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  1. #1
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    Default Struggling a bit with Jointer, Thicknesser or Combo

    Hi folks. Would appreciate some assistance. Based NZ. Only really have Carbatec NZ to purchase from and based on their 'competitive' pricing they keep informing us of I'm guessing they know it. Similar to you wishing for USA prices. I wish I had Ozzy prices It seems to be 30 to 50% higher here for the same kit Carbatec Oz sell. Machinery house are also this side of the ditch but I've read some reviews of their kit and decided no at this time. Setting up a garage shop in a space about 5.5m x 6m. Long time woodworker ( hobbyist) with nice hand tools and not so nice machines. TS is a 22 year old Draper I bought in the UK as an example. So, after years of saving I'm about to grab a Sawstop Cabinet Saw, a dusty - Jet 1200DC Cartridge and last but not least - a jointer / thicknesser combo or individuals.

    Nearly bought the Dewalt 735 thicknesser for about $1700. Then realised a combo machine may tick off both boxes and save some space.

    Started at the JET-JPT260M for $3500 which has some excellent reviews..Then figured for $600 more I should splash out on the 12" model - JET-JPT310. Now i'm at the same 12" model with hellical cutter heads...ARGHHHH....

    I'm generally an invest now and have it for long type of guy. I also tend to shy away from chinese / homebrand clones etc - probably because anything unbranded made in china and sold in NZ seems to fall apart after 6 months. However, appreciate a lot of the Carbatec models and other brands are all clones and likely made in the same factory in China / Taiwan so might be well out on that thinking.

    I've read that Jet is a good / middle of the road investment as far as other brands go so any feedback from people that have used or own Jet or indeed other brands I may be able to source in NZ would be appreciated.

    It might even work out cheaper to buy in the UK, ship here, pay GST, customs etc and still have a significantly cheaper machine but then issues re warranty, damage etc.

    Thoughts appreciated re the JET's or would a Carbatec home model suit the needs.

    Thanks

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  3. #2
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    Jet/Powermatic (both the same OEM just a different colour) are near the top of the tree as far as Asian machines go and both are good machines generally.
    CHRIS

  4. #3
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    In my experience

    Carbatec - the only QA is done by the end user. You may get a good one, you may get a bad one. Toss a coin
    JET - some factory QA, but you may still have issues. Every JET machine I've purchased has required a LOT of tweaking to get it set up right. JPT-310, for example, tables completely out of alignment (not co-planar) on delivery. Tablesaw with one cast iron wing nowhere near flat, replacement required.
    Powermatic - pretty good QA. Friends have assorted Powermatic machines, and I don't think any have experienced issues. You pay for this, however

  5. #4
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    I'd take "Made in Taiwan" over "Made in China" any day of the week !!

  6. #5
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    I have the Jet JPT-310HH and am happy with it. I am very glad I bit the bullet and went with the helical heads; they do a great job/leave a great finish, are quiet, last a long time and it's one less thing to have to adjust / sharpen / worry about. I'm not sure how long the straight knives would last on Australian natives, but the carbide inserts hold up very well. I think if I had have gone with the straight knives I would have been looking at upgrade options as soon as the initial expenditure shock wore off.

    I did have to adjust my tables for co-planer but this wasn't too time consuming to do.

    I think the only things I would like that the Jet doesn't have is longer in-feed and out-feed tables (only option is a much more expensive combo like a Felder, or individual machines), a more robust fence / fence locking mechanism (I've bumped mine out of square a couple of times without immediately realizing, but not a big deal usually) and it would be good if it were easier to adjust the tables for co-planer along with the knives for snipe - I think some of the more expensive machines have a parallelogram style adjustment that makes life easier. However, overall I'm very happy with the machine and have not felt the need to upgrade at all. I was also initially looking at the JPT-260, carbatec models (much smaller, shorter and difficult to switch from planer to jointer) and the Woodfast stuff (essentially the same as the Jet) and am glad I ended up going with the 310HH which was a big stretch for me at the time. I think that for the price-bracket it's a good machine. Clearly there are better options like the Hammer etc, but they are also more money again.

    All the best with your decision mate.

    Cheers,

    Dom

  7. #6
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    Thanks for those thoughts. Powermatic for most of the stuff ( other than the TS) would be an ideal choice. I loved the Powermatic stuff from watching Woodsmith a few years back. However prices here are crazy and Carbatec NZ only stock a small selection and couldn't order in a Powermatic dusty I had identified. Other than Jet, everything else appears the same unbranded steel box, different paint and sticker. Am heading into Jacks.co.nz to have a look at the Hammer but budget may prevail. The initial 10K budget is looking closer to 15k

  8. #7
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    If you can rise to the Hammer A3-31 with Helical Head and Digital gauge, you will have a life time machine that will blow you away every time you use it. Otherwise the Jet 12" model is a great machine I hear good things about (I started looking at one, and ended with the Hammer).

