Robert Strebler
09-23-2008, 5:53 PM
A while back I purchased a Harbor Freight 8" Jointer for $350 on sale. The idea behind the jointer was to buy something that could be used in my basement shop and removed without too much trouble. The DJ20 clones looked like they would be a bear to remove and also cost about $500 more. I figured it was worth the gamble.
Anyway, I purchased the HF jointer on sale without too many expectations. I figured for $350, I could use it for a while and then upgrade when I moved the shop out of the basement (already moved, but no need to upgrade unless I want a larger unit). After setting it up and running it for a bit, I can tell you that it has by far exceeded my expectations.
Here is the completed jointer.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00667.jpg
I can tell you that it was an exercise in patience getting it put together. It comes in a steel banded crate with the base completely disassembled in about a gagillion pieces and the instruction manual for setting up the base consists of a parts diagram. If anyone decides to buy one, plan on doing it slowly - very slowly and patiently. Despite my doubts a few times, everything does fit together.
I was concerned about the tables being co-planer, but they seem to be right on. Fit and finish is not as nice as some of the more expensive jointers out there, but it's very functional and exceeded my expectations.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00666.jpg
Dust collection was an afterthought with this thing. It has a dust chute, but chips still escape through the sides. On my short to-do list is to fabricate a DC cover for the chute.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00665.jpg
Overall, I'm very happy with the jointer. I immediately replaced the HF knives with some new Freud knives which work exceptionally well. Here is a reclaimed board that I planed down to remove the brown slathering of stain that the original user put on there.
Stained side:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00668.jpg
Jointed side:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00669.jpg
It's got a 2hp 115v Motor.
The length is a little over 52"
3 Knife Cutterhead
The tables are flat and co-planer. It makes a nice, flat, jointed edge.
The fence is an old-style fence that I lock in at 90 degrees and it stays that way. It works well for what it does. I wouldn't want to be changing angles on it as it is a pain to get locked in at the desired angle. Angles will be cut on the table saw anyway.
The cutterhead is an old style, but is easy enough to setup with a Jointer-Pal. I wouldn't want to setup this style without one. With the Jointer-Pal it took about 10 minutes to set the three knives.
Overall, I'm more than happy with this jointer for the price. There was no shipping cost or long transport as I ordered through the store and picked it up a week later.
I'm very happy with it!
Anyway, I purchased the HF jointer on sale without too many expectations. I figured for $350, I could use it for a while and then upgrade when I moved the shop out of the basement (already moved, but no need to upgrade unless I want a larger unit). After setting it up and running it for a bit, I can tell you that it has by far exceeded my expectations.
Here is the completed jointer.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00667.jpg
I can tell you that it was an exercise in patience getting it put together. It comes in a steel banded crate with the base completely disassembled in about a gagillion pieces and the instruction manual for setting up the base consists of a parts diagram. If anyone decides to buy one, plan on doing it slowly - very slowly and patiently. Despite my doubts a few times, everything does fit together.
I was concerned about the tables being co-planer, but they seem to be right on. Fit and finish is not as nice as some of the more expensive jointers out there, but it's very functional and exceeded my expectations.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00666.jpg
Dust collection was an afterthought with this thing. It has a dust chute, but chips still escape through the sides. On my short to-do list is to fabricate a DC cover for the chute.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00665.jpg
Overall, I'm very happy with the jointer. I immediately replaced the HF knives with some new Freud knives which work exceptionally well. Here is a reclaimed board that I planed down to remove the brown slathering of stain that the original user put on there.
Stained side:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00668.jpg
Jointed side:
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c223/homebrewer27/DSC00669.jpg
It's got a 2hp 115v Motor.
The length is a little over 52"
3 Knife Cutterhead
The tables are flat and co-planer. It makes a nice, flat, jointed edge.
The fence is an old-style fence that I lock in at 90 degrees and it stays that way. It works well for what it does. I wouldn't want to be changing angles on it as it is a pain to get locked in at the desired angle. Angles will be cut on the table saw anyway.
The cutterhead is an old style, but is easy enough to setup with a Jointer-Pal. I wouldn't want to setup this style without one. With the Jointer-Pal it took about 10 minutes to set the three knives.
Overall, I'm more than happy with this jointer for the price. There was no shipping cost or long transport as I ordered through the store and picked it up a week later.
I'm very happy with it!