Cast aluminum Jointer?

[Ian Haywood]

Is there any such animal as a decent jointer made from cast aluminum? A cast iron anything would rust in nothing flat out in my barn where I keep my stuff.

Ian

[Greg Funk]

Inca used to make a nice jointer/planer combination machine which you can see here: http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/inca_570.shtml.
You might be able to find a used one but I don't think they are cheap.

Greg

[Eric Haycraft]

If you can hold off a year or so Steel City will probably have a granite one out. Also, even if the table is not CI, there are plenty of metal parts that can rust. t9 or vci work wonders and you should be able to prevent most rust as long as you don't have water dripping on the machine.

[Kevin Groenke]

The old DeWalt I picked up recently was aluminum on top of a steel base. I think it would weather very well.
http://sawmillcreek.org/showpost.php?p=768784&postcount=1

Of course you'd have to find one. I imagine many of the current european "home-owner" models are largely aluminum. Wilbur posted links to a bunch of these here:
http://sawmillcreek.org/showpost.php?p=767694&postcount=30

g'luck
-kg

[John Newell]

If small size is OK (i.e., just edge jointing on relatively shorter stock), the Delta 6" benchtop has aluminum tables.

[Ian Haywood]

Thanks. I just picked up a can of T-9 to try out on my router's collet that is rusting.

[Lee Schierer]

Aluminum is no cure all for a power tool. If the castings aren't properly stress relieved and aged, they will warp over time. Aluminum will leave gray marks on your wood as it rubs off. It is much softer than Cast Iron so it will wear more quickly and ding more easily. It is also more flexible so it will deflect more easily under a load. Years ago when Sears carried aluminum topped Craftsman table saw, I never found a single one with a flat top surface.

I'd look for a good cast iron unit and learn to use it a lot to keep the rust at bay.

Lee