Official Luthiers Forum!

I was wondering if anyone had a bench top jointer they were happy with.I was going to try the Delta, but couldn`t get some allen screws loose without wrecking them.Probably put on with an impact wrench.I heard some other folks had the same problem.
                        James

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I have a record No. 7 with a Hock blade that I'm happy with .

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

James:

I've got one called a Palmgren, model 84261. It's a 6.125", and it's been fantastic. They're a couple of hundred bucks on Amazon, but I bought mine locally, based on a friend's advice. On the Amazon site, 31 people have reviewed it, and it gets an average of 4.5 stars.

It's heavy, doesn't move around, and was simple to set up. The hard part was just wiping down all the parts from where they were oiled for shipping (it's cast iron). It has an impeller that sucks the chips down, and blows them out the side port for dust collection. I just ran a line from my primary dust collection tube, and I can run the jointer with 99% chip removal. It could be just as easily done with a shop vac. No issues at all. AND, out of the box it's close, very close, to a joint good enough for a top or back.

It's small, it's LOUD and you can't do big boards with it, nor would you want to. But for truing things up, getting the initial joint cuts close, jig building, brace stock cleaning, etc., I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

Bill

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

Thanks Bill.What store did you find it in in your area?Maybe someplace here in Nashville would have one.It sounds like what I`m looking for.
                      James

_________________
James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I, too, got this benchtop jointer, based on the Amazon reviews. I read that
it's the same as the Craftsman benchtop jointer, which can be found at
Sears. It's about $237. It is really heavy and solidly made. For my
purposes, it's great! One of the main uses I've found for it is squaring up my
3" by 4" neck blanks, for example.

_________________
Kathy Matsushita
San Jose, CA USA
http://theamateurluthier.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathy.matsushita

James, it was available at Northern Tool...although I ended up getting mine new, in the box, from a local fellow in the classifieds - for about 50 bucks less. A lucky find. And yes, it was my understanding that it was the same as the Craftsman.    

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

James, we used to have one of the delta's where I work. It was pretty
much worthless, if you ask me.

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

in my opinion, its just like any other tool you buy. you might be able to get by on the benchtop model (and no doubt, plenty of people do), but the next step up (which is quite a bit more money) is just so much better. i had the delta 6" bench top jointer for a couple of years and was totally frustrated by it. it works ok for short stock, so if all you are going to use it for is building guitars, it might work out ok. anything longer than a guitar neck and i would just forget it. honestly, the record no. 7 recommended by jim isnt a half bad idea. getting a neck true is a pretty big deal and if you are relying on a less than precise machine, things get ugly. just my humble opinion though. sounds like others have been impressed with the palmgren.

_________________
sweat the small stuff.

I bought the Shop-Fox a while ago and Like it very much.
It is very well made with a cast iron fence and accurate.
It works well for neck blanks and other small tasks.I
think its a lot like the Palmgren that Bill mentioned.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Dave, unless I'm wrong it's is exactly like the Palmgren. Looks identical..right down to the little detachable plastic piece coming out of the dust port.

_________________
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

A lot of those jointers are the EXACT same machine manufactured for different labels.... mine is a Craftsman and its the same EXACT model as the pic....

_________________
Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Two machines are often made at opposite ends of the same factory.

They must be made at the same place then, and sold to the different companys.Anyway,It is a good bench top jointer IMO.

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I just got a used 5.2 inch Craftsman for $80.00, and I will sell my 4 inch craftsman for $60 to pay for most of it. I am now looking at how to sharpen the blades, and align the blades, as it was used to true up 2X4s apparently, and apparently he didnt use the saftey pusher sticks for the last one (is that dried blood drops on the surface plate?).

The guy had a real nice pro delta 6 inch he tried to push on me for about $350.00

 

Its belt driven, but the blades need sharpening, almost not worth it, but I saw it as a near even trade for an extra inch of width.