P/T advice

[tnimble]

Hello I'm new at this wonderful forum but read or rather lurked it for a while now. Actually I'm not from the UK but from your neighbour country the Netherlands we simply do not have such a great forum over here.

Currently I do not own a planer nor a thickener. I have all of my boards milled at the lumber yard. But find it very hard to get it milled to my standards. Especially the last wood I have had done was so badly it gave me quite some headache.

My workshop area it quite limmited but I'm into building an extra area of 12m2 giving me a total of about 22m2.

I've looked at going the path of separates or combined. And I have to say that I lean toward the separates path.

I very much like the Jet/Powermatic 54A and 60A planer / jointer. As far as the thickener goes I'm a bit stuck here. The finishing results of Powermatic 209 are superb but a 20" thickener is just quite to much both for it's size and my budget.

The Jet JPM-13 seems much more appropriate for me. Which accordingly to the catalogue has both rubber coated out and in feed rollers. I like this very much since this would allow me to plane very little away for some precision work. Right?

Also accordingly to the US website which has much more information about the machines including online manuals etc this machines can be fitted with moulding blades. Which would also be great. However I guess I'll get a real moulder some day. Currently I've enough with my home build router table.


However combined these machines take up quite some space so maybe I'd rather buy the Jet JPT310. However whilst this machine saves some space (and money) I do dislike the fence being a bit tacky (with a do it your self fix available, thanks marc) and the shorter tables. It does seem only to have a rubber coated out feed roller causing a required minimum planing thickness of 0.5mm.

I'm also a bit wiry on the table adjustment handles do these actually work very precise and both quick?

I've also looked at the Scheppach MHS 2600 CI but I'm totally not convinced of this machine. I've little confidence in the fence and the overall machine looks a bit skinny and not so durable. However it states rubber coated rollers but I do not know for certain if this is both out and in feed rollers.

The Metabo HC333 also looks very interesting and has a fair amount of rollers which are also rubber coated. However the machine has got quite a price while the specifications except for the rollers are quite like the Jet JPT310. Is there any one who uses have used of seen this PT?

 

[Waka]

Welcome to the forum.

I've had the JPT 310 for about 2 years now and have to say that I am very pleased with the machine as a whole and the results of using both the thicknesser and planer. The fence you mention is from extruded aluminium and although doesn't look substantial, has not failed me yet, its accurate for my purposes, although I know some members have complained about there's not being as true as they would expect.

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the later versions now have a cast iron fence, which should be much better.

By the way I am in no way connected to Jet, these are my own observations on owning this machine.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi tnimble

Welcome to the forum.

It would be really helpful, for members responding to your posts, if you updated your profile to include your country.

For anybody who has the space, and the money, I would strongly recommend the separates route.

I have the Jet 60A and the Jet SS but, due to lack of space, not the thicknesser. I have found the Jet kit to be excellent. If you go down the Jet route it is worth buying the 60 instead of the 54 for the extra table length and the width. It doesn't actually take up all that much additional space.

Good luck,
Neil

 

[tnimble]

Welcome to the forum.

I've had the JPT 310 for about 2 years now and have to say that I am very pleased with the machine as a whole and the results of using both the thicknesser and planer. The fence you mention is from extruded aluminium and although doesn't look substantial, has not failed me yet, its accurate for my purposes, although I know some members have complained about there's not being as true as they would expect.

What would the finish of the planer mode be when having to remove very little. I have some work that requires thickening in multiple passes the get the exact size. I currently do such jobs bu hand scraping to final dimensions.

Also I'm interested how exaclty the table adjustments work on this model. I know how the powermatic / jet 54A and 60A work which is very great. These handles look a bit the same.

My understanding (correct me if I'm wrong) is that the later versions now have a cast iron fence, which should be much better.

That would be great news! However the fence still looks like the aly extruded one with the T slot in the back in the 2007 catalogue.

Maybe jetman can give some information about the current developments around the fences on the jet combis?

Hi tnimble
It would be really helpful, for members responding to your posts, if you updated your profile to include your country.

Done that just now.

For anybody who has the space, and the money, I would strongly recommend the separates route.

I have the Jet 60A and the Jet SS but, due to lack of space, not the thicknesser. I have found the Jet kit to be excellent. If you go down the Jet route it is worth buying the 60 instead of the 54 for the extra table length and the width. It doesn't actually take up all that much additional space.

Good luck,
Neil

Thanks Neil. I'm also very keen on the 60A I've seen this planer (although it was the yellow powermatic branded version) in operation and especially the tables are impressive.

It would be be more than great if the ppl from WHM would take the rest of the Powermatic brand on the European market. Not only for the golden yellow paint on the machines but there are just quite a few excellent machines with a vast amount of accessories available (at lower prices) than in the current European catalogue.

 

[Nick.]

What would the finish of the planer mode be when having to remove very little. I have some work that requires thickening in multiple passes the get the exact size. I currently do such jobs bu hand scraping to final dimensions.

Hi tnimble - I'm happy to let others comment on that one, as in fairness I have used it at shows, but I don't have one I use day in/day out.

Also I'm interested how exaclty the table adjustments work on this model. I know how the powermatic / jet 54A and 60A work which is very great. These handles look a bit the same.

