Replies

1. 
   Troy | Mar 16, 2011 10:56pm | #1

   I have a Rigid 6" jointer

   I have a Rigid 6" jointer from Homedepot.  Seems to be ok, mine was a clearance item, it had been used and returned or was a demo so the price was pretty cheep.  I think that there are not a lot of differences in 6" jointers other than bed length.  I would rather have a shorter 8" jointer than a longer 6" jointer.  I also would not spend the extra money on a helix cutting head for the 6" jointer.  Again I would rather have an 8" regular straight blade jointer than a 6" with a helix head.  Of course if space is an issue (and when is it not) and cost was no issue I would want the helix head on the 6" jointer.  That being said take a look at the Rigid model, I have been reasonably happy with mine.

2. 
   SteveSchoene | Mar 17, 2011 08:36am | #2

   Before I sprung for either helical cutterhead or parallelogram ways I'd upgrade to an  8" jointer.  Those extra two inches, and longer bed, really make it a much more useful tool. It can avoid having to rip and rejoin boards which once you have the 6" jointer you will notice so often are found in 7 to 8" widths.  (That's a never ending problem however, and why I have a 16" jointer, and would, pending a major lottery victory, go for an even wider one.) 

   Helical cutterheads primary function is avoiding tearout on very difficult woods, with lots of figure for example.  Whether that is important depends on how much of that sort of wood you use and can afford. 

   The parallelogram ways makes adjustments to true up the beds a bit easier, but that's something you need to do only rarely--likely only after you have had to load it into a truck for moving.  It also keeps the tables closer to the cutting head, a very modest advantage.

1. 
   tommy_60 | Mar 26, 2011 07:54pm | #3

   Jointers

   Thanks for the info Steve appreciate it. I agree with your thought on the 8" but for the amount of woodworking I'm doing right now it just seems like over kill.  Do you have any opinion on Grizzly

1. 
   BruceS | Mar 27, 2011 01:46pm | #5

   Overkill ???

   Overkill is relative ;-)    I find that if I "overkill" from the get-go.  I am generally happier in the long run and soon grow into the bigger is better thought.     Aiming for a 12" jointer,   my 6"er is an old short Boyce- Crane and is OK most of the time, but bigger would be better.

3. 
   birchwoodguy | Mar 26, 2011 10:32pm | #4

   Grizzly is good, General is better, Felder outstanding.

   Buy the best you can afford, and enjoy the craft.