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Is this 6" Delta jointer a good deal?
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10102&t=14773		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  BruceHerrmann [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:45 am ]
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Just found this locally, new blades, set up, the guy says he got an 8" so does not need this one.  220.00.  Does that seem fair or overpriced?  Seems like I've seen a lot of you guys use Delta jointers.  I'd appreciate you opinions.


Thanks


Bruce
Author:  FishtownMike [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:51 am ]
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Bruce i would recomend you try it out. i don't think the guy would have a problem with that if he's honest. delta does make good tools. especially the older delta machines. The price isn't bbad if it works fine. new 6 inch deltas are going for about $400.00.
Author:  BruceHerrmann [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:57 am ]
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Thanks, good idea.  He said he made a jig for setting up the blades and would walk me through the set-up.  Seems like a good guy on the phone, we'll see.  Thanks again.


Bruce
Author:  Alain Lambert [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:13 am ]
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The tables look short to me. How long are they? The longer the better.
I have a similar and the tables are 42" long total.
You need a 3/4HP motor at least .

The price is good, used 6" jointer are going around $300 around here.
Author:  BruceHerrmann [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:23 am ]
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This is a 32" table with a 1 hp motor.  Does the table length make it less likely to be useful?  I can see where a longer table could be a big benefit, small shop size in my case, might make the shorter table a plus but not at the expense of accuracy.....
Author:  Alain Lambert [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:38 am ]
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For guitar work this is OK. Longer table make it easier to get straigth wood. But for short pieces ( 3-4 ft), it is OK
I have worked several years with a 4" jointer which had sort tables and I could managed.
Both tables are adjustable which is good.
Go for it!
Author:  Don Williams [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:42 am ]
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Watch your fingers....
Author:  David Collins [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:46 am ]
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That's a really short table. I suppose it depends on what you'll be joining on
it though. $220 seems steep to me for something like that, but I may be
basing that on the fact that most of those I see for sale are in such a sad
state of maintenance. If it's an old Rockwell Delta, and it really has been
trued up (which is usually the big if), and it has new blades than it may in
fact be a good deal. My old shopmate just sold his Powermatic 60A 8"
jointer for I think around $1300, and that was a great old machine.

Go check it out with, equipped with at least a good straight edge and
square. If it's set up well and you aren't joining any terribly long boards than
it may be a very good deal.
Author:  Blanchard [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:14 pm ]
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I have the "long bed" version of that machine. It is a good solid machine. I did have some trouble with it though. I bought mine used in 1985 and after using it for a few years, and having a hard time getting good joints, I discovered that the tables were neither flat nor parallel. I managed to improve the situation by shimming the dovetail slides with shim stock and flattening the tables with a good straight edge and a belt sander (no kidding... took all day !) Now it is a great machine.

So.... just because it's an old Delta doesn't mean that it is straight and true. Iron casting have a bad habit of warping over time.

A good straight edge and a strong light can reveal tables that are out of whack. I would check it out carefully before buying.

Mark
Author:  mgcain [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:17 pm ]
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Just make sure the outfeed table is dead flat and the fence as well.  If so, that's a good price...
Author:  BruceHerrmann [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 12:26 pm ]
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OK, great advice, I'll bring along a good straight edge to check things. It it checks out, I'll probably buy it, seems like a decent jointer for the price. Better photos when I see it.


Bruce
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sun Dec 02, 2007 2:38 pm ]
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Yeah, my son, who has his own cabinet making business, bought a Delta about 10 years ago, and after working to level and make the tables parallel, found out that they could not be adjusted enough, and had some warp in them.  He returned it and bought a Powermatic long bed for twice as much, but never had to look back.

I would guess, however, if this guy has been using this planer for a while, and is a competent woodworker, it probably does not have those problems.
Author:  Bruce Dickey [ Mon Dec 03, 2007 12:40 am ]
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I bought an old Kalamazoo Atlas for $165, had it about ten years. Mine is a six, replaced the knives once and both bearings on the cutterhead. I wish these things were easier to set up, they are a bear.

Once done though, they are wonderful machines to have. Maybe it's just me, but I like the old heavy machines. I know some of the newer cutterheads have adjusting screws for blade height, not just the set screws that mine have. That's a definite improvement.
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