Thread: Jointers under $1000

I would certainly consider any of them that has the helical head. This takes away the need to adjust blades when changing or sharpening them. If any of them have the spiral helical head that is even better. I converted mine from the old blade system to a spiral helical head recently and couldn't be happier.
The way manufacturers describe their heads can be quite confusing as some will say they have helical heads and others will say a spiral head and often they mean the same thing.

My write up on the 200mm carbatec is Carbatec 8" - 200mm Benchtop Jointer review this also has a link to the 6" version review.

With such a wide options list it comes more down to just how much space do you have to put a long bed floor standing unit or do you need a bench mount.

Certainly glad I got the 200mm over the 150 versions.... I would not trade the width just to get cast iron on a 6" BUT and it's a big but if I had the money and the space then a 8" cast iron table model with some form of spiral head would take the bench units place.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

I would certainly consider any of them that has the helical head.

I am on a budget and helical heads certainly pumps up the price. What is more important?, the type of cutters or what the tables and fence are made from. I could always upgrade to helical cutters; from research, they are around $600.00.

Look for a good secondhand one, I bought this for $600, it does everything I need, easily.

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Look for a good secondhand one, I bought this for $600, it does everything I need, easily.

Thanks Aussiephil,
That was a good review. Looks like I might get one as well. Cheers

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

look for a good secondhand one, i bought this for $600, it does everything i need, easily.

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look for a good secondhand one, i bought this for $600, it does everything i need, easily.

240v?

Originally Posted by Treecycle

240v?

no it’s 3 phase. However, the motor is standard size 2 hp, which I can buy in 240 v for about $200, and easily change over if I needed to, then onsell the original motor for $80 or so. Still a cheap, solid, no nonsense machine for the money. I have 3 phase in my current workspace so it’s fine.

Bit late but I have the Carbatec 6 inch benchtop jointer and I'm really happy with it, was very accurate out of the box and needed very little adjustment and the cut quality is really good. For the price and the use I get from it, I'm happy.
Only thing I would say is that if you can afford the 8 inch Carbatec, go with that. I haven't found anything yet where I haven't been able to get away with the 6 inch, but the 8 would be just that little bit nicer