Thread: Which jointer should I buy?

Can't comment on any of those as I've only used the industrial stuff at work and trade school (some of us have it tough ), but the usual rule is buy the biggest one you can. Also, make sure the head is helical and not spiral; the terms are often used incorrectly and there is a BIG difference. A spiral head is basically just straight knives chopped up; you get the noise reduction, but no better finish. A helical head has the inserts at a slight angle so that you get a shearing/slicing cut which reduces tearout on tricky grain (you can even run endgrain, but you'll send it blunt very quickly) as well as cutting down the noise

Spiral: http://image.made-in-china.com/2f0j0...-803-1060-.jpg
Helix: https://d2culxnxbccemt.cloudfront.ne...5/01/helix.jpg

You will almost definitely pay more for the helical head, but it's worth it,

While I also see a big difference between true helical and spiral heads, my preference for a jointer would be Tersa knives. If you have three phase power I would tend to suggest looking at second hand industrial equipment rather then new lightweights: there are some bargains out there and the heavy commercial gear is built to last forever.

Tersa is still just straight knives, you can change them in 10 seconds but what's the finish like compared to helical?

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Tersa is still just straight knives, you can change them in 10 seconds but what's the finish like compared to helical?

The ten second change out means they are no excuses for them not being sharp straight knives. The finish isn't as good as a sharp helical can be if the wood is prone to tear out; but it's good enough provided you get the feed speed and blade angle right for the material, and IMHO a better finish then a half sharp helical. Depends on the useage I guess - blade life is related to volume regardless of knife type and how much volume you run determines how often you need to change them out

Originally Posted by Glider

The current candidates are:

Hafco Long Bed P200H helical
Carbatec Industrial Long Bed CTJ350 helical
Jet JJ-8HH helical
Powermatic PM-P5882HH helical

mick

Mick,

I've just been looking up the four Jointers that you've listed. I've found the Hafco P200H, and the Carbatec CTJ350.

However, both the Jet JJ-8HH and the Powermatic PM-P5882HH don't appear to be models that are sold in Australia. To my knowledge, Carbatec are the sole import and distribution agents in Australia for both Jet and Powermatic, and neither the Jet JJ-8HH or the Powermatic PM-P5882HH appear in Carbatec's product listings (unless Carbatec's web pages are not up to date).

Carbatec list the Powermatic PM-PJ882HH, and they also list the Jet JET-JJ6CSDX, on their web site.

I owned three USA manufactured Powermatic machines when I lived in Canada for a few years. I found the Powermatic machines were very good, precise, and accurately built. However, my machines were Powermatics manufactured in the USA, whereas it is my understanding that in recent years Powermatic machines are all Asia made, but, (I may be proved wrong) so I am unsure whether the manufacturing quality for Powermatic has remained at a high standard.

Out of the four brands that you've listed, if the Powermatic is in your price range, then that would be my recommendation.

Hope that helps,

RoyG

Originally Posted by Glider

Having sold my old no-name two blader, I'm in the market for a new jointer. The prices for 6" ones are appealing but bitter experience tells me I would curse the decision the first time I want to joint a 7" plank. Being mechanically challenged, I want a machine which will remain true and accurate without the need for future adjustment or shimming. My workshop is in the country so service calls are awkward to say the least. BTW, I am a self taught amateur making tables, cupboards etc. mostly in solid timber. I prefer helical for the sound and longer life blades.

The current candidates are:

Hafco Long Bed P200H helical
Carbatec Industrial Long Bed CTJ350 helical
Jet JJ-8HH helical
Powermatic PM-P5882HH helical

There's a lot of experience on this forum which I would love to tap.

mick

Hi Mick

Forget longer beds. How often do you joint really long boards? Usually we break them down to the length of the work.

Wider is better. 10" is great, and 12" is a real bonus. You will find this far more efficient than using a thicknesser to joint wide boards.

The cheapest way to this end is a combination machine. The cheaper ones come in both 10" and 12", and these are probably in the same range as a Powermatic jointer. With some this is a helix head option, which is really worth it if you can afford the extra: better finish, can plane in any direction, and much, much quieter.

Incidentally, for interest, I have an article on jointer vs thicknesser in the latest edition of Popular Woodworking.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I've looked into the variations with interest and have always left confused as the exact definitions and various labelled images.
Your link "Spiral" has the image labelled "Helical" and your link "Helix" has the image labelled "Helix"
Which one is the Helical and which one is the Spiral re your post to make sure to buy Helical.

TIA Peter

The link I have labelled spiral is a perfect example of the terms not being used correctly. The labels I have used are the correct ones.

EDIT: Just to clarify: They are technically both helical as they are 3D shapes, but in the context of labelling the 2 different types of cutter they are different.

Originally Posted by Lappa

Which one is the Helical and which one is the Spiral re your post to make sure to buy Helical.

They are as Elan described in his text. The pic labelled helical in his spiral link is misleading, but you can see that the blades are not slightly off parallel as he described. The Helical blades are a few degrees off (perhaps 5°) which is what helps them to sheer (kinda like a skewed block plane)

Originally Posted by John.G

The ten second change out means they are no excuses for them not being sharp straight knives. The finish isn't as good as a sharp helical can be if the wood is prone to tear out; but it's good enough provided you get the feed speed and blade angle right for the material, and IMHO a better finish then a half sharp helical. Depends on the useage I guess - blade life is related to volume regardless of knife type and how much volume you run determines how often you need to change them out

If I am given the choice again, I will still buy a Tersa.

I have a 410mm Tersa on my jointer/combo

Originally Posted by Albert

If I am given the choice again, I will still buy a Tersa.

I have a 410mm Tersa on my jointer/combo

Have you had a helical or spiral Albert? It may also be a difference in the hardness of timbers being used/available. I've put some pretty nasty hard & figured Eucy through a helical head (Hammer A3 31) with very little tearout, and could still talk to myself (as one does) at the same time.

Furthermore, I'm still on the first faces of the carbide cutters 2½ years later (but lowish use) and have gone over countless staple legs in recycled timber (floorboards) and more nails than I care to admit. Two teeth have been chipped and turned.

Dust extraction is also better (AFAIK) because the chips are so much smaller. There are many reasons to consider segmented heads (which covers both types - I think), apart from just the finish.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

The link I have labelled spiral is a perfect example of the terms not being used correctly. The labels I have used are the correct ones.

EDIT: Just to clarify: They are technically both helical as they are 3D shapes, but in the context of labelling the 2 different types of cutter they are different.

so Helix = Helical?

Originally Posted by Lappa

so Helix = Helical?

Yes. Helix = noun, Helical = adjective

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Yes. Helix = noun, Helical = adjective

i understand the grammatical variations, however, your earlier post referred to terms not being used correctly so I sought clarification.