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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    Australia
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    11

    Default New jointer. Carbatec vs Rikon vs Woodfast

    Hi all. Looking at a new 6” or 8” jointer with helical head. Carbatec seem to be a couple of hundred more expensive but do come with a built in mobile base. Woodfast looks very much like Rikon but I’d the cheapest option. I want to join boards up to 1800mm in length and use it to straighten lengths of 90x45 and 100x100 for table supports and legs etc. what do you guys think is my best option. May nit really need the 8” width but probably that table length. Have a carbatec spiral head thicknesser 13” and happy with it, but new to jointers so a bit of advice would be great. Cheers, Mick.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Cairns
    Age
    23
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    9

    Default

    Yeah look nick I’m sort of in the same situation as you I have a c’tec 13” Thicknesser and dusty but I’m in need of a jointer I posted an add up about this and think I may go with the woodfast the woodfast has more power which means you can take a deeper cut and no it won’t heart the jointer if you use it for 8 hrs straight the woodfast is about $2200 with free shipping from one of the woodworking suppliers in au the Carbatec one is around $3200 after shipping to cairns the Rikon I don’t know but I think it is similar price to woodfast if you have the Carbatec one at $3200 suits the budget go for it everybody knows it is nicer to have all the machines in your shop the same brand but the long bed on he jointer does not matter I can guarantee that if I were you I would go for the woodfast it is about $1000 cheaper has a stronger motor and has is built soldidly

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Rosslyn Park, Adelaide
    Posts
    182

    Default

    Are you sure you are comparing "Like with Like"?
    I tried looking at the different models as I have a longer term interest in a similar purchase, and the Woodfast model for that price was a Spiral Head, but not Helical. There was a Woodfast Helical model but that was another $1,000 plus.

    There are also a number of models out there that claim to be Helical or Spiral but just use segmented cutters, all in a straight line.
    I am sure that each of these may be better than just 2 or 3 straight blades, as long as you know what you are getting.

    Regards

    Bauldy

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    In between houses
    Posts
    1,784

    Default

    the long bed on a jointer DOES matter, a lot.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Kew, Vic
    Posts
    1,064

    Default

    Not the bigger models being discussed here but relevant in the sense of being about a new jointer.

    Three weeks ago our Men’s shed bought the new Carbatec 8” benchtop jointer:

    CARBATEC 200MM BENCHTOP JOINTER W/SEGMENTED HEAD | Thicknessers - Carbatec

    Note it’s a segmented head not true spiral.

    Early days, but based on my experience so far there are two things I don’t like. One is the aluminium fence which feels flimsy to me and the other is the shortness of the bed. Both just personal views but enough to keep me from buying one for my own workshop.

    Brian

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2001
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    10,810

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Chri8.05 View Post
    Yeah look nick I’m sort of in the same situation as you I have a c’tec 13” Thicknesser and dusty but I’m in need of a jointer I posted an add up about this and think I may go with the woodfast the woodfast has more power which means you can take a deeper cut and no it won’t heart the jointer if you use it for 8 hrs straight the woodfast is about $2200 with free shipping from one of the woodworking suppliers in au the Carbatec one is around $3200 after shipping to cairns the Rikon I don’t know but I think it is similar price to woodfast if you have the Carbatec one at $3200 suits the budget go for it everybody knows it is nicer to have all the machines in your shop the same brand but the long bed on he jointer does not matter I can guarantee that if I were you I would go for the woodfast it is about $1000 cheaper has a stronger motor and has is built soldidly
    Mate ... you either need Ritalin, or learn about full stops

    Care to try again?

    Regards from Perth

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

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    2,205

    Default

    As one old fart to another, the bloke is 19.
    Get used to it.
    H.
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2019
    Location
    Cairns
    Age
    23
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Yikes honey my woodworking guild has a hammer a341https://www.machines4u.com.au/view/advert/Hammer-A3-41A-by-Felder/30123/ we only use it for jointing it is a 16” jointer and has an allimiuim fence on it as well when I myself first used this I thought it was going to be the biggest issue ever turns out as long as it is square to the bed and you don’t move it or push up to it to much it will stay square and I’ve never had it go out of square for me

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Thank you this is good advice.. I am a novice and have a small workspace, so was looking at this benchtop jointer for space more than anything. I did like the idea of the wider 200mm over the 150mm and was hoping the extension arms would be enough to solve the shortness of the bed. Have you had any more thoughts about this over the past few months? (Assuming you have been able to get in and use it with all the COVID dramas). Or has this just confirmed your initial assessment?

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