Combo jointer planer machines

[chayu]

Greetings,

I'm considering the purchase of a jointer planer combo for an up coming project and the future as well.
Does anybody have experience with the rikon 10" helical head jp?
I would love to step up and purchase a hammer a3-31 however they are expensive in comparison and not always immediately available.

Jet 8 and 10" look like something I would buy for my 6 year old son(which maybe the rikon is too)

Jet, , grizzly 12" look decent, however I think I would just pay the extra and get a hammer a3-31 at that point.

Rikon 10" has the appeal of portability and the helical head but I am leary.....

Any thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated!

Brice

 

[Kev]

You really get what you pay for in this space. I'm currently tossing up between a Hammer and a Felder (I'll be tossing till I have space, so I'm not in a hurry)

Cheaper machines still perform a task and only you can say whether the Rikon is adequate. My advice would be to grab a lump of timber and find somewhere to try one.

 

[copcarcollector]

The Jet is on my short list of machines I want to buy, the 12" version with the helical head. I like it better than the Grizzly as the jointer tables flip up as one piece vs the Grizzly where it is two pieces, in my mind anyhow one piece seems to be better for keeping things flat and in line when you change back to jointing. Maybe it does not matter... The Amazon reviews are minimal but pretty good on the jet.

I would of course prefer a Hammer over all of the others... just not sure on the costs and the wait time.

The Jet should be on sale for Black Friday, might be the push over the edge I need to buy!

If you do decide on a machine, please post your review here.

 

[YOGO100]

I have been struggling with the same decision. I can get a 12" jet with helical head for about $2500, and have a quote for an A3-31 at $5000. I'm finding it  hard to determine whether that difference is justified. I have heard only exclusively good things about the Hammer, and opinions on the Jet are all over the place as far as I can tell.

 

[copcarcollector]

I can get a 12" jet with helical head for about $2500,

Where? (If you care to share). The current prices I see are about $3300.00
At $2500 I would click the 'buy' button!

 

[YOGO100]

There's a place out here in Auburn (WA) that sells floor models, scratch and dents, and surplus models (I don't know what the latter are, but they are more expensive than the other two). Their name is machinery and surplus.

 

[Lbob131]

Has anyone seen this...


This guy  is fitting bicycle parts  to his new  Jet  planer  to make it perform better.

I have two  Jet machines  and have done modifications  on one of them to make it perform better. Shouldn't have to do that.
I'd rather buy second hand Hammer than new Jet.

 

[ben_r_]

Yep. I havent made the jump yet either, but from all the research I have done Im planning to save my money for a Hammer/Felder or not buying a J/P at all.

 

[cliffp]

I have a Hammer A3-26 and really like it. It was expensive but worth every penny (or dime!). I got the mobility kit but ended up making a DIY version based on Peter Parfitt's design which is a big improvement.

 

[leakyroof]

Greetings,

I'm considering the purchase of a jointer planer combo for an up coming project and the future as well.
Does anybody have experience with the rikon 10" helical head jp?
I would love to step up and purchase a hammer a3-31 however they are expensive in comparison and not always immediately available.

Jet 8 and 10" look like something I would buy for my 6 year old son(which maybe the rikon is too)

Jet, , grizzly 12" look decent, however I think I would just pay the extra and get a hammer a3-31 at that point.

Rikon 10" has the appeal of portability and the helical head but I am leary.....

Any thoughts or opinions would be much appreciated!

Brice

  I didn't know Rikon was offering any Helical cutter heads other than on their Lunch Box style planer.  [eek]
I have to look up this Combo machine. I thought the one I'd seen from them a few years ago was a copy of the older INKA design. Yes?

 

[Shadytree]

I have the grizzly 12 inch combo. I am picky about equipment and I would say that it is ok. It is not super precise, but I can get a decent product out of it. The two problems I have are: 1. My outfeed table is not perfectly flat when I put a precision straight edge on it & 2. The  planer table has a little wiggle to it that results in a bit of snipe if I get too aggressive with material removal.
Would love to have a hammer, but the Grizzly at less than half the price is a good option.