8 or 12 jointer

M

macchips4

Well-known member
I have been contemplating geting a wider jointer. I have been using a 6" jointer, not a new one but a "off shore" powermatic about 15 years old. I was thinking of getting an 8 in Jet or PM but for a similar amount  i saw Grizzly has a 12" jointer . The 8in jointers would be much esier to move around the shop while the 12 in would stay in the garage(800+ lbs), stationary for sure. Any thoughts or preferances? Just looking for ideas to be more confused than I'm already am.....Maybe even talk my self out of it all together.
Joe
 
Joe, Let me add to your confusion. I don't think you would regret, for a minute, going to a larger jointer. I started with a 4" Sears, nearly 50 years ago. Quickly went to a 6" machine; then to an 8" Rockwell-Delta. The 8" one has been a joy to use for over 30 years, though I must admit there were times when I wished I had a 12" jointer( or a 15" one or a 20 incher)! I believe it's just human nature to occasionally wish for a bigger tool, a wider one, or a faster one, or a better one; or a different one! But I feel also that an 8" jointer will serve you extremely well most of the time. If not being able to move a 12" would really be a problem by all means go with an 8" machine. Fortunately I seldom have to move mine. If you're using a 6" machine now you'll never regret going bigger. Good luck.
John McAlister
 
Joe,


I am constantly finding the size of all of my power tools is just a little smaller that I need for the next project; bandsaw height for resawing, jointer width, thickness planer width. Having said that,  getting to12-inches seems to be a sort of sweet spot

I would be concerned about having to go out to another building to use the joiner; this would tempt me to compromise if I just need one more pass, etc. .

Whatever size you get, go for the replaceable tooth cutter version.

Karl
 
I have a 12 inch jointer.  One nice thing about it is the weight!  The unit is nice and solid.  Whatever size you get, go for a helix cutter head. A helix cutter head is more costly, but gives a better cut.

Jim Vojcek
 
Right now I have a jet 15 planer with the byrd shelix cutter head. I keep it in the garage. The planer, and a dust collector are wheeled to the middle of the garage to be used when needed. So if the jointer was there it would not be far away.....but it needs to be moveable to get in/out with vehicles for storage/repair etc.  That's why I started thinking about a 8" jointer either a PM or Jet, but then see that Grizzly has a 12 inch for around the same bucks. but it does not look that it would be easy to be made "movable". And the other question is the quality of grizzly tools.... I have not seen/used any...would it be worth the battle to deal with the 12" or would the lesser quality be a turnoff ? 
Joe
 
I think I can answer both of your questions here.  I have a 8" grizzly jointer.  I think I have had it for 4 or 5 years now and have not had one problem with it.  To be honest I really cant see to much of a different between their jointer and others like PM.  I have used both and can honestly say that.  Now what I will say is that I wish with almost every project I have to build I had a 10" or 12" jointer.  8" just seems to be that size that just is on the edge of what works with a lot of boards but to small for some of the boards I work with.  Get the biggest Jointer you can afford.  As for the cutter head.  Mine came with a regular knife cutter.  After a couple of years and a lot of blade changes (sharping) I changed the blades out for a byrd cutter head.  It was a night and day difference.  I have had it on my planner for 2 years and I am still using the original blades that came with the cutter head.  I make a living building furniture so that should give you an Idea how much wood I run though my jointer.  The carbide Just last for  ever it seems like.   

 
Macchips ,  Where are you located.  We just lost my wife to cancer and I am forced to sell out an entire home shop so I can relocate my young kids closer to family and help. 

I have a basically new Shopfox W1744 12" jointer that I will be selling at a bargain.  Its a pretty nice jointer and does a great job even though it is an off shore brand.  I paid $2500 for it and will probably let go for about $1600.  Its in Southern NH

I also have an entire shop full of relatively new equipment including but not limited to
a couple year old 20" powermatic planer model 209
a General double drum sander.  24"  model 15-250
a heavy cast router table from MCLS
a Jet 36" lathe

 
Here on Long Island NY, Space is always at a premium. After starring at my lumber "stash", most of the boards are in the 8-15 inch wide range (yea I hoard wood, but thats a different problem) and a 12" jointer would be the first choice forworking the wood, but the size and movability is a major factor when it would not be in use. Any large jointer( 8 or 12) would be kept in the garage, along with the planer.  An 8 inch jointer would be tight but do able. I need to rearrange to see just how much space could be alloted. as of now I use hand planes or a sled and hot glued wedges to handle the wide stuff. The quest still continues. 
    Maybe a bigger garage! I'm sure that will go over big. 
Joe
 
Joe,
Get the biggest one you can find.  I have a 16" fay and egan cast iron jointer and I use every inch of it, especially for period furniture, where wide case sides etc are always made of solid wood.  They are great for truing up glued up panels.  A 20 - 24" jointer would probably be optimal, but these tend to be expensive.  I sometimes see big jointers go up for sale for reasonable prices.  I'm not sure how familiar you are with old machines, but they are often much more substantial than modern ones, and you can often find ones in decent shape at a fraction of the cost of a new one.  I'm across the sound in CT and might be able to help you locate an old big jointer if you are interested. 
Rob
 
I have a Delta 8 inch DJ20 and 16 inch Yates American Pattern makers jointer with 4 blade cutter head with 5HP Baldor motor. Both machines sell used in $800 range. Old machines can be found at excellent prices. Old iron machines are designed and built like army tanks with minimal care should last forever.  I have worked on Yates 20 inch jointer with three phase with power feeder.  The Yates 20 inch extra width and power feeder was a joy to use and cut wood like a pack of hungry beavers on steroids. Woodworking friends have MiniMax 12 jointer/planer combo machines another excellent option in the $4000++ range. A local Woodcraft store just installed a 8 inch Powermatic jointer with Byrd shelix cutter head in their shop.  It's quiet and cuts wood like butter very lust worthy.  So many great options available. A lot depends on your budget and floor space. For some reason we always find wood that is 3 to 4 inches wider than the jointer you own. Go as wide as you can.
 
Joe,

I have the same dilemma.  The 8" delta I have just isn't wide enough anymore.  Right now, I hand plane one face flat if it's over 8" wide which is no big deal with a sharp plane, but it is time consuming.  I was saving  all my loose change to buy a 12" grizzly that runs around $2600 with the spiral head but have decided instead on getting a spiral head for my 25" planer for about $1400.  There's a good article in FWW on building an adjustable sled to support wide stock for flattening with a plane.,
 
I have a 12" Wadkin from the '50s. I had to have a pulley made for it since it was an odd size and buy a motor. Total cost was under $600. The Wadkins are nice cause they are 6' total length instead of the 8' nice for a home shop.
 
Does anyone on here use a router mill for dimensioning at least one face?  I've used it on larger pieces with great success.  The only limit is the size of your table or bench.
 
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