It is a very similar action - ie. you just pull up or push down on the lever to get the required depth of cut. The one difference is that there is no fine adjuster by turning the handle (as opposed to lifting) - on the 54/60A you can get a super fine cut by turning the handle.

That would be great news! However the fence still looks like the aly extruded one with the T slot in the back in the 2007 catalogue.

The fence is aluminium. Jet originally wanted to use the cast iron ones off the jointers, but because the beds lift up together, the weight of a cast iron fence on top would have made this impossible - the machine would have fallen backwards every time you changed from surfacing to thicknessing - not to mention the strain on the hinges.

That said, the latest fence has been even more improved from the earlier ones (partly as a result of feedback from Mark.W on this forum (Hi Mark )) - Still aluminium, but it now has a machined face, and the extrusion has been thickened up.

For anybody who has the space, and the money, I would strongly recommend the separates route.

Hi Neil - I have to agree with this statement - Don't get me wrong, the JPT310 is a great machine, but the cast iron fence on the jointers is always going to be the difference that puts them in another league.

It would be be more than great if the ppl from WHM would take the rest of the Powermatic brand on the European market. Not only for the golden yellow paint on the machines but there are just quite a few excellent machines

tnimble, watch this space - seriously, as you know Powermatic have some superb machines in their portfolio - it is something Jet are considering. The big issue as always is the cost of getting them specified for CE regulations though vs. volume of potential sales. PS - you mentioned the JPM thicknesser being able to take moulder knives - definately not over here I'm afraid - CE again.

Hope this helps, and if I can help on an export deal via a UK retailer (hahaha - goes onto my figures then - Sorry Jet in Holland ) then I will.

Best regards to all,

Nick
Jet
(who is on a few nice and easy days off too 8) )

 

[WellsWood]

That said, the latest fence has been even more improved from the earlier ones....... - Still aluminium, but it now has a machined face, and the extrusion has been thickened up.

That's interesting (Hi Nick), I thought they couldn't be machined because it would remove the hard anodised finish. Are you saying it's been beefed up to allow machining of the face prior to anodising, or is the anodised layer now thicker than before thus allowing machining at the end? Just curious.

Mark
(who spent Easter oop north, so don't get me started about the M6 :evil: )

 

[tnimble]

That said, the latest fence has been even more improved from the earlier ones....... - Still aluminium, but it now has a machined face, and the extrusion has been thickened up.

That's interesting (Hi Nick), I thought they couldn't be machined because it would remove the hard anodised finish. Are you saying it's been beefed up to allow machining of the face prior to anodising, or is the anodised layer now thicker than before thus allowing machining at the end? Just curious.

Mark
(who spent Easter oop north, so don't get me started about the M6 :evil: )

I guess they machine them before running them through the anodizing bath which is an electro chemical reaction and would not course mechanical stress.

 

[tnimble]

It is a very similar action - ie. you just pull up or push down on the lever to get the required depth of cut. The one difference is that there is no fine adjuster by turning the handle (as opposed to lifting) - on the 54/60A you can get a super fine cut by turning the handle.

Thanks Nick for your apt response! A pitty the super fine adjustment isn't fitted on this machine. However since the handle principle adjusts already both very quick and with a feel to it (like the manual focus nd zoom rings on a camera instead of pusch buttons) the tables should still be very acculturately adjustable.

The fence is aluminium. Jet originally wanted to use the cast iron ones off the jointers, but because the beds lift up together, the weight of a cast iron fence on top would have made this impossible - the machine would have fallen backwards every time you changed from surfacing to thicknessing - not to mention the strain on the hinges.

That said, the latest fence has been even more improved from the earlier ones (partly as a result of feedback from Mark.W on this forum (Hi Mark )) - Still aluminium, but it now has a machined face, and the extrusion has been thickened up.

Great news Nick! Also a very pro point to Jet actually doing something with customer feedback!

For anybody who has the space, and the money, I would strongly recommend the separates route.

Hi Neil - I have to agree with this statement - Don't get me wrong, the JPT310 is a great machine, but the cast iron fence on the jointers is always going to be the difference that puts them in another league.

So far I've located one retailer (VHD in Utrecht) they seem to have some machines on display. I will find out if they have both to actually see the difference.

tnimble, watch this space - seriously, as you know Powermatic have some superb machines in their portfolio - it is something Jet are considering.

Are there a few 'sneak preview' to report about new products?

The big issue as always is the cost of getting them specified for CE regulations though vs. volume of potential sales.

I know sometimes the conforming to CE can be a bit. For instance the start stop switches have to be more protective against accidentally operating them. Perhaps an idea to ft the same opening in the base so both machines can be made the same except for the last manufacturing step. Or even mounting the higher safety parts for the US market.

PS - you mentioned the JPM thicknesser being able to take moulder knives - definately not over here I'm afraid - CE again.

A pitty would be a nice extra.

Hope this helps, and if I can help on an export deal via a UK retailer (hahaha - goes onto my figures then - Sorry Jet in Holland ) then I will.

Thanks for the offer I'll see what price they can offer me first over here.

Have nice and easy days !