How well do those 6 inch bench top joiners work?

My shop is very small 12' x 16' and I'm running out of space. I'd love to have a floor type joiner but I can't justify the space.

Most projects that I fool with are about the size of a coffee table. Do you think I could get by well enough with a bench type joiner?

I'm also thinking about a portable planer but I haven't done much research on these yet.

thanks

Reply to
Modat22
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If you cut a decent edge on the table saw, a benchtop will take off a 32nd to give you a perfect edge. It will not take a raw edge and give you anything usable. The bed is just too short. I speak from trying to use the little Delta for 6 months. I bought it because my shop is about 8x20 and I didn't have room for a real jointer. But I sold the benchtop and bought one anyhow, and move it around every few minutes when I have to get to something else.

Reply to
toller

I have a Delta and have used it for a few projects with little trouble. I focus on smaller projects, but I have made a couple of table tops with it and it worked very well. The blades seem to dull pretty quickly, though.

Reply to
Richard

I've got the Craftsman benchtop 6" jointer. It is surprisingly heavy--lots of cast iron--and surprisingly easy to use. I've jointed stock almost 4' long with little difficulty, and it did faces on some

4" wide osage orange and 5-1/2" wide mesquite with no problems.

The bed is too short for anything longer, as you note, but within its limits, this particular model works well. I've also edge jointed 4/4 and 5/4 rough edged oak and poplar stock with no problem, and even did a little 12/4 cherry with good results.

Reply to
Charlie Self

I think you can expect reasonable results w/ stock that is roughly twice the length of the bed w/ results gradually dropping of as it becomes more difficult to control. If that would encompass a majority of the size projects you envision, I suspect you would find yourself satisfied, overall.

The portable planers from all reports, seem to be remarkably effective. I'v an old cast iron behemoth from since long before even the new-style

4-poster's came out so have no personal experience w/ one...
Reply to
Duane Bozarth

And you can always extend the length of the top with an auxiliary worktop - I've done this with several smaller bench tools (though not a jointer). It's reasonably successful and a lot easier to store away in a small workshop than larger machine benches.

John

Reply to
John

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