Can the HL 850 replace a 6" floor jointer?

[bwehman]

Hey all!

I currently have the Ridgid 6" floor jointer that's served me well and continues to do so. I'm always looking for ways to minimize and make more space in the shop. Is it possible for the HL 850 to replace this? I have a TS55 and DeWalt 13" planer if that helps to know. I build mostly small wooden goods, boxes, maybe some basic household furniture here and there.

B

 

[live4ever]

If you’re looking to save space and money, you can get by with just the TS55 and Dewalt planer.  Edge jointing can be done with your TS55.  Face jointing can be done with a sled in your planer.  The HL850 might be a touch faster or more convenient than straightlining with your saw depending on your setup, but not by much.

Sorry that didn’t exactly give you the excuse you might have been looking for.  [big grin]

 

[ear3]

I would say no.  I've used the bench unit with the HL850 in a pinch, but do not trust it's accuracy above what I can achieve with a hand plane, and certainly do not trust it on longer pieces.

BTW, I do a fair amount of narrow piece jointing just with my TS55, Dewalt planer and table saw.  If you are able to leave excess on the ends, you can secure narrow boards to a sacrificial surface with some pins and support the rail with a scrap piece of the same thickness.

EDIT: I realize you were probably thinking more of face jointing rather than edge jointing in asking your question.  Here my response would be yes, though with the addition of a hand plane for more delicate operations when you don't have to take off that much.  The HL850 is best when you're dealing with bowed boards, and so you're able to work from the center out to the ends.  I find a handplane works better for twisted stock where the focus is more on the ends of the boards. 

I've never had a jointer, and have been able to deal with almost every jointing challenge using a mix of the HL850, handplanes, the tracksaw, table saw and then the lunchbox planer.

 

[RDMuller]

Absolutely NOT

 

[bwehman]

I would say no.  I've used the bench unit with the HL850 in a pinch, but do not trust it's accuracy above what I can achieve with a hand plane, and certainly do not trust it on longer pieces.

BTW, I do a fair amount of narrow piece jointing just with my TS55, Dewalt planer and table saw.  If you are able to leave excess on the ends, you can secure narrow boards to a sacrificial surface with some pins and support the rail with a scrap piece of the same thickness.

EDIT: I realize you were probably thinking more of face jointing rather than edge jointing in asking your question.  Here my response would be yes, though with the addition of a hand plane for more delicate operations when you don't have to take off that much.  The HL850 is best when you're dealing with bowed boards, and so you're able to work from the center out to the ends.  I find a handplane works better for twisted stock where the focus is more on the ends of the boards. 

I've never had a jointer, and have been able to deal with almost every jointing challenge using a mix of the HL850, handplanes, the tracksaw, table saw and then the lunchbox planer.

Exactly, yeah I'm wondering if I can sub it out for face planing. The TS and table saw can take care of edge jointing like you mentioned, right.

 

[sancho57]

its good for small pieces, filler pieces maybe 4-6" wide and 3' long anything more Id use my 6" jointer or TS 55

 

[Holzhacker]

The simple answer is No, as others have mentioned. I use mine very well for small pieces or detailed items. However, I have had pretty good luck with long pieces when I've set up an  outbound surface for the piece to slide onto. At some point I would like to make a dedicated in/out feed platform to go around the 850 but haven't had time.
If you have a 6" jointer stick with it. Probably the more accurate option.

 

[grbmds]

Since you didn't say, I don't know if you have a table mounted router. If you do, you can joint wood using a split fence where the outfeed side is slightly (like 1/64") offset from the infeed side. If you only have a one-piece fence, mounting a piece of high density plastic tape on the outfeed side or something that brings the outfeed side out the required distance will work. There are videos on YouTube about this technique and, while I don't use it often since I have a jointer, it does work. On the other hand, if you already have a jointer, keep it. I feel that that is still the best way to edge joint a board.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Depends on how long of pieces you want to joint. The length of the infeed and outfeed table limit the length for straight edges. I find 2 -3 feet work OK with the bench unit and jointer. You are limited to face jointing in a traditional jointer fashion to about 2.5 inches or so.

That said, there are techniques to use a hand planer to flatten wider boards, similar to how you would do it with a hand plane. A jointer's main use for me is surfacing a face flat. Edges are also done, but lots of ways to get a straight edge - track saw, router table with offset fence, router using the guide rail, etc.

 

[grbmds]

I don't believe that Festool sells the bench top unit for mounting the 850 planer in North America anymore. Without that it's use as a jointer would be even more limited than if it was available. Keep the Ridgid jointer if it's working OK.