Replies

1. 
   WayneL5 | Nov 12, 2004 03:35am | #1

   Between a jointer and a planer I think the jointer is the one to purchase first.  When doing woodworking you can't make anything fit together without straight boards.  A jointer is the right tool for that.  A planer can make the surface smooth, but if you put a crooked board in a planer it comes out smooth but just as crooked.

   If your tablesaw is adequate, I wouldn't upgrade on a tight budget.  So long as you can make decent cuts, keep it.  Then use the jointer for straightening and smoothing two faces and making them square to each other, and use the miter saw for crosscuts.  It helps to spend the money for a good blade for the miter saw.

1. 
   knees | Nov 12, 2004 07:14am | #2

   Thanks for your info.

   I am in the dark about the two ? types of table adjustments for jointers, i think one was called dovetail the other was ?. would you be willing to give me some input on some makes and models, short or long tables and type of table adjustments?

                                                                                             Thanks Again.

                                                                                                  GER

1. 
   WayneL5 | Nov 12, 2004 07:12pm | #3

   I'm not well versed in the different brands and types.  I have a Grizzley 6" jointer and like it.  It's accurate and produces a nice finish, and the price is reasonable.  The instruction booklet is only fair, but that's true of many brands.

   One basic decision you need to make is what width you want.  A 6" is a good width for most hobby work.  There's a big jump in price for an 8" and there aren't many times most people would joint a board wider than 6".  You can get by with a 4" if all you want to do is small items, like craft objects or picture frames, but if you're going to build furniture then 4" is a little small.

   I would recommend getting a floor model rather than a benchtop.  The bench top ones are just a little too small and flimsy.

   There are lots of folks in the Knots forum who have more experience than me.

1. 
   knees | Nov 13, 2004 01:57am | #4

   Thanks again WAYNEL5,

   I really appreciate your help and time.

                                                                  GER.

1. 
   BG | Nov 13, 2004 05:58pm | #6

   Ger,

   There is a nice discussion over in knots about a dovetail jointer and a parralellgram jointer...it is under the 'tools' something like "best jointer'.

   However, I'm a novice who started a few years ago and I wouldn't necessarily agree with Wayne's suggestions...that is not to say I disagree, just another point of view.  First of all this is a fairly expensive hobby and you need to establish a tool budget that will be spent over time....my guess would be in the $2500 to $4000 range.  Secondly, the tools you purchase will focus on three different purposes or objectives: 

   1. to imporve the variety of things you can make

   2. the quality of the things you make

   3. the cost of things you make

   So as you sequence out what you will buy and when you'll be confronted with these three objectives.  My personal objective was to make a variety of things so therefore a table saw, bandsaw and lathe, I determined, were higher on the priority list.  These machines allowed me to get pieces cut but to imporve the quality, and especially for joinery, I needed the planer, a workbench and hand tools.  I don't have the space for a jointer so I work wood with planes on the workbench and sometimes jig up the planer to flatten.  For larger projects I buy S2S wood which is a bit more expensive but greatly reduces the need for a jointer. 

   Eventually I will get an 8" jointer but that be when I feel sufficiently confident that I am good enough to spend $500 or more for wood on a project.  Buying the rough lumber and recutting so the grain is appropriate to the design will be another step up in quality...and save cost.

   Good luck with your planning 

2. 
   knees | Nov 13, 2004 08:11pm | #8

   Thanks BG, Your plan sounds good and opens up a new trane of thought for me, I think that your plan will be very helpful to me.

                                                                                 THANKS again,  GER

2. 
   PJ1 | Nov 13, 2004 05:47pm | #5

   I belive the two different types of adjustments you are interested in is 1 type has hane wheels while the other uses levers to adjust the table hights.

   Mine has wheels that I like but I have never have tried levers.

1. 
   knees | Nov 13, 2004 07:57pm | #7

   Thanks PJ1, I did some reading on table adjustment and noticed the words dovetail ways and parallelogram, but it did not give any details

                                                                                         thanks for your reply.

                                                                                                                          GER

1. 
   mudman | Nov 14, 2004 09:52pm | #9

   Go to a wood working store and loof at the difference between parallagram and dove tails. Really though if you are on a budget and are looking at a 6" jointer then forget about the parallelagram. I don't believe anyone makes a 6" any more and the least expensive 8" Parallelagram machines are around $1600. I have a 6" jet and it works great.please excuse my spelling.

2. 
   knees | Nov 15, 2004 04:49am | #10

   Hey Mike, if my first reply did not get to you here is another Thanks for your info.

                                                                                                        GER