Hello. I am looking to purchase my first jointer, but could use some advice. I have used a jointer in high school and at my uncle's woodshop, but have never owned one. I went to school to fix industrial machinery, so working on a used machine doesn't intimidate me, as I used to work on machines that were similar to jointers, except the blades were 8ft long and the material went under the cutters. It was almost like a giant thickness planer, except it didn't cut wood.
I am wondering if I am better off buying a used jointer and fixing it up or if I should just buy a new one. I do not have a thickness planer yet and would like to buy one shortly after a jointer and would like to buy a decent machine.. Is it worth the time buying a cheap jointer on Craigslist and getting it all set up or am I better off buying an entry level unit and avoiding the headaches? I am looking at a Craftsman 113.20650 on Craigslist right now for under $100, and it looks to be in decent shape. Otherwise I was looking at the Ridgid floor model for a new jointer. I don't have room for and 8in or bigger right now, so looking for a 6" until I can hopefully move to a larger space in the distant future.
What are your opinions? Should I spend time trying to make something out of nothing or money on a decent unit and be done with it?