Father's Day Jointer

[tseavoy]

Hi all,
I am still coveting a jointer which I never have had. I considered the HF $100 unit which I was told to avoid. Then looked at the Sunhill 6", which looked pretty good, then looked at the Grizzly 6" bench model, and finally the Home Depot Delta 6". The Grizzy is less than the Delta, at $185 vs $239 and weighs about twice as much. Whether I have it delivered ($44) or pick it up in Bellingham is pretty much a push.
Anyone out there with experience with the Grizzly 6" bench jointer?

Tom on Marrowstone

[LCHIEN]

unless you are going to be making jewelry boxes and small items you will miss having a full length jointer. After all the jointer is supposed to put a straight edge on things and if it can't do a 6' board you can't make larger items.

I moved from a small benchtop delta to a cast iron floor-standing delta and I'm much happier.

The benchtop delta is aluminum which is not totally unreasonable given its size which is why it weighs so much less than the grizz or sunhill.
The unit did do a nice job on smaller pieces, I have no complaints there.

Maybe wait for a good deal on a used Jet, Delta, Grizz, Ridgid, or Craftsman full sized 6" jointer for what you are willing to pay for a new benchtop???

[poolhound]

I have had the same expereince as Loring and I think we have owned the same jointers. If you take the time to fine tune the benchtop varieties they can work well but if you can make room for a full size tool it wil serve you better in the long run and with some patience and an eagle eye on your local CL you should be able to pick one up for similar $$s

[Scoly2803]

Agree with Lchien. If you do larger projects the benchtop will be a dissappointment.
I waited and found a used, very old, craftsman ($125.00) and though it has it's shortfalls once tuned properly and new blades it does all I could ask.
Steve

[poolhound]

Not sure where these are in relation to you but here are some examples from the Seattle CL. I did see a bunch of small units but the old style which take up as much room so not really worth it unless the price counts e.g. this model for $20!! I wonder if it works?

Some form of negotiation is the norm so I would guess you could pickup either of these for closer to $200

Jet $280
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/tls/1210199102.html

Ridgid $250
http://seattle.craigslist.org/kit/tls/1210016759.html
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/tls/1207882196.html


I also saw this Griz for $375 - a little pricey but a beefier machine
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/tls/1208536020.html

[tfischer]

I have a Craftsman jointer which I believe is the same as the Grizzly you're referring to. It's a cast-iron behemoth that's built like a tank. It works very well for its size, but as Loring and others said, you'll miss having the full-length bed. I don't have physical space for a 'real' jointer so I have to make do. I keep mine underneath my workbench and have to lug it up every time I use it -- It's very heavy and it's a PITA but you work with what you have...

If you absolutely don't have the space, I'd recommend it over the very flimsy aluminum ones like the Delta. It's built just like a bigger one, with a heavy cast-iron fence, bed, etc, and dovetailed fence locking mechanism. Otherwise, spend the bit extra and get a bigger one.

This is all assuming we're talking about the same Grizzly jointer-- I think they sell a more flimsy aluminum one as well. Otherwise, looking at the pics and specs, I'm pretty sure the Craftsman and Grizz come from the same factory.

-Tim

[tfischer]

By the way, the "weighs twice as much" is a good thing when using it. You don't have to bolt it down to the bench, etc (although the recommend it). There's no way you could use the Delta on anything but the smallest boards without bolting or clamping it down somehow.

On the other hand, when I heft the thing up or down from my bench, I curse the weight

-Tim

[tseavoy]

Thanks guys.

After thinking it over more, and considering your advice,I think I still will go with the Grizzly.
Reasons are:
I don't do much large work that needs accurate joinery. Most would be like small cabinet making. -- no dining room tables.
A close by friend of mine has the long Grizzly that I could use if I needed. (He also has a planer/molder and shaper).
I researched local Craigslist offerings and the possible candidates are are the other side of Puget sound (>2hours drive)
Replacing the motor on an older Delta/Craftsman or whatever could cost more than the new Grizzly.
Even though I have to cross the sound to go to Bellingham I don't have to endure the traffic of the Seattle/Tacoma metro zone. I lived in Seattle for 35 years.
It's neat to go to Bellingham and see all the machines at the Grizzly store.

On the other hand, I could still use my long wooden joiner plane.

Tom on Marrowstone

[Hoover]

Wow lived here near Puget Sound for 21 years, and have near, but never heard of Marrowstone Island. You're southwest of me, I'm north of Everett.
Sunhill does have a store in Seattle, their floor model jointers are made by GeeTech, which makes tools for Jet, some for Grizzly. And of course Grizzly in Bellingham.
Grizzly does have a tent sale coming up on June 20th.
HTH

[tfischer]

If I lived near a Grizzly store, I'd be broke!

[dbhost]

Just an FYI, I looked at the Delta, HF, and Sunhill jointers before I bought. (I wasn't aware Grizzly had a benchtop unit.) I also looked at floor models. My decision came down to quality and function. I was very much not impressed with the Delta from a fit and finish perspective. Particularly the table top which is aluminum. Of the ones I looked at, only the Sunhill had a cast iron table. Not a huge one, but a cast table no less. Not sure if this has changed, but it's been less than 6 months so I seriously doubt it.

As far as I know, the Craftsman 6-1/8" Benchtop Jointer, and the Sunhill SM-150B are the same jointer except for case color, dust port location, and fence. (Both made by Geetech) I looked at the Craftsman, and really liked it. But for nearly the price of a Ridgid floor model I decided to look elsewhere... I have seen them on sale for around $150.00 since I bought my Sunhill...

Do I wish I had a bigger jointer? Yes and no... I have a 13" planer, and can whip up a jointing sled if I need to... And to be blunt, in a small shop like mine, where I have to share space with car stuff, camping stuff, BBQ stuff, canoe stuff, well you get the idea... anything additional to burn up floor space is unwelcome. With an even smaller, but completely dedicated space on the drawing board, there is no way I would go to a floor model jointer...

The MFGs suggest bolting the benchtop units down to your workbench. Which is understandable to give it a nice solid attachment to the ground. You CAN simply clamp it down. That is my process and it works great...