Sears benchtop jointer

[vtv010]

Is anyone familiar with it? model 351.217880. Space is at extreme premium. Any commens, views will be appreciated. Does anyone know if infeed table is adjustable for pitch, etc..., so it can be set level with outfeed?

Thanks, Tony

[eddy merckx]

Hi Tony. I have the Palmgren jointer which looks identical. It actually works really well. It weighs around 100 lbs, so you wouldn't be lifting around very often. I put mine on a wooden stand with a Herc-u-lift underneath, so I can roll it under my work bench. The infeed table will raise level with the outfeed. It adjusts on sliding dovetails, like most jointers. Outfeed is not adjustable.

I will say that I had to shim the fence with tape to get it square. I also had to adjust the levelling screws on the infeed table to get it level. This took a long time. The adjustments require this thing to be turned over OR be accessible from inside the body of the jointer with you nearly standing on your head. Once it was set, it has been fine.

Another caution is that it very difficult to joint long boards on a bench planer. I ended up making MDF wings for mine, so now it's the same size as a big jointer. Without the wings, it handles anything below four feet just fine.

Note to Palmgren owners: You can buy the Sears blades for exactly half the price of Palmgren on Amazon. I had to file a tiny dome top on my blade leveler screws, then they fit fine.

Eddy

[DonHo]

I have the craftsman benchtop jointer and am very happy with it. I'd rather have a larger floor model but space won't allow it. That said the only draw back to this jointer is that it won't be as accurate on long boards on boards 3' or less I think it would work just as well as a floor model with the same type cutter head. Mine is made of cast iron and is very heavy. This being the only one I've ever set up I can't compare the set up to others but once I got it set it has stayed true(I only use the fence at 90 degrees).
DonHo

[drumpriest]

I have this craftsman jointer, which is made by Pelgren. It has done very well for me. I've managed boards up to about 4' on it, anything longer, and I router joint with a straight edge. I got mine for 150$, and for the price, I've been happy with it. It sits just under my slide miter table, takes very little space.

[vtv010]

i guess this one is in my future... Seems like it is at $169 + 10% off for craftsman club = good deal, and most importantly, it is SMALL...

Kind advice much appreciated!
-Tony