Replies

1. 
   heartwould | Feb 06, 2009 04:39am | #1

   The new issue of Wood has a nice comparison of 6" jointers.  Top Tool pick was the Grizzly G0604X witth the Rigid JP0610 as the Top Value.

1. 
   jwoodck | Feb 07, 2009 04:33am | #12

   But most of these were short bed..... ignored most long bed,

1. 
   heartwould | Feb 07, 2009 05:11pm | #14

   I'm not sure how many long bed 6" jointers I've seen, those are generally for the 8" and up in my experience.  It was very interesting that the test soundly endorsed straight knives and found fault with spiral and helical cutters.  Of course, what pleases one woodworker just chafes another no end.  Isn't that why we have such pleasant discussions here on Knots?

2. 
   bones | Feb 06, 2009 05:16am | #2

   If you can wait put a few more dollars back and get an 8".  There were so many times I cussed my 6".  Finally got the money and got a new 12" griz.  I was looking at the 8" with spiral head, but could not pass up the 12" with HSS.  Don't regret it. Grizzly has just announced free shipping.  Take a look at this model.  For 895 delivered and if you don't live in PA or WA (I think) no sales tax.  great deal. 

   http://www.grizzly.com/products/8-Jointer-with-Parallelogram-Beds/G0490

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
3. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 06, 2009 05:35am | #3

   From what I hear, Grizzly offers a great product at an unbeatable price. I don't yet have any personal experience with the brand though.

   I second Bones' recommendation. A wider jointer allows you to face joint wider boards. A wider jointer usually means a longer bed and more mass (less vibration). Sometimes more power too. I have a 8" (Delta DJ-20), and 6" jointers look like toys to me.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   Tinkerer3 | Feb 06, 2009 07:41am | #4

   I had a Craftsman 6" jointer whose outfeed table  was not adjustable and was straight for about 6" before it took a nose dive.  It was a toy, albeit a dangerous toy.  I never got it to working satisfactorily.  Finally got a 8" X 83" PM.  Oh, what a difference.

   Edited 2/5/2009 11:43 pm ET by Tinkerer3

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 06, 2009 07:46am | #5

   The difference is night and day, isn't it? Having tools that work well and require minimal fussing around really makes a difference. Less fiddling around and more building. You cannot overstate the importance of quality.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   bones | Feb 06, 2009 04:29pm | #10

   " A wider jointer allows you to face joint wider boards. A wider jointer usually means a longer bed and more mass (less vibration). Sometimes more power too."

   Amen Brother!

    

   View ImageGovernment's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

   
1. 
   flairwoodworks | Feb 07, 2009 06:47am | #13

   Oh, I love my 8" jointer, I do, I do. Still, even with the long bed, my tall friends don't want to sleep over...Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

4. 
   docotter | Feb 06, 2009 08:11am | #6

   I'll third Bones' recommendation. I don't have any Grizzly gear myself, but the model that he recommended looks like a knockoff the the Delta DJ20, which I have. The infeed table is the size of an aircraft carrier, which is, in a word, sweet. I only wish that I'd held out for the 12" model.

5. 
   troys | Feb 06, 2009 08:54am | #7

   I picked up a Ridgid 6" at Home Depot. The jointer was a floor model and was missing the knob that tightend the fence so they sold it to me for 200 bucks. Ridgid's service people shipped me the part for free and it has been a great tool ever since. That being said if you have the space and the coin go for the 8" jointer, wider is better:)

   Troy

6. 
   davidbrum | Feb 06, 2009 10:14am | #8

   Our Seattle Craigslist has 6" jointers all the time for bargain prices. I would be wary of older Asian machines ('70s-'80s vintage) or Sears/Craftsman units. Look for newer Jet, Grizzly or Delta. I see them all the time for $200ish, although this may be a regional thing.

   All things being equal, longer is always better. If you have choices, go long. Wider is better too, but used 8" jointers are much more rare.

   Let us know how you do!

   David B
1. 
   stevemorris | Feb 06, 2009 02:57pm | #9

   i just picked up a 25 yr old rockwell beaver 6" 37-220

   its really sweet, dead flat, plenty of power, a chute for shavings

   check out your local online classifieds

7. 
   SantaFeTom | Feb 06, 2009 05:52pm | #11

   I second the suggestion that you would be better off saving for a bigger jointer, assuming you have the space for it. I have had a 6" Woodtek jointer for about 10 years and upgrading it is #1 on my priority list. One obvious limitation of a 6" jointer is the width of the piece that can be flattened but the major limitation for me is the length of the piece that can effectively be straightened. That is because the length of the beds is somewhat proportional to the width of the bed. With the short beds of my 6" jointer, it becomes impossible to consistantly hold a long piece of wood flat on the bed. Too frequently, I want to straighten a heavy piece of wood that has more than 50% of it hanging over an end of the jointer causing that end to need support. This makes keeping the piece flat on the middle of the bed a huge PITA. If you get a 6" jointer, get the one with the longest beds.