I am shopping for a 6 inch jointer. I am tempted to buy the Grizzly.
Grizzly has 2- 6 inch jointers . One with a parallelogram table adjustment and a cutter head with 4-knives-$525, and one with a cutter head with three knives-$425. The one for $525 is 56 inch long and the one for $425 is 45 inches long.
What are the advantages for a Parallelogram table adjustment?
Are 4 knives better than 3 and how hard are they to change?
My local dealers for other jointers are limited to big box chains or a couple of independents that have limited selections at much higher prices and they charge to $75 to deliver. The Grizzly seems to offer good value and a lot of features. My needs are for a small home shop.
Replies
Paralellogram jointers tables are adjustable at four points. Something to think about over a long term for maintaining coplanarity or tables twisting from bad casting issues, but not something to worry about. A dovetailed ways jointer is fine. The paralellogram design is of European design and more expense to make but easier to manufacture. Paralellogram tables can be ground individually as a dovetailed ways machine is ground with both tables mounted to the main casting. Bigger grinder required for a dovetailed ways machine.
I work on machinery and there's plusses and minuses and too much to get into detail at the moment. Throat spacing is a non-issue in my professional opinion.
4 knives are more work to adjust than 3 knives. Not an issue in performance for using as far as cut quality.
The longer bed would be more important an issue.
Thanks for the reply. I found a used long bed Powermatic and bought it.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled