Jointer Died

[Luckbox]

My tradesman bench top router dies after only a year of use. The bearings on the cutter head just disintegrated. The toll started to make a horrific noise and the cutter head started to move up and down on one side. When I took of the fence the bearing cover had come off and I found a bunch of metal shavings and a gap about a third of the way around the axis without any bearings. I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of a good jointer. I am not sure if I want to get the full size, because of limited space in the garage and limited funds. But I have found the bench top model a bit underpowered and under sized at times. I do like the rigid but I would need yet another mobile base and need to find space to store it and don’t currently have the funds.

[Wood_workur]

try harbor freight, or a garage sale.

[WayneJ]

Why not fix the bad bearing? The number is usualy on the bearing race. Bearings cross referance with most manurfactors. Be worth more money if you sell it.
Wayne

[Knottscott]

Grizzly, Yorkcraft, Ridgid, Craftsman, Sunhill, Bridgewood...

[LCHIEN]

I'm with wayne, you could easily replace the bearing and restore some value to that unit and then sell it real quick.
Even try ACE hardware, mine seems to have a good selection of hardware parts like bearings and stuff. You need at least the OD and ID of the bearing and maybe the width. to make sure it fits. It should be a pretty close fitting to the ID and OD or it will rotate and wear instead of the bearing rolling which may be what happened to yours.

[jackellis]

try harbor freight, or a garage sale.

Ditto on the garage sale idea. I've bought most of my big tools that way and it's cheaper than buying new. Snared a Delta 6" jointer for $150.

[Luckbox]

Never had any luck at garage sales. Maybe just a bad area for woodworking tools.

[vanguard]

There's craiglist too. www.craigslist.com

[LCHIEN]

I looked in Greensheet, Craigslist, eBay, Garage sales for years, never found a worthy jointer. No bargains like some of the guys have found.

[agent511]

I bought my Jet 6" jointer from ebay. I do an advanced search that notifies me of specific items for sale only within 50 miles of my home, and it emails me daily with updates. Since I bought mine, I have seen lots more come up. You can specify further miles if you are willing to travel to pick up that far.

As to Tradesman jointers, one just sold brand new in box June 7th on Ebay for $87. So I would come away from that knowing that a. I don't think it is worth the time and effort to track down parts to repair a machine as cheap as this, and b. it is easy to purchase jointers (especially cheap ones) even new on ebay. I think Lowe's sells them really cheap also.

I also recommend that you step up to some sort of name brand jointer - it will be worth it in the long run.

[Luckbox]

I have been looking at the Rigid and the Delta since I only have HD and Lowes close by. I have also looked at the new Grizzly. If it wasn't for the shipping charges the Grizzly looks real nice.
A couple of questions.
HD by me has the jointer listed for $399 but $349 on the web site, will they honor the web price, and if so can I alo use a 20% of coupon?
Also does the Hercu Lift fit the jointer?
And the jointers seem very low is there a reason for that?