Thread: Carba-tec Jointer

Congratulations on your purchase Pete. I have been watching the thread with interest to see what advice you were receiving because I am interested in the same machine. Let us know how you get on with assembly and setting the machine up to make dust. I would also be interested in your assessment of noise level and whether the machine is fitted with an induction motor or not. The wheels at the bottom of the cabinet are also of interest and the mobility of the unit despite it's weight.


Regards from Adelaide
Trevor

Hi Trevor,

Congrats on your latest acquisition!

Like most tools with blades in them, first check that they are set correctly (invest in a decent blade alingment tool, preferably one of the magnetic ones), and secondly get a spare set (18% tungsten is good), and probably most important of all get the tables co-planar and level with the in-feed one at the top (or close to it) of its max. height.

I've found the depth of cut scale to be, at best, indicative. Do a few trial runs and see how you go. Also, I always check the back fence's angle to the bed before starting. Nothing more frustrating than making wedges :eek:

Dust (chip, really) collection is a big issue with this type of machine as they throw out a huge amount of debris, so either get a big bucket to place under the waste outlet, or a decent size (2hp up) DC to collect the debris.

Noise isn't really an issue - at least compared to the thicknesser :eek: .

Let us all know how you get on

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

Hi Trevor,

Congrats on your latest acquisition!

Steve
Thanks for your interest and advice but it's Pete who has just aquired the new machine. I WANT ONE TOO.

Trevor

Originally Posted by TrevorOwen

Steve
Thanks for your interest and advice but it's Pete who has just aquired the new machine. I WANT ONE TOO.

Trevor

Whoops! There I go pointing at the wrong thread entry again! Baaad Bassoon

Found the first hurdle after unpacking the base and doing an inventory of all the bits. The elevated on/off switch and drop down wheel are a new design feature so they don't appear in the instructions at all, however installing them is pretty intuitive. The wheel assembly is attached to the base and secured by two bolts and another slightly smaller one at 90 degrees. Annoyingly, one of the larger bolt holes in the base does not line up with the assembly (by a good 2-3mm). The choice is now to either go through the annoyance of packing up the base and getting a replacement or file/drill the hole to proper alignment which might void the warrantee. The instructions are only good for identifying all the bits on a fully assembled machine. There are only one or two rudimentary suggestions (usually incorrect) as to how some parts go together. Also seems to be missing two small nuts & bolts to secure the drive guard to the base, no problem there. I was also glad to see that it is a 10amp plug and I don't have to install a 15amp outlet just yet. Can't wait to get this bad boy together.

Cheers
Pete

Sounds like most things are OK so far Pete. Holes out of alignment are a pest but can usually be overcome without compromising the assembly. I had a look at the Grizzly manual which seemed quite detailed, but of course they are not the same machine, although similar. Keep us posted on progress and the ultimate "test drive".

Regards from Adelaide
Trevor

Originally Posted by Packrat Pete

The deed is done, the new toy has arrived in the workshop. Murray, you were certainly right about the carba-tec manual, it's chook-poo. With any luck I should have it assembled by May. For the experienced ones, are there any tricks or traps I should watch out for??

Cheers

Pete.

Pete, I think the only tricky bit was the fiddling around with one of the hold-down bolts - reaching up and under.... it took a while, otherwise very straightforward.

Re setting the knives; mine arrived spot on out of the box. On the first few sticks I put over it, the finish was soooo clean that the Boards sucked themselves onto the outfeed table. I noted somewhere (a US review) the comment "whatever they are doing at the factory setting the knives, don't change a thing". I agree. May..... that is a long time off, bet you got it up and running already! Regards

For those that are still comtemplating the Carba-tec jointer I thought I would just finalise the saga as I finally got to use it 'With intent' just today. I overcame the hole mis-alignment problem with judicious application of a round file after first making sure that it was not going to harm my warrantee in any way. Don't be impatient as I was and do it all yourself. I'm sure I could have got it together in half the time if I'd shanghaied the teenaged eating machine to help with the grunt work. My fears that I was going to be short in the nuts and bolts department disappeared as I found that they did not all come in one packet. A lot of the bolts were pre-installed in their proper place, a fact not mentioned in the Carba-tec "Instruction Manual". Also, the Grizzly model that is identical to the Carba-tec 6" long bed is the G0490. I used an orange based general purpose cleaner to remove all the protective oil and then paste wax on the shiny bits (fence and bed). I adjusted the infeed and outfeed tables to where they should be and when I pressed the go button it fired up as advertised and ran smooth and whisper quiet. I ran a piece of jarrah over the top and could not believe the glass smooth finish. I'm going to love this toy. Thanks for the advice.

Cheers
Pete.

Just a footnote:

It's very common for many of the fasteners and even some other pieces referred to in the so-called manuals to actually be already in place.

This practice has led me in to a merry dance a few times now, so I always have a good rummage amongst the bits 'n pieces and check the larger items before howling at the vendors...

I have had the CTJ150 for a month or so and just love it ... my only modification is with the elevated on/off switch, the big OFF flap vibrates and flaps around (suppose that is why it is a 'flap') so I stuck some spongey double sided stickey between the underlying off switch and the flap ... no more floppy flap!!!

I also recently bought Carbatec's new CTJ3501 bandsaw ... from the same Chinese factory as the CTJ150 ... I am very please with it as well. Carbatec solved the problem of a dodgy manual, by not providing one at all! But being an old Meccano man from my youth ... no problems!!

Cheers,

Zoot Esq.