Oliver 8" Jointer

[jar45]

Does anyone wish to comment on their experience with Oliver 8 " Jointers, other machines offered or the company itself in the way of customer service?  I don't see a many if any reviews for Oliver Machines in the monthly wood working magazines.  Their technical date suggests these are heavy machines, maybe too much for most hobbyist or small shops.

Thanks
John 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

The new Oliver stuff, grey?

I wouldn't spend my money on them.

Now an old 144d is a good machine.

 

[wow]

Listen to Darcy^^^

He knows 'big old iron' better than anyone here.

 

[Iceclimber]

So of you did not want to purchase a old machine whom would you suggest.

SCM, Hammer, Grizzly, Felder?

A couple of those "felder & SCM are bug big money by comparison to a new Oliver machine. The new Oliver 8" can be had for $1900 or $2900 with the Byrd Shelix...

The new Oliver stuff, grey?

I wouldn't spend my money on them.

Now an old 144d is a good machine.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Martin, but I can't afford 25k for a jointer.

I will do everything I can to stay away from Asian made machinery.

 

[jar45]

Thanks for the comments.  But staying away from Asian products doesn't leave many choices under $2,000. 

John

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Thanks for the comments.  But staying away from Asian products doesn't leave many choices under $2,000. 

John

Sure it does.

 

[Iceclimber]

Elaborate,

Its clear plenty of old American machines can be had in the 8" range for 2K or under. But what made in america and worth buying can be had for that price.

I will need to purchase something in the 10-12" range in the next year. After buying that little Yates and it having a slight amount of twist in the fence i kinda just want to buy a brand new machine. It has be a quality tool that should last me most of the rest of my life.

My guess is i am going to be told that of i find a good used american made machine from another time in our history it will probably never break and last me the rest of my life?

Still do i trust myself to find that machine?

Thanks for the comments.  But staying away from Asian products doesn't leave many choices under $2,000. 

John

Sure it does.

 

[Daver]

Thanks for the comments.  But staying away from Asian products doesn't leave many choices under $2,000. 

John

John,
If you've never been, these are great folks to get to know. http://www.muellerco.com
They're in Reading just north of Galbraith Rd off of I-75. Note that on the website, they deal in used industrial machinery as well.
Good luck with the search.

Dave

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

My first jointer was a 144bd 8" oliver.  600 bucks I believe.  Wired it up, made chips, went over adjustments and made chips for the next year until I replaced it with a Fay & Egan 316 16" jointer.  Think I broke even selling the oliver and buying the 316.  Used the 316 for a year, sold it to buy a 20" clement jointer and a 13'foot long patterns maker lathe.  In the meantime I bought, used and sold another 8" clement, then I sold the 20 to get a 30" machine.  That one has been a little bit more of a project then I anticipated, but you don't find a 30" jointer very often, or for less then a ts55.  I recently bought a 16" porter that I have been using as well. 

I think I may have spent about 2k total on all them combined.  Every machine I get, I study them, play with adjustments and set them up properly, sometimes that involves resolving an issue that becomes known after using the machine. 

I can't begin to count the number of threads where people unbox their shiny new machines only to have numerous problems usually caused by cheap materials or poor quality control.

If you want shiny and new because you think it will be perfect out of the box, good luck. 

I will keep buying quality machines that if made today and bought new, I would never be able to afford.

I have yet to see anyone rebuild a grizzly or the like.

 

[Brent Taylor]

There is nothing wrong with used, but you have to know what you are looking for & at. Most of my big tooling I bought used, all was  Euro or Asian because of how I was taught & how I learn. I found it best to look for tools that are still in use, but are soon to be replaced or the owner is ending their need for the tool. ( less work for you ) Ask to look at or tour the shop, you can learn alot about how the tool was cared for & used. Most of the stuff I had was 10 years old or older, I used them for another 30 years. New stuff is fine if one has the means, I try to stay away from the Chinese stuff if I can.( I have a used SawStop, Had a Hammer, CB 75 and a few other nice things, had [mad]) Hope it's a help.