Most economical Jointer and Planer for around $1000

[John Stevens]

John-
Let me know if you find any info on the helix head option.

Dane--sorry for the late follow-up.  I went to the Byrd site and checked their instructions for installation on a generic planer and realized that the job would be way beyond my abilities.  Stopped & did not pass "go" at that point.

Regards,

John

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Dunno if the OP is still considering what to buy, but Tools-Plus just sent out an email that the JET JJ-6CS is on sale for $499.99, including free shipping and residential delivery.

In the email it says offer is from today (April 6) to April 12, 2010 and "While Supplies last; no backorders".

http://www.tools-plus.com/jet-708457k.html

 

[kfitzsimons]

Gene, I'm also thinking about the Rikon.  Any chance you could post more photos and dimensions of the stand you built?  Very nice.  Anything you'd make different on it?

 

[Mark]

John-
Let me know if you find any info on the helix head option.

Dane--sorry for the late follow-up.  I went to the Byrd site and checked their instructions for installation on a generic planer and realized that the job would be way beyond my abilities.  Stopped & did not pass "go" at that point.

Regards,

John

Byrd heads seem great but they seem to cost almost as much as the jointer planer! Did the conversion work involve precision machining or drilling? What turned you off to the conversion? Thanks

 

[maxtool]

I had a bad experience with the Jet 10" jointer planer combo unit. It was on sale at Woodcraft and, with a small shop and thought it would be great to have a combo unit. Assembly was simple but, as I put it together I wondered whether something so light would work well. It didn't. I was never able to align the tables and, if they're not perfect as milled, it may not be possible. The motor was not very strong and bogged down with very small cuts in 6" pine. I didn't even try maple.

After some negotiation with my local Woodcraft store they took it back for a store credit. Last time I was there it still hadn't been sold.

I currently have a Ridgid thickness planer in my garage (because I don't use it that often). I've been looking at the Grizzly jointer because they can be had with a spiral cutter head for a reasonable price and seem to have decent reviews. I would love the 8 inch version but wonder if I really have the room in my shop - so it will be with keen interest that I will follow your decision and comments from others.

 

[Gene Howerton]

Here are dimensions I used on box.  I tried to make the box and jointer match the height of my MFT 1080 which is 820 mm.  Wheels used were from Ikea height 65 mm, box height 260 mm, width 510 mm, Length 705 mm.  It works well, but like most my garage floors is not perfectly level so I have to adjacent from time to time. 

 

[Mark]

Can you use this jointer w/o a full blown dust collection system? I've got a CT22 with long life bag and/or I could just create a pile of shavings and get out the push broom. I know the Dewalt can eject to a garbage can or bag. Thanks for the review. I was at Woodcraft yesterday but they couldn't tell me much about it and they didn't seem to sell many of the Rikons. They are happy to sell me a Powermatic jointer AND planer but I don't have that kind of cash or room.

My other option was to go for the Festool HL850 as I could use it to flatten boards for a tabletop and small bench jointer and the Dewalt. When all is said and done though I could get this Rikon and be done.

Thanks.

 

[Gene Howerton]

The Dust collection on the unit is not up to Festool Standards, my guess is that it gets about half of the dust.  I have mine hooked up to my CT33 with the Oneida Dust Deputy and box on top.  It fills it up but it works.

 

[Mark]

OK... one last variation... HL850 with bench unit + Dewalt 750. HL850 best in class tool to get the warp out of a board... ala Per Swenson's post a while back, and the run it through the planer to get the surfaces co-planer... does that make sense? With the HL850, I could use it to flatten out a table top (though it may not end up totally coplaner with the bottom) but I can bring the tool to the work and theoretically have no limit on the size top I can machine... ripped mango planks etc.

Sorry to belabor this discussion but I'm just hesitant to obtain tools I can't pack up and shove into a corner w/o a dedicated shop or even garage space.

Thanks

 

[mouppe]

I hate to throw new options into the mix, but this is my setup.

I do not have a jointer. I use my TS55 to get a straight edge, and if I need to get it even flatter than that, a Lie Nielsen low angle jack plane with an engineers square to check for 90 degrees. If God made a hand plane, this would be it.

I use a Ridgid 4330 three-blade benchtop planer which allows me to plane boards up to 12 or 13 inches wide. This is an excellent planer for $400. I also made a jig to pass through my planer which makes it act like a jointer, and allows me to joint 12 inch-wide boards. Once one side is jointed, you can flip the board and pass it through the planer like normal.

With this setup, you can avoid the need for a jointer. You can spend the money on a good planer now, and buy a jointer worth buying in the future.

For boards wider than can be accommodated by the planer, I take them to a friend of mine with a bottle of good wine. 

 

[Alan m]

could you post a few pics of this jig.
i think i saw something in a magazine a while back of something similar

 

[mouppe]

I don't have any good pictures of it on my laptop but it is in the background in this picture leaning against the door in the back left. Here is a link to a Fine Woodworking article on the "planer sled." Essentially, the sled has height-adjustable blocks running down its length which can support a warped board. By planing the top side of the board, you can then turn it over a plane the opposite side.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=5245