Replies

1. 
   davidbrum | Jan 02, 2010 09:31am | #1

   Well Thomas, this is another of life's compromises. With combo machines, you save money and space because you're using the same motor to operate both machines. The compromise comes in the diminished capacity that you'll have to live with. A 10" wide planer is somewhat narrower than the norm, but you could certainly learn to live with it. The bigger issue is the relatively short bed of the jointer. This can cause some real headaches if you're trying to joint longer lumber, say over 4', for tabletop glueups and whatnot. Many woodworkers start life with "benchtop" jointers and very quickly find they are limited in what they can easily accomplish.

   For getting started, an entry level combo machine might be OK, but should probably be looked at as a stepping stone to bigger separate machines or a higher end combo machine (or hand tools).

2. 
   Lataxe | Jan 02, 2010 10:03am | #2

   Thomas,
   I haven't experienced
   Thomas,

   I haven't experienced the model you mention but I have used a 10" combination planer/thicknesser (jointer/planer, as you say) for some 10 years - same German Scheppach machin). It is similar to the Jet 12" model in build and spec (except for having just a 10" capacity of course).

   Looking at the picture and specification of the 10" Jet I believe you would find it underpowered and rather flimsy for planks of 6" or more width. The minimum power output should be 2hp (usually requiring a 3hp input) so that 10" Jet (115v 13amp) sounds seriously underpowered. And what if you womp a 3 inch thick 9" wide, 6' long lump of oak onto it? You would only need to do this once and the flimsy would flim, leaving you with buckle-beds and skew-leg!

   The 12" Jet looks like the first "real" P/T machine in their range.

   View Image

   View Image

   Lataxe

   Lataxe