I am considering purchasing a jointer. I am trying to decide between a Yorkcraft 6 inch or the Ridgid 6 inch. Does anyone have any experience with these joiners and can they point me in the right direction? I was also considering the Yorkcraft 8 inch but I don’t have enough space in my garage “shop”. Any suggestions will be appreciated
Alan
Replies
Hi Alan - I don't own either of those jointers but am familiar with both....either should serve you well. They're different designs though, so go with whichever makes the most sense to you.
The YC is a clone of the better Delta 37-195/37-275X, but with the added feature of a built in mobile base. The fence is larger than most, which is a plus. It also features a rack and pinion fence adjustment mechanism which works well, but does take up a bit more space in the back. It has an enclosed base which is offers good dust collection and floor space savings.
The Ridgid has a similar fence design to the Jet and Griz 1182. It's about an inch shorter and a bit lower, and has a splayed leg open stand...which is a little harder to fit to a mobile base and is wider.
You might consider looking at the Jet. I am very pleased with the rugged fence and the ease of "cut" adjustment.
Frosty
Alan,
It all depends on how much money you want to spend. The Yorkcraft is a economy line of Bridgewood from Wilke and has the option of a Byrd Shelix cutterhead. I have the Bridgewood 12" with the spiral cutterhead. I cannot believe the quality of this machine compared to the Delta DJ-20 it replaced, and that was a Brazilian machine not the newer Chinese made machines. The cutterhead is almost as much as the jointer, but the carbide cutters will last forever. You have four cutting surfaces before you have to replace the knife. The quality of cut on curly maple and wild cherry grains is unsurpassed.
If you are trying to save every dime you can, I would go with the Rigid because you have somebody to complain to if something goes south on you. Home Depot is pretty good about returns,at least in my area(Ann Arbor). I have 6 Bridgewood machines and I am happy with everyone of them, but they are all made overseas so they probably come down the same line. I saw a Taiwain factory website once and it had four different colors of paint around the plant. I think the Wilke stuff is better than the Ridgid because it is still made in Taiwain instead of China, but who knows from one month to the next.
Terry
I would get the Yorkcraft if for no other reason, the closed stand. Before you get your heart set on it, however, you might want to check out the shipping cost to AZ. Shipping seems to be a factor that knocks the Yorkcraft tools out of contention fairly often. A worthy substitute would be a Grizzly 6" (1182ZHW)
I have the Jet 6" and it performs just fine. Jointers aren't terribly complicated machines. I'm assuming from your consideration of the YC and the Rigid that you're not in the Jet or Delta price-range?
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thank You all for the information and help. I checked with Yorkcraft and the shipping to AZ is $141.00. They won't match the shipping price of Grizzly. That puts the price to $500 even. The Grizzly GO542 is $394.25 and the G1182ZHW is $544.25. Talking with Grizzly techs they recommended the GO452 for my situation. The difference between the two is relatively minor in bed size, the main difference being the 110/220 volt. The added bonus on the GO452 is the built in wheels. I am still gathering more info on the Jet from woodcraft. I am going to keep researching and make my purchase after Thanksgiving, just in case a sale comes up.Alan
Started Learning, Still Learning, and still don't know enough!
Don't know how I missed that you're in AZ (Alan AZ!) D'oh! Yeah, Wilke's shipping can get steep b/c it's not a flat subsidized ratem, so you pay the full shot.I think the Jet's on sale at Woodcraft for $400 now... You might also consider a Sunhill ...comes from the same plant in Taiwan as the Bridgewood, GI, Griz 1182, and others. They've got a 6" machine, closed base, and a 56" long bed for $484 delivered. http://sunhillmachinery.com/store/
Thank you all for your help. I will finish researching and let you know which way I decide to go.Alan
Started Learning, Still Learning, and still don't know enough!
Hi, Alan. The price they're talking about for the Jet at Woodcraft is pretty good. The advice you received about posting "wanted" ads is good, but take a look at Craig's List in Phoenix, too. There are several jointers on there right now. Maybe only 1:5 that you'd want, but you only need one, right? Craig's List is a godsend, IMHO. Our kitchen now has all like-new appliances (matching, even!) from CL, and a great new Golden Retriever too, LOL.
As for the G0542, my personal preference would be to build my own base and get the 1182ZHW. I don't care for lever adjustments, and the base for a jointer is quite easy to build.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 11/15/2006 9:14 pm by forestgirl
WOW! Thought I was on ignore.DJK
Hello forestgirl. After listening to everyone, pondering and getting input from my better half (plus she is paying half as my early Bday present) I have purchased the YC8J Yorkcraft from Wilke. They have an inventory reduction sale going on that made it affordable. Thank You all again for the advice, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Alan
Started Learning, Still Learning, and will never know enough!
