HF jointer problem

[Sawatzky]

I have the HF 6 inch green jointer. Lately I have noticed that when I push the start button there is a few seconds of delay before the motor kicks on. Sometimes it jumps and then stops and then gets going again. This doesn't happen every time I turn in it on, more like every 3rd time I turn it on. Any ideas whats wrong?

[scoly]

If mine I'd take the switch apart and blow it out. Sounds like it might be dirty.
hth
Steve

[messmaker]

A harbor Freight switch is not the strength of several of their WW machines. The good thing is, a replacement is cheap.

[Sawatzky]

can I use a regular light switch? I think it would be easy to rig that up. The jointer is always unplugged unless in use.

[Pappy]

When I bought my Rockwell it was set up with a light switch. No reason it won't work.

[Slik Geek]

I used a regular light switch on my first old Craftsman tablesaw. It works, but the switch was a regular maintenance item. Light switches are manufactured to be inexpensive, and aren't intended to switch inductive loads, so this isn't surprising. I never had the switch fail shorted (on), so I don't believe that there is a safety issue.

It would be advisable to have a spare switch on hand in the event you are in the middle of a project when you have a failure.

[LarryG]

Instead of a garden-variety 69 cent light switch, which as Slik Geek says will fail in short order, get a 20A double-pole switch suitable for motor loads, like this one.

The two sets of poles are intended for switching both legs of a 240V circuit. If your jointer's motor is 120V, just use one set of terminals.

EDIT: Had the wrong link pasted in. Fixed now.

[LCHIEN]

I'm going to go a different tack. Maybe you need to check the centrifugal switch that connects and disconnects the starting capacitor.
If the cap is not thrown across one of the windings when the motor is started, it may start erratically, slowly, possibly even turn the wrong way.
Some of the other HF tools' motors have had trouble with the centrifugal switch in the past, I think the 2HP DC.

OTOH, it could just be a bad power switch. you could try leaving the power switch in the on position and just plugging and unplugging the cord a couple of times seeing if it behaves better. If its stil erratic it might not be the power switch.

[messmaker]

I quick fix is to leave it in the on position and plug it into a power strip and use the switch on it. It may not last forever but it takes 10 seconds and cost less than $5.

[scmhogg]

Loring,

What happens when a dust collector's motor runs backward?? I started laughing just thinking about it.

Steve

[Sawatzky]

I took the switch apart and one of the connecting points had actuallu melted some of the plastice in the switch. Luckily the switch is reversible so it works fine now. I gues I'll have to keep an eye on it and upgrade the switch at some point. I am just glad it wasn't the motor.

[Duff]

Is it this :

Jointer?

About to get one myself cheap and wondered what you thought of it.

Thank you.

Ward

[RHunter]

I have that jointer. I bought it about 2yrs ago. It's nothing spectactular. It works. It REALLY beats not having one.

The OEM blades are rather soft- and I've used the crap out of them, so I replaced them with a set from Global Machinery. I changed the belt to a Link Belt, and mounted it on an HTC2000 mobile base.

I am in the process of making these changes and "tuning" it up, so I am excited about how much better it can be.

Would I get rid of it sight unseen, no. Even with the recent additions it's still cheaper than the Giz 6". Would I like a bigger/better jointer- no question. I would love a new 8" Grizzly or 8" Yorkie. But this being a hobby and being on a budget- the HF works for me.

Hope this helps!

[Sawatzky]

That is the one I have and I am happy with it (besides the switch, though!). Anyway, once it is tuned up and the blades are sharp it does a decent job. It joints boards and makes them straight, which is what it is supposed to do. It is no Jet or Powermatic, but for the little I actually use it, it works great. If I had to joint every board I used that may be a different story, but I buy lumber with a straight edge. I only use the jointer for really bad edges or cups in a board.