Another which jointer thread

[Pearo]

I have been reading and researching jointers and have compiled a list. I am chasing a jointer that will be suitable for aussie hardwoods. I typically using timber up to about 2000mm length but occasionally do something a little longer.

After much reading, most people seem to suggest the spiral head cutters as a better way to go, so I am tending to lean toward them. The laguna machines do look good. Is it worth even considering the parallelogram jointer for the $1000 odd? Looking at some reviews on the US sites seems to suggest these machines become problematic after a while with alignment issues.

Anyway, I welcome any tips or pointers, and maybe suggestions of machines I have over looked. I will take a day next week maybe and go inspect them all in real life. At this stage I am leaning toward either the Carbatec CTJ-350X or the Laguna 8" Wedgeband machine. The Laguna has the edge given the larger motor and cutter head.

Brand	Model	Bed Length	Motor	Cutter	Weight	Price
HAFCO	P-200H	1785	2HP	4 blade	184kg	1089
LEDACRAFT	MB-203	1943	1.5HP	3 blade	???	1276
CARBATEC	CTJ-350	1950	1.5HP	3 blade	230kg	1299
JET	JJ8CS	1690	2HP	not specified	189kg	1599
LEDACRAFT	MB-203S	1943	1.5HP	not specified	???	1694
CARBATEC	CTJ-350X	1950	1.5HP	40 cutter spiral	230kg	1999
LAGUNA	8" Wedgebed	1803	2HP	54 cutter spiral	231kg	2250
LAGUNA	8" Parellelogram	2108	3HP	54 cutter spiral	248kg	3190

[Pearo]

No ones got any opinion on the parallelogram jointer v the standard one?

[DoctorBobski]

I don't have any comment on DT versus parrellelogram as I have only used a DT. Parrallelogram are supposed to be easier to adjust especially if you frequently change depth of cut. I'm assuming you already have a planer to go with the jointer. If not you might want to consider a minimax or hammer combo. In my shop I have a 6 inch DT jointer and 15 inch planer (both upgraded to HH which you should definitely get) and have been seriously considering selling them off to get a combo to save on space. The downside is I lose a little time in converting the machine from one mode to another. As I'm not in a production environment I don't think this will be a problem. Just food for thought.

[Pearo]

I don't have any comment on DT versus parrellelogram as I have only used a DT. Parrallelogram are supposed to be easier to adjust especially if you frequently change depth of cut. I'm assuming you already have a planer to go with the jointer. If not you might want to consider a minimax or hammer combo. In my shop I have a 6 inch DT jointer and 15 inch planer (both upgraded to HH which you should definitely get) and have been seriously considering selling them off to get a combo to save on space. The downside is I lose a little time in converting the machine from one mode to another. As I'm not in a production environment I don't think this will be a problem. Just food for thought.

Got a 15 inch thicknesser here already which I am looking to convert to helical. I forgot about hammer, might go take a look at what they have to offer.

[Austin_Turner]

I forgot about hammer, might go take a look at what they have to offer.

A visit to felder is a dangerous thing...but I'd second the combo, wide jointers are great, I wouldn't go less than 260mm, 310 would be nice though. If the hammer is a bit much, check the jet 310HH.

[pjt]

I have the CT long bed 300 wide jointer with the parralelogram table movement system and I've had no issues with it other than when I first set it up in the shop, the tables where out but that could have been me as I dropped it on it's side when I was moving it into position I found the adjustment system to work quite nicely, (as long as you take BOTH grub screws out)



Pete

[Pearo]

Just thought I would bump this thread now my shed has been approved by council.

At this stage, I am leaning toward the dearest laguna offering, the parallelogram jointer, but the price is scaring me a little. Can anyone comment on the life of the spiral head cutter inserts when planing aussie hardwoods?

I have looked at hammer on the web, and they have a 4hp offering that looks nice too, but I have no price on that yet. Probably wont get a chance to get out and look at the hammer stuff till mid Feb.

[pjt]

The carbide inserts last way longer than HSS or the 18% blades, yrs ago I machined about 2000lm of dry iron bark boards on one set of edges, whereas I could do about 100lm on the HSS blades before they gave up, I still have the same set of cutters in the thicky, the edges aren't sharp but will still do a fair job of hardwood but the softwoods come out a bit furry.



Pete

[Ticky]

Pearo,

I swear by Leda machinery, & I have quite a bit of it, but that said, I would'nt buy any of the machines on your research list.

