Delta JT360 vs Rikon 20-110 Jointers

[paul]

I'm looking at a new Delta JT360 (new in box, private party, no warranty) for $275 and the Rikon 20-110 new at Woodcraft with extra blades at $399. Any experience, thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks,

Paul

[LinuxRandal]

I'm looking at a new Delta JT360 (new in box, private party, no warranty) for $275 and the Rikon 20-110 new at Woodcraft with extra blades at $399. Any experience, thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks,

Paul

If it is truely still NIB, then the warranty registration should be there, and it should be unregistered.

[themachine]

Personally I would go with the Delta 37-275X Jointer which is on sale now at Tools-Plus.com for $500 shipped plus a $100 rebate. This includes a 5 year warranty, maybe no sales tax.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

This post should be in Tool Talk.

[Uncle Cracker]

The Rikon would be an easy choice for me... 1.5hp vs. 0.75hp on the Delta, locking cutter head vs. not, closed cabinet vs. not, front-mounted wheel adjustment vs. not, micro-adjust fence vs. not, relocatable on/off switch vs. not... No-brainer. Now, if you have a Woodcraft store within driving distance, you can save the freight (provided they normally stock it like mine does).

[gsmittle]

I'm looking at a new Delta JT360 (new in box, private party, no warranty) for $275 and the Rikon 20-110 new at Woodcraft with extra blades at $399. Any experience, thoughts or recommendations?

Thanks,

Paul

IIRC, the Delta is the one that Lowe's sells. I picked one up last July (thanks, LOML!) and I'm very happy with it. Of course, it's the only jointer I've ever owned, so I really don't have much basis for comparison. My other choice was the Rigid jointer, but I didn't see enough of a difference to warrant the $100 or so price difference.

$275 seems close to the price I paid at Lowe's.... Or maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about, which is pretty often.....

The Machine-- IMO it's pretty easy to recommend the Super-Duper Expensive Model of anything, but if you don't have the scratch, there's no point. Personally, I'd love to have an all-Powermatic shop, but that ain't gonna happen in this lifetime...

Not trying to start a flame war, just voicing my opinion.

g.

[Knottscott]

The JT360 is capable of the task at hand, but does have some disadvantages that are worth knowing about prior to making a decision...it's an open stand machine with a 3/4hp motor and weaker fence support mechanism than most of the 6" contenders. That said, $275 for it is a decent sale price on a new machine from a retailer, but without the privileges that go along with buying from a retailer, and possibly no warranty, it's much less attractive at that price.

The Rikon, Grizzly, Sunhill, Delta 37-195/275, Ridgid, or Craftsman all have more appeal at their respective retail sale prices IMHO.

[LCHIEN]

I have the JT360 - it normally retails at Lowes for like $349 and I have seldom seen it on sale.

For me the main criteria was a full size cast iron bed, bigger than the ones on the benchtop 6" jointers. For that I have been pleased.

The other things that the JT360 lacks (per Unc Crackers list) are things I can make do without...
closed stand (might give a little better Dust collection, or not - the JT260 is a bit leaky around the seams.)
Bigger motor, well, it has been big enough for limited depth cuts for me I've attempted so far.
handwheels (Yeah, I'd like them better. but I have not had a real problem adjusting with the lever)
Better fence support (mines holding up fine), microadjust (what for?)
Relocatable switch (mines OK with me, I can turn it on and off safely)

so I got mine for around $260 in a rare conjunction of double rebates, and 10% off moving coupon. At that price the machine was functional enough for me and joints/face planes fine.

All things (e.g. price ) being closer, the Rikon and other machines are preferable, but at the rock bottom price, I feel the JT360 is a adequate jointer but not a deluxe jointer.