Replies

1. 
   Yotie | Apr 13, 2004 08:45pm | #1

   Hello....I have the Delta with the Biesmeyer 50" and the mobile base and LOVE it.  I had a Craftsman contractor before, and I never would have believed there could be that much difference, but there was for me.  You won't be dissappointed.  Don

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 13, 2004 09:19pm | #2

   Sounds like fun, for sure, all are serious upgrades.  I will mention, however, that there was some discussion a couple months back or so about the underpinnings of the Jet bandsaw being too lightweight and flexing under heavy loads (e.g., sawing down heavy pieces of logs).  You might want to try searching for the thread.  Also, of course, whether that makes a difference to you depends on what types of band saw operations you think you'll be doing.

   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" .... :>) 

3. 
   fdampier5 | Apr 14, 2004 06:13am | #3

   Since all of that stuff is made in China (ok Tiawan) check out what else you can buy for the smae or less money.. I bought Grizzley and am very happy with it..  I'm also happy that for less than the price of a delta 6 inch jointer I got a 8 inch and kept a couple of hundred in my pocket..

    I got the grizzley 20 inch planner and can tell you that after 20,000 bd.ft. of hardwood it's still perfect..

     I gota 12 inch cabinet saw for about what I paid for a earlier  delta 10 inch contractors saw that gave me endless grief.

     I did buy the Jet band saw but that was before I found out about Grizzley..

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 14, 2004 06:32am | #4

   bigslick

      Frenchy metioned the Griz 20" planer already. I would suggest that while still shopping, check and compare the Griz 8" jointer with the Jet also. Check prices, specs and especially bed (table lenght).

      The final decision lies with you, but I would not leave a stone un-turned as doing your home-work now will lead to better results when the final test score comes in.

   Regards...

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   BenA | Apr 14, 2004 03:20pm | #5

   Bigslick: Looks like you got plans to make a lot of saw dust, did you forget a dust collector? IMO a great choice of products, BTW i don't think the delta saw will be any means match up to the PM 66 saw, that saw has been the same for the last twenty some odd years, and if you talk to any one who owns one , they will say its runs just as good now as it did when they first brought it.

   next question. Where are you going to buy your equipment. I would suggest to by from a local distributor who has the knowledge on the tools your buying. This way if you have any questions on set up, service, accessories, he only a local call away. If you buy all from same distributor he properly offer you a better deal on what your buying. Looks like you have about $6660 so far, so maybe he can help you same some cash. Good luck in you purchases.

6. 
   sailalex | Apr 14, 2004 04:49pm | #6

   One consideration I would throw in, as you do your research, is whether you live in an area which has a dealer in whatever product you decide upon. I have unfortunately bought tools (planers) that went bad and because I had a local Woodcraft store from which I bought them, all I had to do was load them up and take them back for an exchange (within one year). Of course, when I bought them , I gave no thought that I would be returning them but when it happened I was glad I didn't have to pack them up, ship them away, and wait weeks or months for a replacement. Of course, if you live in an area where there are no dealers nearby then this aspect doesn't make any difference.

7. 
   ownersrep | Apr 14, 2004 11:18pm | #7

   Ron,

   I went about the route your looking.  If I had it to do again and was spending that kind of money, I would look seriously at some of the combination machines.  You'll end up with bigger, more powerful and safer than the individual approach.  If you're set on individual machines I'd think real carefully about the Jet BS - I haven't heard anything good.  Look at MiniMax - I've been very impressed with their quality and support on my MM 16 BS.

   Jim

8. 
   JMartinsky | Apr 15, 2004 01:49am | #8

   I love a chance to spend others $! I have a PM66, great saw, I've never heard anyone complain about a Unisaw as well. If I were going to tool up as you are, I would contact Wilke Machinery and take a look at thier "Bridgewood" or even "Yorkcraft" line. I own a couple of Jet tools and I like them, but after looking at Bridgewood, I can tell you that I could of gotten equal or better quality for the same money. In your case, it would be easy to play, "Lets Make a Deal". Tell them what you are interested in and see what they can do for you. With the amount that you are willing to part with, you should be able to cut a very nice deal for yourself.

   Good Luck!

   John

1. 
   bigslick | Apr 15, 2004 02:02am | #10

   Thanks everyone for your sound advice....I will be looking at used machinery as well.  I'm in no REAL hurry, just taking my time untill I know/find what I'm looking for.  Thanks again......

   Ron

9. 
   bakesale1 | Apr 15, 2004 01:54am | #9

   Don't forget about the option of buying used machines.  Depending upon where you live, some places in Washington, CA, and Texas sell used equipement that have many feet of boards left in them.

10. 
    RickL | Apr 15, 2004 02:08am | #11

    Ron, personally I find no need to have a planer any bigger than a jointer. I'd be looking at a combo plus they usually have an option of a slot mortiser that runs off the same arbor. A 12" planer/jointer would be ideal. The key is to spend a few more minutes making sure your stock is nice and flat. Better to spend a few more minutes with glue-ups and you should only have to scrape off the glue and sand to finish. If you arrange your boards for a pleasant figure match you are going to have the grain going in contradictory ways and risk serious tear-out in one board or another by running a panel through a wide planer. The slot mortiser is worth it's weight in gold. Far better than the chisel mortiser in ease and efficiency for mortising.

    I have to admit a slider type saw would be a must as well. I have a PM 66 whIch I bought in the early days when it was either that or a Craftsman for left tilt. With a slider and I get away with right tilt with no problem. I find myself bring most of my projects to work and another place where I have access to a slider. I've also had a chance to use these add on sliders like exactor and excaliber. Nice but no contest. Haven't really played with the full combo machines but will be looking a lot closer at them next week at the New England Woodworking show.

    
    

    ---

    Edited 4/15/2004 5:49 am ET by rick3ddd

1. 
   Norse | Apr 17, 2004 02:54pm | #13

   I have the Unisaw Left Tilt, Laguna 16HD bandsaw, and Laguna (Robland) XSD 310 12" jointer/planer combo, (all about 1 1/2 years old), here's my comments:

   You cannot add a slider to the unisaw left tilt but you can with the PM. If you're thinking slider, go with the PM.

   The band saw is the best thing in my shop! Only the 18" would be better.

   I use the 12" jointer all the time but changing it to the planner is a PITA. The fence has to come off and you can't leave the planner setting when you switch back, ie if you have to mill another part, you're back to square one with your set up. The slot mortiser is too slow for router bits so I bought the stand and bolted a router to it.

   I looked at some of the full combo's and it was the same story, you can change quickly from one tool to another but you can't leave a setup in place.

   What someone else said about buying local is great if you live near a city. I live in New York's Finger Lakes region -- we like to call central New York "centrally isolated." Its sometimes a real struggle to get service.

   Good luck, let us know what you buy!

   Norse

11. 
    bfeng7 | Apr 16, 2004 06:12am | #12

    Ron,

    My 2 cents.

    THe Unisaw is a good choice.

    The DJ20 jointer is far and away my favorite (having used a 8" Powermatic domestic unit for many years). The quality is generally very high, and I really like the parallelogram-thingy table height mechanism. It' was worth the few hundred bucks more. Delta just came out with a new bandsaw that has 12" height capacity. The Jet only has 10". If you resaw a lot of wider stock for things like table tops (I do), the Delta is a better bet. 

    Don't forget a floor standing drill press, the disc/belt sander, the cyclone dust collector, sliding compound miter,  ... it never ends.

    John Feng