassembled and removed from the base piece-meal.

[Mike Rambour]

Well you guys made me look...Ok, this model HAS lifting rods according to the manual and its 610lbs, the shipping weight was over 700lbs, so the seller must have looked at that. The lifting rods greatly simplify the project :)

[Bruce Wrenn]

As a previous poster noted, I would remove head from base, and strap it to a 2X8 (both beds,) then turn it up side down onto bed of trailer. This way, ways on jointer don't get broken during trip home due to lack of support. When I was teaching school, I had one damaged due to improper transportation. Very nice, and expensive boat anchor.

[scott lipscomb]

I gave my buddy an 8" powermatic jointer a couple of years ago. We wrestled it into the back of his pickup truck with a ramp in flip-flops. We did not take it apart, it wasn't hard, we aren't particularly burly but are both pretty comfortable with this sort of thing. He drove 1000 miles and pulled it off himself, but he may have used his forklift. It was a Powermatic 60. I had moved it around the shop by myself with not too much problem. I bet it probably weighs more like 450-500...similar to a cabinet saw as I recall.

[Gordon Stump]

My little wife and I moved an 8" joiner. I bolted a manual boat winch to the front of the flat bed. Covered the ramps with plywood. Took off the handle on the winch and used a cordless drill to winch it up unto the trailer. It was on a moveable base.

The bigger issue was getting the tables down the stairs into the basement. I took off the tables. I could handle the motor and base. But those tables!! My 6 foot 6 inch 300 lb son-in-law hugged each table in front off him and just walked down the stairs. That was impressive.

[Mark Gibney]

Mike, you says the seller cannot help you, and your wife is physically light, but a good worker.
Also you will be loading this machine in a driveway, so it's probably sloped.
Things can go wrong very quickly in this situation. I've seen it happen.

I would absolutely take the jointer apart - remove the fence, stow it on the bed of your truck, then the tables and stow.
Now you just have the base and the motor to move.

These are simple machines and it will not be difficult to put it back together, and you'll save yourself a potential disaster. Plus you won't need to haul a trailer for the trip.

[Ron Selzer]

"My little wife and I moved an 8" joiner. I bolted a manual boat winch to the front of the flat bed. Covered the ramps with plywood. Took off the handle on the winch and used a cordless drill to winch it up unto the trailer. It was on a moveable base."

Winner, winner chicken dinner

[Thomas L Carpenter]

I have an older 6 inch delta jointer that has been professionally moved twice in the last two years. I didn't watch either move but can guess how handy those wings are to the movers. I haven't used it in the last two years but just yesterday I checked it and it was as close to co planer as I care to get it. To be honest I've never checked it before so maybe they improved it!

[Mike Rambour]

Well the lifting handles and engine hoist will do the job nicely...Mark who mentioned the sloping driveway, I was worried about that also, I am one of the ones who had things go sideways on sloped driveways with top heavy items. In the pictures, driveway looks fairly level, not too worried and the mobile base arrives tomorrow. All ready to go, thanks...

[Bill Dufour]

Those lifting handles look okay but after rigging run a horizontal strap all around so it will not fall off one side if it tilts forward or back. Sounds like those rods can not get lost? They are often lost for a lathe after installation. I think they may be the property of the seller. On a lathe, the rod ends will have a groove and clips with washers so the rigging can not slip off sideways.
BilL D

[Mike Rambour]

Just to close off this thread, the lifting bars and my engine hoist worked great. Lifted it onto the trailer, and then once home got it on the ground onto the mobile base. The thing looks brand new and I really like it so far except I am getting some sniping the last inch of the board. I can’t seem to adjust the outfeed table to get rid of it but I’m still playing with it. The tables are coplaner and I don’t understand why I’m getting the sniping, but as I said, I’ll adjust it just not been able to so far. It is so much quieter than my old hitachi jointer and with the helical head much nicer finish. I was worried about nothing it was easy to lift and move due to the handles

[mike stenson]

Check the knives height. Probably higher than the out feed table.

[Andrew Hughes]

The best way ti set the a jointer outfeed table to the knives is the let the cut determine the height.
Here's a video describing the method.
https://youtu.be/PNOt1SvjoLs?si=NNANc4YFOZZrZw3b
Refrain from adjusting tables settings done at the factory. Unless you have the precision straight edges and a good understanding of the process.
I really easy to make things worse.
Good luck

[Cameron Wood]

Coincidentally, I also just got an 8" jointer. After removing the fence, rolled it down a driveway on it's mobile base, and used a mini chain hoist to lift it into the raised deck of my van onto it's side.- the hoist hanging from the roof rack. The CL seller was quite competent so that helped. Unloaded it myself.

Re snipe, IME the outfeed table adjustment can be very subtle sometimes taking multiple tiny changes.

[Michael Burnside]

Check the knives height. Probably higher than the out feed table.

Congrats! Yea those lifting handles are awesome, right?

I agree with Mike. It could also be technique, no offense intended. I’ve been there myself, just not carefully removing pressure.