Tools and Tool Buying

[Hailey Faith McDougall]

I am a beginner wood worker and am planning on getting into building furniture and cabinets. Was wondering what size jointer would you recommend. Was looking at getting an 8" thinking it would be big enough but thought I should just go ahead and get a 10" just in case I needed it. So should I go ahead and get the 10 or should the * be plenty.

[jandsjacobson99]

Well, I guess it depends on both your budget and your needs.  Most people find themselves quite content with an 8", but I suppose that has a lot to do with the price jump to get to a 10".  I myself see very few boards out there that are over 8", so an 8" made the most sense for me.  If you have a deep wallet I suppose I would spring for the 10 just because.  As a beginner woodworker, however, I would think that there are many tools that you are needing, and the money saved could go other places.  Come to think of it, I don't know that I've seen a 10" jointer; are you talking about one of the combination jointer/planer machines?  If that's the case, I'd seriously consider that as a possibility.

[knotscott]

When it comes to nearly any stationary power tool, more capacity is nearly always a plus if you have the budget and the space.  A larger tool of comparable quality will have additional mass, and will almost always handle the same projects as the smaller tool more easily, plus you've got the extra capacity when needed. 

There are likely to be many times when you will have rough sawn stock between 8" and 10", but there is a point where you will simply need to draw the line on size and cost.  While a 10" jointer would be wonderful if I had the space and budget for it, I don't think it's worth passing up other needed tools for.  If the upgrade from 8" to 10" means you'll go without a TS or a planer, then that's a huge sacrifice for the sake of the jointer upgrade, and is an "executive" type decision that only you can make. The downside to a smaller jointer means you'll have to rip a wide board down to managable widths, but that's a common acceptable practice for many of us. 

Another consideration for any upgraded tool is electrical requirements.  Often additional capacity is accompanied with additional horsepower which requires additional electrical supply.  Be sure your shop is setup to handle the amperage and voltage requirements of your planned acquisitions.

Good luck, and please let us know your final decision.

[From the Forty]

I know that I lot of people would disagree with me on this, but I would take an 8" with a helical head over a 10" with straight knives. The finish with the helical head is so much better. I work with a lot of knotty and figured stock so it makes a difference to me and may not to you. That being said I would not take a 6" helical over a 8" straight knife jointer because 6" (i had one) is just on the small side. For the record, I have a 12" Grizzly with their carbide insert head and I really like it so far.

Tool buying is fun!

Geoff

[jandsjacobson99]

Yeah, a 12" would be awfully nice!  But I can buy three of the 8" straight knife for the same cost! 

For the record, having an 8" jointer does not mean that you cannot flatten wider stock.  With a planer sled you can flatten anything that can fit in your planer (minimum of 12 1/2" for even the smallest planers).

[mathisonr1]

Ditto what Knotscott said. If you have the room, the money and you don't have to go without something else, Bigger is better.

Rick