posted by: Bedrock608
5/18/2006

When it comes to power tools, and hand tools for that matter, the question is: does the tool do what I want it to and will it give me the result I expect (if I do my part). This jointer does that in spades.I expect a properly set up jointer to give me two square edges that meet at 90 degrees or, when surfacing a board, a surface that is flat when I am done with it. This machine does it. It has ample horse power, has a long enough bed to handle long pieces of wood, and has enough width to handle the material I regularly use.I owned a Delta 6 inch jointer for 6 years. I finally needed a bigger machine and conducted much research on the 8 inch machines. I decided that money would not be an object, but 12 inches of jointer would be overkill and oversize for my modest workshop. For the money I had to spend, this machine was a bargain! I shopped and test drove the Delta DJ-20 and the 8 inch Powermatic. Both are nice machines, but there is nothing they can do that the 37/380 jointer can not do.Adjustment of the infeed and outfeed tables is really no easier or harder than the more expensive machines. Also, my experience has been that you select on depth of cut and 95 times out of 100 do not need to change the setting.The Powermatic has a 1/2 horse power more powerful motor than the Delta machines, but I could not tell you I could see or feel a difference in the cut.All the machines gave excellent results. For me it came down to ability to do the job. The higher price machines gave no better result. The quality of the 37/380 seem every bit as good as the DJ/20. The Powermatic was a little prettier, but I am looking to make sawdust, not stare at my reflection in the table!