DELTA JT160 Shopmaster 10 Amp 6-Inch Benchtop Jointer
by Delta
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List Price: Our Price: $249.99 You Save: $233.01 (48%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of DELTA JT160 Shopmaster 10 Amp 6-Inch Benchtop Jointer
Customer Review: Not too bad for a little guy...
Summary: 3 Stars
It's small and it's cheap, which is great if you like small cheap things. It takes a long time to get the fence square, and ultimately you may have to settle for "square enough," because it's virtually impossible to get it perfectly square due to limited adjustment options. That said, it works pretty well for a small, two-knife jointer - and has more power than I expected. The tables are too short to make this jointer useful for much more than box-making or similar small projects. But if you are in the market for a small jointer for that purpose, I'd say it's not too bad.Customer Review: the Delta JT 160 portable jointer is a great value
Summary: 5 Stars
I also bought this despite reading bad reviews, but I don't mind tinkering to get top performance out of a tool. Here's the surprise - very little tinkering needed. It actually is a well designed and powerful machine, and a value at the price.
The fence that shipped is extruded aluminum, solid enough and very easy to adjust. I have had no difficulties getting it to stay at the desired angles. I use a Swanson speed square for right angles and a sliding t-bevel for the odd angle. It stays in place and is strong enough for the milling of cabinet members. It is true that the lock handles are plastic. I expect them to break some day when I'm in a hurry.
The issue of the dust port was easily solved. I cut a cover plate for the rectangular opening out of transparant plastic (so that I can see if shavings are accumulating). I popped the round plugs out and put the nozzle of my wall-mount dust collector in one of the holes. The shavings are evacuated very well now.
The noise level is acceptably low. I wish they had carbide knife blade replacements. The high speed steel blades mar too easily for my taste.
Last note: This is a small portable jointer and not really what you want for, say, planing doors or large lumber. But for the type of work I do it is a joy.
I am a residential remodeler who builds custom cabinetry and built-ins.
Customer Review: Better than I expected!
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this mainly because I was left no real option for a jointer. I had heard to flee from the name "Shopmaster", but, logistically I couldn't deal with the way, and expense, most companies want to ship a floor model (and get it to were I want it). I felt Grizzly wants way too much for shipping their bench model, so with a great deal of trepidation, I purchased the Delta Shopmaster.
The instructions were simple and there really isn't too much to put together anyway. What I read about the fence is accurate, it is flimsy. My fence was flat and I got it square without too much problem - I used square angle irons and clamped them to the base and evened the fence out that way. Even so, thanks to guy with the idea of building an MDF fence and low friction tape - I'm going to do that.
Still, out of the box and set on 1/64, it did a fine job of jointing and facing a cupped pine board and a fair job (a little snipe) of jointing a maple board.
The dust chute did tend to fill up and clog with shavings, had to dig them out with my hand. Even so, with the problems it clearly has, I'm giving it four stars for now because it solves my need for a jointer and the other companies make it such a problem to either buy (not in stock/don't carry jointers) or transport (expensive freight trucking/home delivery). By the time I need a real floor model, I should have solved my other problems, so, yes, I'd buy this one again.
Customer Review: A steal at $219...
Summary: 5 Stars
Oh no, here he goes again. What a steal for the price for a beginners, CAST IRON, benchtop joiner. This unit is what it is....don't try to chunk off more than it can chew, and you'll be happy.Customer Review: A Bad Thing To Buy
Summary: 1 Stars
I broke the Prime Directive in buying: Thou shall not buy refurbished good! I got the jointer out of the box, plugged it in, and it blew up on me in the first 30 seconds! I unplugged the thing fearing it might start an electrical fire.
I should have known better. There is nothing worth buying refurbished. If an item was sent back, it was sent back for a reason and you never know if the guy who repaired it was having a bad day or not; why take the chance? I was seduced by the price, but I won't make the same mistake twice. As they say, buyer beware!
But I do have to say that Delta, the jointer's manufacturer, was polite and they refunded my money promptly. But it's a pity that I don't have a jointer for a while.