I need a bench top jointer - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 09:32 PM

Who has one they like?

I need to get one tomorrow so I have it Monday. I'm clueless about a lot of things and this is one of those things.

Tell me what to buy and why.

basswood · 10-30-2009, 10:02 PM

I have a little Delta that is OK. Nothing great, but I wanted a portable. Not sure that is much help.

**Leo G** · 10-30-2009, 10:07 PM

What are you going to do with it?

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 10:19 PM

I need to fit the doors in that Granny unit I just posted about. That job has been sitting at the shop for months and all the parts have swelled a little. We need to skim some off of most all the fronts before paint.

**Leo G** · 10-30-2009, 10:35 PM

What about a hand held electric planer? I have a Bosch that would do the job pretty well.

Sounds like you really only need a 4" jointer. Delta, Jet

This is a little over kill, but could be a handy field tool

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 10:42 PM

Do you have Jet tools you are happy with?
I have it in my head they just aren't that great. It may be one of those things that I should let go of.

**Leo G** · 10-30-2009, 10:49 PM

I own 2 major Jet tools. An old 10" 3 HP Unisaw and a 15" 3 HP planer. The tablesaw is about 20 years old, a few years ago it started to get pretty noisy, arbor bearings. Got a new Delta Unisaw and then fixed the Jet saw. $20.50 and 2 hours and I got a new saw.

The Planer works good, strong machine but it has a chip pickup problem. Happened the first time I sharpened the knives and I haven't been able to get it back. It gives chip dents from the chips hanging onto the cutterhead and beating the chips back into the board. New DC, modifications to the planer, nothing makes it work right. But the machine is strong and keeps going. If I could get it to pick up chips like it did when it was new it would be perfect. I have a buddy who has a contractors saw from jet. It is as good as any Unisaw just under powered.

I would by Jet tools without to much thought. My shop is full of Delta though.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-30-2009, 11:01 PM

Get this:

WarnerConstInc. · 10-30-2009, 11:01 PM

Buy this:

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 11:01 PM

Alright then, I guess i should soften my opinion of Jet tools.

I guess I'm limited to what is on hand in the local stores anyway. I'll just have to go see whats out there. I'll do some research online in the morning before and maybe by then someone will have a strong opinion about which direction to go.

I don't mind dropping a few hundred bucks on a decent tool one bit. I just can't stomach a few hun for something that pisses me off. If I wanted that I could always go shoe shopping with my wife.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-30-2009, 11:02 PM

Then use them together or the planer by itself.

Here is some info: http://www.bobmarinosbesttools.com/p...6c0&pid=574539

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

Get this:

That is one funny looking bench top jointer you got there.

What color is that?

WarnerConstInc. · 10-30-2009, 11:07 PM

You have to keep reading Gus. It really does work very well.

That hand held planer (its huge) fits upside down in the cradle and can be used as a benchtop jointer. It's pretty much genious.

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 11:07 PM

I'm beat, I'll check in with you tool junkies in the AM.

Gonna go shopping tomorrow.

WarnerConstInc. · 10-30-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gus Dering

I'm beat, I'll check in with you tool junkies in the AM.

Gonna go shopping tomorrow.

What is it 8 pm out there? You go to breakfast at 5 am?

**Gus Dering** · 10-30-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarnerConstInc.

You have to keep reading Gus. It really does work very well.

That hand held planer (its huge) fits upside down in the cradle and can be used as a benchtop jointer. It's pretty much genious.

I smell what you be cookin there slick.

I will give it it's day in court.

Bergstrom · 10-31-2009, 10:21 AM

Gus,

I have a few JET tools in my shop,one of them is this 6" jointer

I know it's not a bench top but I have had it for 3 years and so far it has been really dependable. As with anything else it is only as good as the set up is. If you end up buying a jointer without a helical cutting head I would invest an extra $75 in a good magnetic set up jig....you'll thank yourself the first time you need to retool

CookeCarpentry · 10-31-2009, 10:34 AM

It's ashame JET (or anyone else) doesn't make a portable jointer that would be the equivalent of the above pic, but without the large base.

Gus - I used to have a portable benchtop delta (was company owned - before I was self employed), it works good, but that's about it. Fence needs to be checked for square often, it gets jambed with chips easily, the infeed and outfeed tables are significantly undersized for pretty much anything you'd put through it.

The best luck I had was screwing it to a couple of 2x's and clamping it on top of my jobsite table saw to prevent the jointer from moving, tipping, etc.

Let me know what you decide, as I am in the market for one as well.

woodtradesman · 10-31-2009, 10:48 AM

How about one of these ...

tomstruble · 10-31-2009, 12:01 PM

ooo its cordless