Fixin to pull the trigger......

[eezlock]

Hey all, I'm fixin' to pull the trigger on a jointer. The HF 6'' rabbeting jointer
the model 30289 seems to be a good choice, as funds are somewhat limited
now, but the need is there all the same. I've checked it twice in the last few
days in their new area store, and I think it will do all that I need as for the foreseeable future. What I want, are some honest evaluations, opinions,
on this machine before I drop the $199.99 and tax for it ( it is on sale
till 12/26/06). I have read other previous reviews on it, not too much
said that was good ,but on other hand no too much bad either.I know,
all to well, that you get what you pay for, good things are not cheap,
and cheap things are not good .

( 1) most people are leaning toward Jet or Ridgid, as being somewhat better
but I don't have the extra cash right now to go in that direction. I agree
that their machines look better and cost more, but looks are not as
important as performance to me, it is everything.

(2) I really need a good solid well built machine with no added cost increasing
extras/ frills that I want use anyway. A good flat cast iron table and
cast iron fence that work well and stay that way are the best things
to me.
(3) If anyone has this machine...tell me the things that have caused you the
most problems and what you had to do to resolve them. I have no
problem setting machines up, aligning them, testing them and fixing
most problems. That is part of what I have to do in my business anyway
fix customers problems and get them satisfied. I like to tinker with
my machines and and am constantly changing things around anyway.

Thanks in advance for all your time and honest evaluations...eezlock

[jackellis]

If money is tight, consider a used machine. I bought a Delta 6" jointer (open stand model that I believe is one step up from the benchtop model) for $150 when a fellow who had to move decided not to take all his machinery with him.

In the SF Bay Area, craigslist is a great source for all kinds of "recycled" tools and machinery. I've also scored decent deals on lumber, which tends to be very expensive out here.

[LinuxRandal]

I was looking at getting it, till I came across a good deal on a Ridgid, via ebay and a local store I know.

Use the search and I think you'll see the same things I did.
Great for 90 degrees, but a pain to move the fence for other angles, and the really bad one, lack of blades at your local HF store. Otherwise, all the reviews said for starting out, it would be OK, if you didn't find one locally.

[kwgeorge]

I recently broke down and bought a bigger jointer. I also evaluated the HF model and decided against it. The biggest issue for me was the fence. I noticed on the out feed side of the fence I could flex it with little pressure. Now I agree that this may not be a problem for normal 90 degree operation but it could become a big problem if I were jointing a bevel. I ended up buying the Ridgid for many reasons and the main reason over the Jet was the lifetime warranty.

Ken

[Pappy]

I had one that I paid $100 for used and later sold for the same price. Once it is set up and tuned it will do the job. Dust collection leaves a lot to be desired.

[whitecobra]

I have one, actually bought it from a member of the forum about 2 months or so back
I like it. It might not be a Powermatic or Jet but then at $100 it isn't intended to be
If all you want to do is process sides to be able to run them through the saw it will do it FINE.
If you want to do precision rabets might not do that but then I don't need it to do that

We pounded out 8, 5 panel doors yesterday for the new kitchen remodel and it we are using American Ash (hard has steel wood) and the machine performed fine. Going to process 8 more today

We added a 4" DC hose to the unit and it collects 95% of the mess it makes

As I said if funds are tight and or you are not in the business of needing absolute precision then save the added funds and buy one then buy something else with the money you save
I am not saying it is not precise but I can see where it MIGHT not hold up to the big boys if pushed to the sme far end limits

You can get them used for half the price of a new one if you look around they are SOLID so HARD to break

I woudl take my micrometer and base with me to inspect it as I would with anything like this
Doc

[eezlock]

fixin' to pull the trigger....

Thanks to all who have responded on the jointer choice I posted about
yesterday. The honest reviews helps more than you know when you are
about to drop some cash for a machine purchase. I have been looking around
locally, in newspapers,websites, etc. and can't seem to find anything
at this time when I need to buy it. That is usually the case for me it seems
as soon as I buy something....low and behold within 2 weeks they are
everywhere, coming out of the woodworks but that is life I guess.
thanks to all, eezlock

[Andrew Benedetto]

Had the HF for 1 day, just too cheap for me in build esp. fence. Got lucky and got an older grey display Ridgid, excellent build, the JP610 is their best WW tool for me, @$200 it was a must have. This was 5 y.a.. I would buy at least an 8" now, probably the Grizzly.
I would rather use a router for jointing w. edge guide or tablemounted w. shim fence than the HF honestly, and a LBplaner w. sled for planing.
HF has some good tools but this is not one of them IMHO.
Be patient if you want a deal. Look at Woodnet too for used.

