Replies

1. 
   mudman | Nov 09, 2004 08:47am | #1

   UHH well. They do have a lot of steel in them. And the machine time to make one is tremendous. If you look the 6" are a LOT less than the next size up. I do just fine with my Jet 6" closed stand that I picked up for $450 new. Yet, the least expensive 8" jointers are just over 1k. I suppose that the manufacturors sell many many more 6" machines to any other size, that drives down the cost. The machinery market is very competitive and I think that the prices are as low as they can be. There is a Parks 12" on Ebay now I believe.

   Mike

   please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   MikeMD | Nov 09, 2004 01:01pm | #2

   I agree, in my head I know that tollerences and milling need to be very precise in these machines and that drives up cost, as does the quantity per size (fewer large machines).  I think the thing that makes it hard to stomach is that jointers are very specific (dedicated) machines.  They perform a very limited number of tasks, and in our minds that relates to less value.  But in reality, the machine/individual which is highly specialized tends to cost/charge more.

1. 
   mudman | Nov 09, 2004 06:18pm | #4

   You're right really jointers only do one thing flatten wood. Sure they can be used for tapering legs, and rabiting, but few use it for any thing other than flattening wood. As limited as the tool's use is it is the absolutely most importaint machine in the shop. YOU CAN MOT MAKE NICE STUFF WITH BOWED OR CUPPED STOCK. It will look bad. Also NOBODY sell flat stock! Every S4S board I've seen needed work. I think a jointer is the cornerstone of any shop. That and a good spray rig.

   Mikeplease excuse my spelling.

2. 
   RickL | Nov 09, 2004 04:34pm | #3

   You actually have a lot of inexpensive options compared to when I started woodworking 35 years ago. You can get an 8" Grizzly jointer for $695. It's not the cadillac but when I started there weren't anywhere near the options available to folks today and the prices are truly low with the imports. Jointers are more involved than say a planer to manufacturer. I remember when the cheapest planer was the Belsaw and it sold for $500 with no motor in the late 60's which was a lot of money in those days but the Parks, Powermatic 12" planers were a lot more.

   There's plenty of used jointers around but you need to know where to look and you need to know what things to look for and avoid. The super deal could cost more than a new one if you aren't aware of all the possibilities.

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 09, 2004 08:45pm | #5

   Hmmm, if you think they're expensive now, wait until Jan 1 or so when the prices go up to recoup the increases in steel prices!  It's supposed to be pretty darned dramatic, from what I've heard.

   The Grizzly 8" or a used larger machine may be the way to go.  Used jointers seem to come on the market fairly frequently.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)