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  9. #8
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    Second hand stuff? Helical heads might be a bit young on the market for there to be much 2nd hand around though.

    We like our helical heads over here mainly because of the nasty timbers, but do NZ timbers need helical? I don't know enough about them, but I'm given to thinking they are a bit more forgiving?

    Derek is right though - the A3 31 with Silent Head is a cracker! I'd suggest best-in-class. I bought a complete set of replacement cutters because they were a good price - at the current rate I won't be needing them for another 10 years......
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  10. #9
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    Thanks for all the help. Second hand in NZ seems to range from 40 years old, found in a barn, missing parts, might run and retails for 70% of a brand new machine or a 2 year old benchtop, hammered and 96% price of new machine. The rest are all 3 phase Trademe.co.nz is our main site for browsing stuff and it is pretty much empty other than the above or the overseas clones. A few old Ryobis benchtops make it on as well. Had a look at the Hammer A3 31 today in Jacks. Had a good chat with him about the 12 or 13 overseas clones on the shopfloor and he pretty much agreed they have a price point and therefore a performance point. The Hammer is $7500 but with a "special offer" came down to $6800. So..The journey has gone from $3K, then $5.7 with the Jet Hellical and now about $6.8K. The Mrs has given the green light. I'm now at the " am i in overkill mode" for a hobbyist who is starting out again in woodworking.Have I gone to the wrong end of the scale. I'll keep you posted and thanks again for the advice / experience so far.

  11. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gedc View Post
    The Hammer is $7500 but with a "special offer" came down to $6800. So..The journey has gone from $3K, then $5.7 with the Jet Hellical and now about $6.8K.
    Well that's about the same as they are here, assuming you're talking about the Silent Head A3 31 (i.e. spiral head). If you can afford it then that is absolutely the machine to get, without any doubt.

    Quote Originally Posted by Gedc View Post
    The Mrs has given the green light.
    Ummmmm, is there summink else you need?
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  12. #11
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    I started with Carbatec stuff then I move onto European gear... I have visited Machinery house as they are not far from where I am.

    Have you tried Jacks, Machines r us...etc?

    I am selling my Robland NX410 combination machine if you are interested... 5 years old, made in Belgium, 2.5m slider, 410mm Tersa cutter head. single phase. costed $24000NZD when new back in 2013. selling for $15k and have it on Trademe.

    Selling because I decided to make all my machinery 3 phase. my 3 phase saw arrived last week and bought a Felder J/P combo from Jacks. this is arriving this week. at the moment the combination machine is in a storeroom in East Tamaki.

    Here is a photo of my Robland.

    IMG_3085.jpg
    SCM L'Invincibile si X, SCM L'Invincibile S7, SCM TI 145EP, SCM Sandya Win 630, Masterwood OMB1V, Meber 600, Delta RJ42, Nederman S750, Chicago Pneumatics CPRS10500, Ceccato CDX12



  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gedc View Post
    However, appreciate a lot of the Carbatec models and other brands are all clones and likely made in the same factory in China / Taiwan so might be well out on that thinking.
    Be careful lumping Chinese and Taiwanese machines together; aside from them being two different countries, lots of the stuff out of Taiwan is genuinely good. We used to have a Taiwanese table saw at work for ripping/rough breakdown and it took an absolute flogging for 10+ years before the motor bearings died.

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gedc View Post
    I'm generally an invest now and have it for long type of guy.
    Very wise.
    Visit my website at www.myFineWoodWork.com

  15. #14
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    Carbatec is not your only option. You can try Chevpac - they actually used to be the agent for Jet before Carbatec took over.
    I remember spotting some nice Italian bandsaws there.
    You mention Jacks -- I feel that they are selling stuff at pharmacy prices. Their price on the Hammer/Felder was just ....
    Machineryhouse has some interesting goods, and deals. There is a Euro-style thicknesser that they sell, 15" iirc, that would've
    been my first choice except they didn't do spiral heads on them ... irony is, I ended up with a carbatec one with straight blades
    but I know there's someone in Queensland who will sell spiral heads (or at least used to, and the Grizzly machine is identical
    to the Carbatec 15" and they sell spiral heads also, but oh, the postage). (b.t.w. the Carbatec spiral head is inferior, mate has one
    and I'm not overly impressed with his). I'd rather go for 4 sided inserts for instance.
    You can also talk to Robertson and Sinclair in Auckland. They sell some good gear.

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    If you can rise to the Hammer A3-31 with Helical Head and Digital gauge, you will have a life time machine that will blow you away every time you use it. Otherwise the Jet 12" model is a great machine I hear good things about (I started looking at one, and ended with the Hammer).

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Yes, it is a absolute bargain when you consider it will serve you well for decades and will never be cheaper than today. I smile every time I wind the handle to a dimension on the gauge and it is within thou of what I want.
    CHRIS

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