There are often old to very old Jointers on Gumtree & ebay, & I would & did buy an old 1/2 to 1 ton heavy cast jointer over a new one any day.

Most of these bigass jointers are 3phase & often go for under $500, because not a lot of people have 3phase these days, so they have little value. There are new 3 & 5hp single phase motors on ebay for very reasonable prices, just a couple hundred bucks.

So now your looking at a 300mm or greater machine with a 3hp or greater motor that will plane Jarrah all day, for under $1000.
That should leave a few bob in the kitty for the Spiral Head Cutter.

As for the life of the cutters, they are Tungsten as opposed to High Speed Steel, and you get 4 blades on every cutter. Also, if you accidentally hit a nail with a set of straight blades, it's resharpen time and at say $30/ blade, not much change out of $100.

Same nail with a spiral blade, say it chips 3 cutters, shift 1 cutter to the right, leave the next cutter where it is & move the 3rd cutter to the left & you dont even have to rotate them, just keep using them with the chipped cutter now UN-Aligned, & rotate all of the cutters when they get blunt.

I would suggest, the expected life span from a spiral cutter set could be easily as high as 10 times that of High Speed Steel, possibly more.

Steve

[tgbrooks]

Just thought I would bump this thread now my shed has been approved by council.

At this stage, I am leaning toward the dearest laguna offering, the parallelogram jointer, but the price is scaring me a little. Can anyone comment on the life of the spiral head cutter inserts when planing aussie hardwoods?

I have looked at hammer on the web, and they have a 4hp offering that looks nice too, but I have no price on that yet. Probably wont get a chance to get out and look at the hammer stuff till mid Feb.

Pearo,

The Woodworking club I am a member of has a Powermatic 20" wide thicknesser with the Shellix spiral cutter head (138 cutters). We have had it for about 2 years and we are about to rotate the cutters to the third edge. The machine gets used (and abused) every day with a variety of timber, most of it hardwood - we easily manage to fill one 200 litre bag with shavings at least every 5 days or so.. Even after a year of daily used it still produces a good finish, but we do notice that the noise level is higher towards the year end. Also the machine labours more with dull cutters. Previously we had a 15" generic thicknesser with 3 straight knives that needed changing at least monthly, but because it was such a pain to align the cutters it was often every 3 months or so - and with dull blades the finish was rubbish and the noise was incredible. So as a club with 90 members (about 30 very active) we expect to get 4 years uses out of the cutters. An individual hobby user could expect many years use - an just as well - . at about $7 per cutter it will cost about $1000 to replace all cutters.


Trevor

[pjt]

Like Ticky said, I also reckon x10 times longer would be a fair thing.




Pete

[clear out]

I agree with the idea of an older industrial machine but would retrofit a new cutterhead to a 12 to 16 inch ide machine.
You can also use a VDF if you don't have 3 phase on.
You would be looking at brands like Barker or Wolfenden (Oz made).
Wadkin, Robinson, SCM, Danckaert, White etc.
Lurk on the antique tools section here or on the Canadian Woodworking Forum (Vintage machinery)
I may have an SCM 500 under and over available if your near Sydney.
H.

Sorry I misread your price point.
Still would look at old stuff but maybe a 10 inch Woodfast.
The local MS picked up a 16 inch Wadkin a few years back x SRA workshop Goulburn for $1K.
It has skewed cutters that handle hardwood ok.

[Ticky]

This is my $400 12" Wadkin

Picked this up cheap

A lot of work but not much money. I replaced most of the bolts with new ones, but the bearings were fine & the Blades sharpened up

ok. I would love a Helix set for it buy it is out of my price range.

Steve

[Yanis]

I have been reading and researching jointers and have compiled a list. I am chasing a jointer that will be suitable for aussie hardwoods. I typically using timber up to about 2000mm length but occasionally do something a little longer.

... At this stage I am leaning toward either the Carbatec CTJ-350X or the Laguna 8" Wedgeband machine. The Laguna has the edge given the larger motor and cutter head.

Did you end up buying the jointer? I am looking at the CJT-350X myself.

[Pearo]

Did you end up buying the jointer? I am looking at the CJT-350X myself.

Not yet, buts its on the cards very soon. I put the last coat of paint down on the new shed floor today, so I can start putting all my machines in very soon. I am still leaning toward the CJT-350X at this point. When I get a chance, I will go take a good look at both the carbatec and laguna offerings.