SP_Flip
29th May 2009, 06:54 PM
I recently purchased a Carba-tec CTJ-196 jointer. I thought I'd give it a quick review...
This is the short table 6" Deluxe unit. I wandered around checking out jointer after jointer. Too expensive, awkward fences. I eventually settled on this unit. And I'm really pleased.
The tables were flat to within a thou. and in the 0 position they were coplanar to within a couple of thou. For what I do, that's more than good enough (and it's very good - period).
I particularly like the fence mechanism on this jointer. It's simple to use, and easy to slide & lock (I usually move the fence progressive back when I have a lot of edges to joint in a probably worthless effort to even the knife wear). Setting the stops was fiddly (the usual screw & nut-as-a-lock mechanism you get on low cost machinery).
Chip extraction absolutely needs a dust collector to work properly, or the chips will just block up in the chute. With a modest collector, though (mine's a 2hp) it works fine.
The infeed table height adjuster is simpler to use, but quite 'hard' to depress the unlocking lever. I need to find a little bit of time to look at it and adjust that out if possible.
The rolling cabinet works well.
All in all the issues above are minor at most. I really like this jointer. I've been using it heavily over the past two weeks, and it's done a sterling job. Of course, if you have the room a longer table is always better, but for those like myself whose workshops are "space challenged", it's a brilliant compromise. I haven't noticed any disadvantage to the short table at all for normal furniture work .. it's probably going to be more noticeable if you're working with 3m lengths of timber!
Phil
This is the short table 6" Deluxe unit. I wandered around checking out jointer after jointer. Too expensive, awkward fences. I eventually settled on this unit. And I'm really pleased.
The tables were flat to within a thou. and in the 0 position they were coplanar to within a couple of thou. For what I do, that's more than good enough (and it's very good - period).
I particularly like the fence mechanism on this jointer. It's simple to use, and easy to slide & lock (I usually move the fence progressive back when I have a lot of edges to joint in a probably worthless effort to even the knife wear). Setting the stops was fiddly (the usual screw & nut-as-a-lock mechanism you get on low cost machinery).
Chip extraction absolutely needs a dust collector to work properly, or the chips will just block up in the chute. With a modest collector, though (mine's a 2hp) it works fine.
The infeed table height adjuster is simpler to use, but quite 'hard' to depress the unlocking lever. I need to find a little bit of time to look at it and adjust that out if possible.
The rolling cabinet works well.
All in all the issues above are minor at most. I really like this jointer. I've been using it heavily over the past two weeks, and it's done a sterling job. Of course, if you have the room a longer table is always better, but for those like myself whose workshops are "space challenged", it's a brilliant compromise. I haven't noticed any disadvantage to the short table at all for normal furniture work .. it's probably going to be more noticeable if you're working with 3m lengths of timber!
Phil