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Jointer

1K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  NoThankyou 
#1 ·
What is a Good reliable benchtop jointer?
 
#2 · (Edited)
That's an oxymoron .....

Good, reliable and benchtop jointer are kinda self contratictory..... just my opinion. What you want in a jointer primarily are the longest tables available and heavy cast iron for mass and less vibration. Also a 1 HP induction motor, not an AC/DC brush type motor. Granted, that will cost more than your "bench top, but it will take up only slightly more floor space. If that's just not in your realm of possibilities, then a bench top that you can put on a shelf is your only choice.

Having said that, Grizzly is a brand I have experience with and have been satisfied with. Wen is a new name relatively for benchtop tools and they are gaining popularity for a "good bang for the buck" product line. Rikon is another good brand as is Jet.

Here's the Grizzly:
https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-6-x-28-Benchtop-Jointer/G0725

https://wisepick.org/best-benchtop-jointer/
In this review of benchtop jointers, the Grizzly is not at the top of their list, however. The Cutech is their favorite, some folks here have had issues with them ... I don't recall what, sorry. They are liking the Cuteck spiral cutterhead over a 2 blade which is the most common in all the others.


For reference, I have owned 6 stationary jointers in my woodworking career. Most were good, reliable, heavy and smooth operating with a 3 blade straight cutterhead. I presently own a 6" Craftsman, used often and a 13" Min Max, rarely used.
 
#3 ·
You do not say if you are looking at used or new only. What primary length of material do you intend to edge? If it's all real short, then true benchtop might suffice. But if you'll be doing anything of much length, you may want to re-think to a longer bed machine. You can easily run short material on a long bed, but edging long material on a short bed can be challenging.

I too have an older 6" Craftsman three blade machine, and it does an excellent job for the size wood I normally feed it. To date I've never wished for more.

Mark
 
#4 ·
Sometimes space is an issue and you might have no choice but to look for a benchtop jointer. Functionally though the larger, longer the table is the more use you can get out of it. My first jointer was a benchtop model and within a month I found myself looking for a floor model. I bought a 6" craftsman jointer and was barely satisfied with that. The table on it was too short to joint 8' long wood so I ended up building a wooden extension on the table. I have since purchased a 12" jointer which I believe will be the last upgrade.

About all you can do shopping for machinery today is look at the reviews on the equipment. You can't go by brand anymore, they are all competing today to make the cheapest junk they can so you have to be a lot more careful today than you used to. It wasn't that long ago you could buy a machine and it would last you the rest of your life. The 6" craftsman jointer I bought I got it in 1972 and I'm still using it.
 
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