Congrats, Alan! And kudos to the wife! Merry Christmas, and a Happy Woodworking-kinda Year!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I have a Yorkcraft 8-incher. Good machine. But pay attention to ForestGirl: know the shipping charges before you order a Yorkcraft.
Cadiddlehopper
Alan,
I am also considering a jointer purchase. Because both cost and space requirements are important considerations, the 6 inch Jet is looking very interesting, especially since Woodcraft has it on sale this month at $399. With no freight charge that makes it cheaper than the Yorkcraft. (Wonder if I can persuade my friendly local Woodcraft store owner to bring it over on his pickup?)
I've looked at the Rigid at my local Home Depot and dropped it from consideration, especially with the Jet at the sale price.
Please let us know what you decide.
Bob
Alan,
I have the Delta 37-275X and it is a dream to work. I got it from Toolking.com and the shipping was $7.99 and I live in Texas. When I purchased it it came with a mobile base and I have had no problems with it. I did have to readjust the outfeed table after the movers got their hands on it and it now is working fine.
Greg
Al,
Post a WTB ad on every site you can find. Many want to upgrade to a larger machine and sell there 6" or 8"er. Save a ton of cash and buy used. You never know, a neighbor may have one and you don't know it.
DJK
Alan,
I was in the same situation as you not long ago when I bought a 6" jointer. I looked at all the models you're thinking about, then I looked at the new Craftsman line. It was a close call between the Craftsman and the Ridgid, but I ended up with the Craftsman during one of their sales and got the jointer for just under $400.
I've used the jointer extensively for a few months now and it's been terrific. Like I said, it was a close call between the Ridgid and the Craftsman. The tie breaker for me was the more comfortable position of the power switch on the Craftsman. It's model #OR40503. You can find it on Craftsman's Web site.
If you're going to choose to buy machines by mail order, be aware of the risk. It's not just how much you will spend on shipping. It's also what happens if and when there is a problem with the machine. Read Grizzly's return policies before you go that route.
If you return a machine to Grizzly, you lose your original shipping costs, you pay for return shipping, and you are subject to a 10% "restocking fee" (http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2006/main/603).
Edited 11/14/2006 8:13 pm ET by MatthewSchenker
I have a Powermatic 8". I considered getting the 6" but opted for the 8 instead. Only thing I don't like about it is the play in the fence when setting it back to 90 degrees.
Don't know about the Yorkcraft but I recently bought a 6" Ridgid and am really pleased with it. The only problem I have had is that the shavings will clog inside the machine. I don't have a dust collector but I am reasonable sure that one would solve the problem.
"I don't have a dust collector but I am reasonable sure that one would solve the problem." Try a large shop-vac type vacuum. I'm not positive it would work with an open-stand jointer, but it worked fine with my closed stand Jet before I had a dust collector.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Only plugs up when I'm face planing several boards. I have thought of hooking up my vac but it's about as easy to unplug the jointer as it is to emty my vac. I don't like the extra noise of the vac when I'm running a machine. Having been a high school woodshop teacher for years, I depend so much on the sounds around me to help me know how my machines are running. My vac would drown out the sound of my jointer even though it is of the low noise type. However, I appreciate the suggestion.
I hate the sound of my old Craftsman "shop vac" so I know what you mean. I was just surprised when it did as good a job as it did. Probably wouldn't keep up with an 8" or bigger machine, but seemed to do well with the 6".forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Think about getting a 8" over a 6". You will most likley outgrow the 6" and want to replace. It will have a longer bed and be a heavier more sustantial machine. Just my $.02. IWS
I am looking at a used jointer next week. If that does not pan out I have decided to buy the Jet that is on sale at Woodcraft. Thanks again for all of your input .
Alan
Started Learning, Still Learning, and still don't know enough!
Good call!
Don't know if you bought your jointer yet but my local Home Depot is not stocking jointers so they had the display model on sale for 200.00 I bought it today. Anyway worth a look in your area.
Troy
I picked up the 6" Rigid joiner from HD, and it has worked really well for me. I hook it up to a 1 1/2 HP Delta dust collector, no problems at all with shavings or dust.I was comparing against the low-end Delta at Lowe's, I liked the fence adjustment much better.I put the jointer on a mobile base, using Delta's kit (that uses your own 2x2 stock). It sits solidly while in use, but is easy to move out of the way to let the cars park.Mike.
One thing only briefly mentioned is the difference of an open stand and the closed stand. For your general health, you should have a closed stand but you must have a dust collector on it to draw the dust out of the machine. I traded from a 6 inch craftsman to an 8 inch Powermatic. Oh what a difference - the PM does beautiful work but since I don't have a dust collection system it plugs up in just a few seconds. I will get a D C system as my shop building process proceeds. With an open stand you could probably joint/planed all day without cleaning but your lungs deserve better.
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