Thread: Hi all! I've got this antique Jointer - any good?

Welcome.

I wouldn’t mind getting a present like that

With a good clean, a check on the alignment of the beds and the old knives sharpened or the new blades fitted, it will be a great machine IMO.

What he said: a bit of a clean up, making sure the infeed and the outfeed are co-planar and the fence is square (and straight and not twisted in itself) you'll be just fine. Those tables are more generous than most under and over machines - you'll be fine once you learn the right technique.
I recommend watching some youtube videos on how to use a jointer. I got my lessons from a Fine Woodworking magazine
some decades ago. It's not too hard to pick up, but exceeds the scope of a post in the Welcome Wagon forum.

Best of luck, -Peter

I have a 60’s Paul Call jointer that was my fathers. it is no where near perfect but I don’t the money to buy a newer jointer with spiral head. So much better than no jointer.
You can buy new blades if needed from saw service places. They can cut them to any length you need.
If you have not used a jointer before, make sure you look at safety. My father lost the tops off 2 fingers year ago using the jointer.

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I have a 60’s Paul Call jointer that was my fathers. it is no where near perfect but I don’t the money to buy a newer jointer with spiral head. So much better than no jointer.
You can buy new blades if needed from saw service places. They can cut them to any length you need.
If you have not used a jointer before, make sure you look at safety. My father lost the tops off 2 fingers year ago using the jointer.

Welcome to the forum Tim.

Ross

Hi Tim and welcome to the forum. That is a a good solid machine and like the others say will make a good addition to your workshop. It's about the same vintage as the one I use. I dont see a safety guard but its easy to make a plywood one. With a good clean, sharp knives and properly set up it will do a good job. I would suggest new bearings at some stage on a machine that age but if it runs reasonably quiet then its ok for now. You can really tell by the squeal if they are shot. Plenty stuff on line on sharpening, setting up and getting the best out of your jointer. It will be hard during the lockdown getting anyone to come round to help but it gives you time to study up a bit and give it a clean up. To put things perspective a new modern version of that will cost about $800 and upwards and not be as well built.
Regards
John

It appears very similar to the Gilbro machine from around that time.
There has been discussion on the Gilbro machine on the forum so perhaps do a search for that thread as it should help you. I have found it and tried to add here but no luck. It is under "Gilbro Super Smoother" and dates back to Feb 2014. Hope that helps
As has been said above, you certainly need a guard over the blade to protect fingers.

G'Day & Welcome to a top forum "Tim"....
There are quite a stack members around Melbourne and cross Victoria plus the rest of the country.....
You'll find a heap of helpful & knowledgeable blokes & ladies on the forum and for most very willing to assist.
Make sure you show off your handiwork as everyone loves a photo, especially WIP [Work In Progress] photos with build notes.
Enjoy the forum.
Enjoy your woodwork.....
Cheers crowie

PS - Watch out for local Melbourne get togethers, great way to meet like minded forum members & network; once the lockdown has finished of course...

I'd definitely look at fitting a guard to it before use but otherwise it should be a good first machine once it's setup.

I'm thinking a Woodfast myself, I have the Gilbro super smoother and can see some obvious differences, though the general layouts are similar. There is nothing to indicate effective working width.

I suspect that the small badge at the end of the fence is a retailers mark rather than a manufacturers mark. For the manufacturers mark I would be looking at the 'badge' on the side of the machine between the cutter head and motor. I would be installing a guard before you do much work with it, it would use the swing away spring loaded type guard that would normally mount in a hole on the left side of the infeed table just ahead of the rebating support.

welcome to the forum, this machine is very similar to the jointer that I used as a apprentice cabinet maker in the early seventies and it was great to use with a GUARD, as stated by others there will be plenty of advice on how to run this successfully ,cheers and stay safe.

Welcome to the forum.
Make sure you get or make a guard for that jointer, it will not give you a second chance.

Regards
Keith