[whitecobra]

We must be talking two separate machines here

I have th 6" HF jointer the big heavier then **** green bugger
I just walked in (still dirty) from the shop where I edged off atleast 150 board feet of Ash

NO troubles with fence no difficulties in setting the tables nothing

ONLY issue I have had with it was I hsd to make a door to put my 4" DC hose in since there was only a chute and no attachment

I cut some 1/4" ply; cut a hole in the middle connected a blast gate and done deal

Now maybe my work is inferior to you guys or maybe you guys like to buy the best simply for bragging rights but I just don't see the issue here. It is a motor connected to blades that spin and a set of rigid implements to hold wood in planes while the blades operate

Now I know an 8" or better yet a 12" would be more FLEXIBLE for some needs but I can get away with a 6"

As for the fence I am 250 pounds and I need to put some stick into it to deflect it laterally (the far end is not locked down I agree with that) but so WHAT as long as it remains set to the angle (I use 90 degrees 99% of the time) who cares if it drifts as a result of bending outward it still produces square lumber as it was designed to

BTW I have not after 10 minutes of trying figured out how to move it off its preset angulation without losening it. It is well thick metal

Also I have no financial interest in Harbor Freight or Central Tools just a personal observation

Doc

[ssmith1627]

eezlock, did you end up buying the HF model ? I've been eyeing the same thing.

Where did you see the sale price of $199 ? The website shows $299 so I'm curious now.

I thought it was interesting that the 7" 31849 was on sale for $249. But that seems an odd size. Everything else you see is 6" or 8" so I thought it would probably be harder to find parts / blades for it. Didn't see anything on this site about anyone having the 31849.

If you did end up with the 30289, would love to see what you paid. $199 minus this current 15% coupon would be a good deal.

Steve

EDIT: Went ahead and called the store. They do say it's $199 but of course this one is out of stock at my local store. She said they could get more in next week or the week after. I'll keep checking since it's on sale for almost a month yet.

[eezlock]

HF jointer 6"

eezlock, did you end up buying the HF model ? I've been eyeing the same thing.

Where did you see the sale price of $199 ? The website shows $299 so I'm curious now.

I thought it was interesting that the 7" 31849 was on sale for $249. But that seems an odd size. Everything else you see is 6" or 8" so I thought it would probably be harder to find parts / blades for it. Didn't see anything on this site about anyone having the 31849.

If you did end up with the 30289, would love to see what you paid. $199 minus this current 15% coupon would be a good deal.

Steve

EDIT: Went ahead and called the store. They do say it's $199 but of course this one is out of stock at my local store. She said they could get more in next week or the week after. I'll keep checking since it's on sale for almost a month yet.

Hey Steve, I went ahead and pulled the trigger on the HF 6" jointer that I
posted about the other day. The sale paper from Harbor Freight says it was
the model 30289 reg. price $ 249.99 on sale for $199.99 save $50.00.
Well, Sunday afternoon I went to the new store ( closeby) and took with me an additional $5.00 off coupon that was suppost to be used on catalogue
and internet orders and the assistant manager honored that as well, that made it out the door price of $209.61! Not too bad I thought. I have it set,
cleaned up, and adjusted and have run several pieces of wood thru it and
so far no complaints....it does what I want, so I guess I'll keep it! Not a
ridgid or Jet, but what the heck I'm not in a production shop here anyway.
The only dislike is the dust chute, I'll try and modify that sometime later on
as I get time to do it. Hope this helps.....eezlock

[ssmith1627]

Hey, that's great. Glad to hear it. I wanted to buy one today with the 15% off coupon but they're sold out. The coupon expires in 3 days so I'm probably out of luck on that.

The dust chute thing sounds like an easy fix based on the other posts in this thread. And I doubt I'd be doing much with the fence once I have it positioned so I'm not worried about that.

Hopefully they can get some in stock before they go off the sale price.

Steve

[eezlock]

Hf jointer 6"

Hey, that's great. Glad to hear it. I wanted to buy one today with the 15% off coupon but they're sold out. The coupon expires in 3 days so I'm probably out of luck on that.

The dust chute thing sounds like an easy fix based on the other posts in this thread. And I doubt I'd be doing much with the fence once I have it positioned so I'm not worried about that.

Hopefully they can get some in stock before they go off the sale price.

Steve

Steve, the reason I didn't use the 15% off coupon was I didn't have one,
all the older coupons had expired a couple months back. I would like to have had one...but...can't always get one when you need it. Hope you can get
one in a couple of days. If you do, the Chinese to English instuctions
kinda suck, figured that quickly, I went mainly by the pictures and figured it out with no trouble, some others have said they downloaded instructions from the internet to help in assembly. The hardest part is assembly of the stand,but is not too hard. One thing, that I was irritated about was the v belt
that came with the machine, it was 2" too long even with the motor at it's maximum. I went to the local hardware store,took the belt with me and
bought one that is 2" shorter, a 40" belt will work perfect and gives you adjustment without overtensioning the motor bearings. If you buy it let us
hear about how you like it. eezlock

[ssmith1627]

Thanks for the tip on the belt. I might try that link belt for it as well. I got one for my bandsaw and have been happy with it so far -- after a whole 9 days.....haha.

So I've got the bandsaw.....I hope to get enough gift cards in a few weeks here to help me on my way toward either the Ryobi or the Rigid planer. If HF will get this jointer in stock, I should be in pretty good shape here in another month ! Will certainly be time to run some more ducting from the DC.

Then I'll really really have to start building something more than cutting boards and bird feeders ! haha

Steve

[ssmith1627]

My local store is still out of this jointer. But they should have them in again Monday after next they tell me.

I also found a guy here locally with one listed on Craiglist. He wants $175 but that's obviously too high for a used one with them already on sale at $199. Will see what I can talk him down to.

Steve