Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Nov 30, 2009 10:09pm | #1

   I've got one of those and rarely use it any more. (It's going against the grain of how it's "always done", but I use glueline blades and a thickness planer to sidestep the use of the jointer for 99% of my projects.) But, mine is an OK machine, albeit a bit of a PIA to get set up properly since the outfeed table is not adjustable. I suppose a hundred bucks isn't a bad deal if you have a need and a lot of patience to get it set up properly.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA
   Everything fits, until you put glue on it.

2. 
   troys | Dec 01, 2009 06:19am | #2

   Some of the Craftsman jointers don't have ajustable outfeed tables if it does not you might consider passing on them. You might also take a look at OWWM.com they have a lot of information about older tools like the jointer your looking at.

   Good luck

   Troy

3. 
   Tinkerer3 | Dec 01, 2009 07:41am | #3

   I just got rid of one that I bought new in 1970.  My problem was the outfeed table was flat for only about six inched then tapered down.  Never did make it work right.  I had to put a motor on it and recently traded for a 12 inch Sears RAS.  Finally put it on a sale and got $25.00 for it.  Hope you have better luck.

1. 
   Rundle | Dec 04, 2009 05:33am | #4

   Thanks for the reply.  I have decided to pass on the unit...too many negatives.  I will hold out for some thing a little better, newer, more modern.

   At least I will get my exercise hand planning everything.

   Cheers.

   Rundle

1. 
   HWG | Dec 05, 2009 01:19am | #5

   Rundle, I had one of about that vintage and "donated" it to my son when I found a good buy on a Grizzley.  As mentioned the biggest negative is the non-adjustable outfeed table.  You also cannot rabbet with it, if that matters to you.  The bed on mine was solid, and adjusted out well, although all six inchers are fairly short.  My Griz is longer than the Craftsman, but still not the same as an 8 inch would be.  I would have valued it around $50 I suppose.Woody

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Dec 05, 2009 08:13am | #6

   Why could you not rabbet with yours?  I used to take the guard off and rabbet with mine.  It was very irritating, though, as you had to remove the fence to remount the guard.  It was something like a '70 but I think they were all the same.

   Edited 12/6/2009 2:41 pm ET by Tinkerer3

1. 
   HWG | Dec 10, 2009 01:40am | #7

   The drum with the knives was not designed to rabbet, it was not exposed on the end like most are.  I'm not sure if all of the Craftsment were that type or not, but it is something to check. Woody

2. 
   Tinkerer3 | Dec 10, 2009 05:30am | #8

   You sure it was a Craftsman?  I have noticed only a couple/three and they were all like mine.  Any way, I'm sure glad to have my PM 882 - it is wider, longer, straighter and does a nice job.

   Edited 12/10/2009 9:52 am ET by Tinkerer3

3. 
   MikeHennessy | Dec 10, 2009 03:38pm | #9

   FWIW, I got my 6" Craftsman jointer in the early 70's -- it has an extension on the infeed table that goes out and around the end of the head. It's purpose is to facilitate rabbeting, but it's not really needed. Later models eliminated that extra bit of iron.Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PAEverything fits, until you put glue on it.

4. 
   HWG | Dec 10, 2009 05:13pm | #10

   Yep, that later model is the one that I had.  It was Craftsman and I most likely got it in the early 80s now that I think about it.  It wasn't designed to rabbet, not that it was any loss to me.  I usually use a tablesaw or router for that even though I now have a jointer that is capable of it.Woody

4. 
   JPiwaron | Dec 10, 2009 05:43pm | #11

   I had one of those Craftsman Jointer/Planers for a long time.  I built a lot of good stuff with it.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend one for someone just starting out.  They're not much money and someone new will learn a lot and have a better idea of what they really wnt in their next machine.

   Yes, it had a cast in place outfeed table.  The infeed adjusted smoothly.  Both in and outfeed tables were pretty flat.  While at the time I didn't know enough to take measurements, the proof was in the wood I flattened.  Always flat and square.  And that's the other thing.  The fence was straight and stood perpendicular to the tables.  changing the knives, when it ultmately needed that, was easy.

   In short, for me, it was a good machine though a little underpowered.

   The only reason I sold it to buy something else was because a lot of my projects were getting longer and the wood I'm buying seems to be less straight.  Maybe that's imperfect memory. :)

   Anyway, the jointer can only reliable flatten a piece twice as long as the infeed table.  With that short infeed, that made flattening the rails for a bed difficult.

   I replaced it with a Delta DJ-20.  The 8 inch width on it was gravy.  It's the greater length of the tables that was needed.  The 2HP motor is excellent too.  That's enough power to overcome dull knives.  To a point.  The quality of the work suffers when they get dull.