Jet JPT 260 Planer Thicknesser

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

About a year ago I decided that it was time to get rid of my 22 year old Electra Beckum planer-thicknesser and get a new one. The one I wanted was a bit more than I could afford and so I went for a cheaper machine which I thought was great value for money and so I did a review. Well the review caught the eye of someone in Axminster Power Tools and one thing led to another and I have been allowed to upgrade to the machine that I wanted in the first place and they gave me a modest but welcome discount.

I am now the proud owner of the Jet JPT 260 Planer Thicknesser. The reason I wanted this machine so much is mostly down to ease of use. I am arthritic and it can only get worse. I can handle the Jet really easily and changing from jointing to thicknessing is easy. Even as my joints get worse I know that I will be able to continue with this machine. If you look at a lot of the things that I have been doing lately (mobile bench, castor carriage and so on) you will see that I am trying to make the workshop usable for as long as possible.

Here is the link to the most brilliant machine.



Peter

 

[sl_1800]

Congrats on your upgraded machine and I must say you have made another great video!!

 

[wrightwoodwork]

Nice review

 

[JLMLONG]

Very well done as always...

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

I have built the new carriage and have used slightly bigger castors. I now have the bed height in planer (jointer) mode at 900mm so that I can use my new mobile bench as an out-feed table.

Peter

 

[Zotya]

Dear Peter Parfitt,

firstly i would like to thank you for your detailed machine-test video.
Secondary, it's almoust passed two years since this purchase, and i would like to know what is your today opinion about this machine?
It is also so great than before?  [eek]
Did you find some problems on it, during this period?

...and certainly do you still own it?

We cannot find any actually reviews about this machine on the net.

Thank you for your comment!
Regards from Europe!

 

[Stone Message]

Dear Peter Parfitt,

firstly i would like to thank you for your detailed machine-test video.
Secondary, it's almoust passed two years since this purchase, and i would like to know what is your today opinion about this machine?
It is also so great than before?  [eek]
Did you find some problems on it, during this period?

...and certainly do you still own it?

We cannot find any actually reviews about this machine on the net.

Thank you for your comment!
Regards from Europe!

Yes, yes - YES !!!

I still own this terrific Jet machine, I still use it (almost) daily and it is as good now as it was when I bought it. I managed to get some tungsten knives for it from somewhere in Germany and I really recommend anyone with a traditional planer block to go for tungsten. However, I have just spent 30 minutes searching to find where I bought those knives and have drawn a blank. There is no manufacturers name on them.

The new trend in planers is to have helical cutter blocks. These have a range of advantages over the traditional 3 or 4 knife block.

  - each cutter usually has 4 facets and so can be turned by 90 deg to expose a new facet if you have a "ding"

  - cutter changes usually require no setting as the new 4 facet cutter elements just go straight in with auto alignment

  - the finish is much smoother

  - the noise levels are much lower

  - running costs are lower (no need to have knives sharpened)

The only down side as far as I can see is that the machines with helical blocks are 20-40% more expensive.

I see that Axminster have introduced a new planer - thicknesser with a helical block, the AT107PT, in their Trade series.

I too pass you greetings from my corner of Europe !

Peter

 

[Zotya]

Dear Peter Parfitt,

it does appeared a strange situation regard about buying a Jet-planer!

I do find two brand new JET planers in a woodworking outlet, both on 1 phase.
The JPT 260 for ~£920.- and the JPT 310 for ~£1.186.- (prices with VAT included). Certainly the prices are not in GBP here, i converted already for your comfort.

That's the differences:
 JET              Jpt 260          Jpt 310

Table size:   1110x260      1400x310
Input kw:          2,65             3,50
Output kw:        1,7               2,2
Feed rate/min:  5,5                 7
Weight:           170Kg          230Kg
Voltage:          230V          230V
Amperage:        10A            12,5A

! - the Jpt 310's knive-axe it's replaceable with the helical axe.

In one month cannot find a woodworker in my city who could give me an honest, clear answer regard about which is the bestbuy planer between this two model.

I am a hobbiest, this will be my first own planer and even i prefer to work mostly with hardwood(exotics).
I am not specialized on a specific working object, item, as most of woodworkers.
I didn't know what could appear in time to could solve with the big table of the Jpt-310, but 'till then could be great to get the highest quality is possible.

Resuming: buy the larger machine with the possibbility in time of solving larger/wider lumbers, or buying the smallest machine without any possibilities in future, but better results now.

If it's not a big request, please think for a while and show me the clever way!

Regards from Europe

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Zotya

I rarely make any woodwork for sale these days and so I am, perhaps, in the same category of work as you. I think that the JPT260 is an excellent machine and certainly good enough for anything that I expect to tackle in the next 30 years (ever hopeful !).

The JPT260 was my "dream machine" which I could not initially afford to buy. I was lucky that Axminster liked a video that I did about one of their machines and allowed me to trade up but only pay the "trade" difference. Even at the beginning I thought that the JPT310 was more than I could justify and it was also beyond my budget.

The option of a helical head is all very well but making the change to an existing "standard" machine is not cheap and needs a lot of careful setting up - I would not do it. If I wanted a helical head I would buy the machine with one factory fitted.

So, from what you have said and from my own limited experience I would recommend the JPT260.

I hope that this helps.

Peter

 

[Wittler1507]

Hi Peter I too saw your review and need the subsequent review following your upgrade. I then took the plunge and bought a second hand Sheppache Hms 2600 and  wow, I'm not sure how it compares to the jet but there is definitely something lovely about milling us rough sawn lumber to PSE.  It was your review which helped me take the plunge so thank you.

 

[Philipjdall]

Hi Everyone

I have built the new carriage and have used slightly bigger castors. I now have the bed height in planer (jointer) mode at 900mm so that I can use my new mobile bench as an out-feed table.

Peter

Hi Peter, I have a jet pt260 on order (being delivered next week) and am going to build a mobile base similar to yours. Thing is I'm hoping to construct the base is weekend so I'm ready to go when it arrives.

Would you (or anyone who owns one) be able to measure the base of the cabinet for me so I can get going? I would be most grateful!

Regards, Phil

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Everyone

I have built the new carriage and have used slightly bigger castors. I now have the bed height in planer (jointer) mode at 900mm so that I can use my new mobile bench as an out-feed table.

Peter

Hi Peter, I have a jet pt260 on order (being delivered next week) and am going to build a mobile base similar to yours. Thing is I'm hoping to construct the base is weekend so I'm ready to go when it arrives.

Would you (or anyone who owns one) be able to measure the base of the cabinet for me so I can get going? I would be most grateful!

Regards, Phil

Hi Phil

I have just measured my JPT260 base and you need a space 550 mm x 450 mm for it to fit in snugly. However, as the machine is much wider than 550 mm at the top (the beds stick out) I have elongated the base enough for a 700 mm wide machine which makes the base far more stable.

Peter

 

[Philipjdall]

Peter, many thanks - you are a gent!