Replies

1. 
   3dog3 | Jan 08, 2005 01:41am | #1

   Steve:

   Not really a direct response, but I have seen at the Japan Woodworker, a FoxShop 8" jointer with spiral cutterhead for about $1300.00.  Looks like a really nice machine. 

   Just as an aside, look around at used machines.  I picked up a used 12" Rojek jointer/planer from a shop that went out of business.  I don't use the planer, since I already have a planer, but the 12" jointer capacity sure is nice.  Paid less than what an 8" machine was going to cost me.

   PS.  Japan Woodworker is located in Alameda, California.

1. 
   firemansteve | Jan 08, 2005 07:11pm | #8

   3DOG3,Thanks for the tip. I have always intended to stop and check out the Japan Woodworker on my way home from work. I travel the 880 thruogh Oakland. Congrats on the 12". That is really the way I'd like to go, but I am either finding nothing, or three phase machines.Thanks Boss!

2. 
   mlbfreestyle | Jan 08, 2005 06:54am | #2

   Steve,

   I bought the Grizz 0500 (8 x 75) about a year back.  I have since done a bit of tweaking on the gibs and extension tables.  This thing is cutting very flat!  Too much machine for the money to not consider buying one.  The castings and machining are much better than the DJ-20 (I investigated them extensively).

1. 
   firemansteve | Jan 08, 2005 07:14pm | #9

   I am curious about your nickmane?? Thanks for the advice. It's great to hear that I don't have to spend twice as much for an accurate machine.Thanks again!

3. 
   JMartinsky | Jan 08, 2005 07:31am | #3

   Take a good look at the "Yorkcraft" by Wilke Machiney: 8" x 72", 1 1/2 hp, 400 lbs, built in rollers...$649.00. That's less than I paid for my 6"! here is the link:

   http://www.wilkemachinery.com/Yorkcraft.tpl

   I think that they are having a shipping special. Call them, I think they set it up too!

   Good Luck!

   John

1. 
   firemansteve | Jan 08, 2005 07:15pm | #10

   John,I have not considered Yorkcraft. I will look at the link right away. Thanks for sending it!Take care!

4. 
   DennisS | Jan 08, 2005 09:02am | #4

   Steve -

   I have the DJ20 Delta. I'd never owned or used a jointer before I bought it so can't offer much in the way of comparison. I bought it because I had a local dealer in which I had considerable confidence with respect to after sales support. It does fine for what I'm doing - no serious production shop work here

   That said, I do wish I had shopped around more before taking the plunge. From what I've read there are equally good machines from several different manufacturers and at a lower cost.

   I still feel strongly about buying from a local dealer whichever decision you chose to make.

   ...........
   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
   Dennis
5. 
   wrudiger | Jan 08, 2005 09:16am | #5

   I've been blown away by my Grizzley 0500.  Getting the extension tables leveled was a pain, but the whole table is out no more than  .0015" anywhere.  Very hard to beat for the price.

1. 
   TarHeelFlorida | Jan 10, 2005 04:03pm | #18

   Just got my G0500. A few months back, they stopped with the extension, and now do both tables as one casting each. It's a monster. Love it.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 10, 2005 07:44pm | #19

   "...both tables as one casting each."  That is very good news!  Thanks for letting us know.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" .... :>) 

6. 
   CYOTEY | Jan 08, 2005 01:10pm | #6

   SteveB- I bought a DJ-20 about 6 months ago. I bought it because of the 42" assymetrical infeed table- a real plus when jointing long material.-comes with free stand. Unknown to anyone when jointer arrived, the infeed table stops were broken in shipment. Delta dispatched a repairman 90 miles away to do a in house repair-did nice job. Try to get Grizzly to send gentle ben to your house from Mo.- for a repair-HA!   THE DJ-20 IS A CREAM-PUFF AND I HAVE RECIEVED EXCELLANT SERVICE FROM DELTA-PLS. CONSIDER

7. 
   bleubassplyr | Jan 08, 2005 06:44pm | #7

   This thread is very similar to one I saw a couple weeks ago. Anyway, I suggest looking for a used machine if you can. I recently bought a Grizzly 12" jointer used for $1,000 delivery included. I changed the blades and it works great.

   There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

1. 
   firemansteve | Jan 08, 2005 07:18pm | #11

   I would love to get my hands on a used 12" jointer. You lucky man! I love your quote!Thank you Sir!

1. 
   bleubassplyr | Jan 08, 2005 07:37pm | #12

   I'm very happy with my jointer. I took my time and did some leg work by calling a bunch of used machinery places every couple weeks for a month and a half. I was able to better the deal by offering cash, as in green backs. The place I bought the jointer is used to dealing with top of the line commercial machines so they were anxious to move the Grizzly. When I told the guy I was probably going to wait and buy an older American machine and refurbish it he came back with the deal I ended up taking.There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

2. 
   bleubassplyr | Jan 08, 2005 07:42pm | #13

   ....one more thing.....The quote I use is one of my favorites from WC. A couple other great quotes are....

   woman: I wouldn't sleep with you if you were the last man on earth!

   Emo Phillips: If I was the last man on earth I wouldn't let you in line!

    

   Lady Astor to Winston Churchill: If I were your wife I'd poison your drink.

   W. Churchill: If you were my wife I'd drink it!There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

1. 
   firemansteve | Jan 08, 2005 08:25pm | #14

   Thanks for the shopping tips. Those quotes are hilarious! I have been homebound with pneumonia for the last couple of weeks - I needed the laugh. Thanks!Steve

1. 
   joelc | Jan 08, 2005 09:36pm | #15

   I purchased a slightly used Shopfox 8" with spiral cutterhead at the Grizzly tent sale.  I've run about 300 feet of 'natural' hard maple through it to date.  I absolutely love this machine.  I've experienced almost no chip out even in some of the more difficult grain.  The finish is far nicer than when my pieces come out of the 15" planer.  I'm glad I spent a bit more money and got this versus the regular cutterhead.  I realize it's not a true spiral cutterhead and there are (I understand) better after market cutterheads.  But as a hobbyist who spends about 20 hours a week in my shop I'm very happy with this machine and couldn't reasonably expect much more.  My only complaint is that the bed is a little on the short side.  I compensate by using a couple portable rollers on each end - this seems to work fine.  Good luck with your purchase.

2. 
   bleubassplyr | Jan 09, 2005 09:02pm | #17

   Glad to add a laugh or two. Here's another good quote you may have seen here on Knots that someone uses as their signature quote.

   Lady to WC Fields: You're drunk!

   WC Fields: I may be drunk but you're ugly and in the morning I'll be sober.There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin

8. 
   JeffreyS | Jan 09, 2005 12:05pm | #16

   I recently went through this process:

   I wanted a 8" or larger, but larger didn't fit in my shop too well so I settled on an 8" (the Oliver was tops if I went larger)

   I settled on the DJ20 for $1300 incl shipping. I considered several others inclucing Bridgewood and Yorkcraft from Wilke- the $300 shipping brought the Bridgewood to pretty much the same price so I opted for the longer bed. I prefered the adjustability of the parallelogram design.

   I never saw the Shopfox but have heard it was good.

   The Grizzley's 0500 seemed pretty good and was also a contender but opted for the longer infeed and parallelogram.

   Powermatic and General similar machines would have been more $ for similar features.

   been very happy with this machine and have used older Deltas for many years in another shop.

   hope this helps.

    Jeff

9. 
   Bouboubomber | Jan 11, 2005 03:42am | #20

   Try  a Lie-Nielsen #8 Jointer