I am considering getting a jointer/planer combo machine. The Jet 12 inch unit looks pretty decent. Anyone out there have any experiences with this unit? Any major drawbacks to a combo unit. I would like to get the one with the helical head as well. Pricewise it seems like a good deal as Woodcraft has them on sale for 15% off. Considering the cost of a stand alone 12 inch jointer the Jet combo machine looks appealing. Also I am tight for space. I value FOGGERS knowledge on this. Thanks.
Jointer Planer Combo machines vs separates Opinions please
- Thread starter TomGadwa1
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Kev
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If you have the space and the money I don't think there's any question that separates are choice number ONE. This is assuming that the individual machines do a job equal to or better than the comparable combo.
I'm dreaming of when I'm organised enough to get a combo ... separates are well beyond what I could ever fit.
I'm dreaming of when I'm organised enough to get a combo ... separates are well beyond what I could ever fit.
Timtool
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I work with a combo, as others mentioned if money/space isn't a problem then separate may be better. But i can't say i am in any way annoyed by the combo, it forces you to organize your work flow better, which is in my eyes an advantage. Switching between modes takes seconds these days, so for one-man shops these are very well suited.
i have no exp with the Jet though.
i have no exp with the Jet though.
Frank Pellow
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I used to have separate machines (Delta 15 inch jointer and 8 inch planer) and switched to a combo (Hammer 12 jointer/planer) about a year ago and I am much happier with the combo machine. The changeover between modes on the Hammer is no problem at all and can be accomplished in about a minute (I don't know what the case would be with a Jet).
Memphis Larry
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I've had the 12" Jet for 1.5 years now. I sold a 12" Northfield jointer and 15" Powermatic planer because I needed more room to actually work in my 2 car garage shop.
I have been very pleased with the Jet. The changeover is easy due to both sides of the jointer bed being hinged as one unit and you do not have to remove the fence. My only real complaint is that it is hard to crank down on the column enough to keep planer depth from fluctuating slightly while operating. I installed a Wixey digital readout so I can keep track of the actual depth.
Due to cost, I bought the 3 bladed model instead of the HH model. As soon as funds permit, I plan to install a helical head and would advise you to buy the HH model if you can afford to do so.
I have been very pleased with the Jet. The changeover is easy due to both sides of the jointer bed being hinged as one unit and you do not have to remove the fence. My only real complaint is that it is hard to crank down on the column enough to keep planer depth from fluctuating slightly while operating. I installed a Wixey digital readout so I can keep track of the actual depth.
Due to cost, I bought the 3 bladed model instead of the HH model. As soon as funds permit, I plan to install a helical head and would advise you to buy the HH model if you can afford to do so.
Some obversations from Jerry Work, well known furniture maker, in a similar discussion a few years ago:
"One big feature [of a jointer/planer combo] is that you are jointing and planing with the same cutter head, so the joined side and the planed side will take finish the same way. For critical work, the different knives on a separate jointer and planer often will result in the finish winding up different on the joined side from what it is on the planed side. A second feature on the Felder and MiniMax versions of these machines is there is no snipe, none, nada, so you do not need to over cut your pieces before joining or planing.
But, for me, building fine furniture all day long every day, the most important benefit from the combination machines is that I walk far less than when I used separate machines. I simply do a dance moving between the various functions, first breaking down most solid woods to rough length, then to the jointer function where I joint one face and one edge, then to the band saw where I rip to rough width and thickness (way safer than ripping on a circular saw), back to the planer where I plane to exact width and thickness and then back to the saw function where I cut to exact length. In my studio set up this is a very tight, efficient circle. It is fast enough that I never both to cut more pieces than I need. If one piece turns out to be bad, I simply make another on the fly.
Since adding the Kapex work station to this set up I now do the initial solid wood plank break down to rough length on the Kapex and often return there for the final cuts to exact length as well. I have the Kapex right and left measured stops calibrated to the squaring fence stops on the sliding table so each produces the same result. If there are a lot of pieces to cut to exact length I use the combination machine as it is a bit faster to do the squaring cut on one end, flip the piece and do the dimension cut on the other there than it is to move the wood side to side to make both cuts on the Kapex."
"One big feature [of a jointer/planer combo] is that you are jointing and planing with the same cutter head, so the joined side and the planed side will take finish the same way. For critical work, the different knives on a separate jointer and planer often will result in the finish winding up different on the joined side from what it is on the planed side. A second feature on the Felder and MiniMax versions of these machines is there is no snipe, none, nada, so you do not need to over cut your pieces before joining or planing.
But, for me, building fine furniture all day long every day, the most important benefit from the combination machines is that I walk far less than when I used separate machines. I simply do a dance moving between the various functions, first breaking down most solid woods to rough length, then to the jointer function where I joint one face and one edge, then to the band saw where I rip to rough width and thickness (way safer than ripping on a circular saw), back to the planer where I plane to exact width and thickness and then back to the saw function where I cut to exact length. In my studio set up this is a very tight, efficient circle. It is fast enough that I never both to cut more pieces than I need. If one piece turns out to be bad, I simply make another on the fly.
Since adding the Kapex work station to this set up I now do the initial solid wood plank break down to rough length on the Kapex and often return there for the final cuts to exact length as well. I have the Kapex right and left measured stops calibrated to the squaring fence stops on the sliding table so each produces the same result. If there are a lot of pieces to cut to exact length I use the combination machine as it is a bit faster to do the squaring cut on one end, flip the piece and do the dimension cut on the other there than it is to move the wood side to side to make both cuts on the Kapex."
