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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
best value, December 31, 2004
This review is from: Palmgren 84261 12 amp 6-1/8-inch 1-Horsepower Benchtop Jointer with Dust Collection, 120-volt 1-Phase (Tools & Hardware)
I have been buying woodworking machines for 25 years and usually I stay away from benchtop machines because of the poor quality. This machine was a pleasant surprise. The casting and fittings are more like you would find on large shop machines.The fence is heavy and locks up like a rock with the substantial levers. The motor appears to provide plenty of power . I planed a six inch piece of oak and got a nice finish.This is probably the "most bang for the buck" I have ever gotten. If you're running out of room and\or money I highly recommend this machine . I'm looking forward to trying some of their other products. rs
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Works well, great first jointer, but be prepared for shipping damage, February 24, 2006
This review is from: Palmgren 84261 12 amp 6-1/8-inch 1-Horsepower Benchtop Jointer with Dust Collection, 120-volt 1-Phase (Tools & Hardware)
Like some others reviewing this item, it is my first jointer. I am very happy with its performance and features so far. Setup was fairly easy and I've already jointed/trimmed numerous pieces of lumber for a project I'm working on (a workbench).
Pros:
+ Small footprint - can be easily stored when not in use (as long as you can lift it!)
+ Heavy enough that on a sturdy saw-horse temporary table, it does not have to be bolted or clamped down
+ Cuts straight and smooth.
+ Dust collection works very well!
+ Responsive customer support: Per below, my unit came with several broken parts damaged in shipping. Palmgren was responsive to getting me replacements.
Cons:
- Packaging stinks: Though double-boxed, the unit and parts themselves were packed in flimsy styrofoam. The styrofoam was practically shredded in the box, and as a result, three of the four plastic parts on the external part of the unit were broken: the depth knob, the dust exhaust tube, and the cord strain relief piece. They would be better off using just thicker cardboard pieces and no styrofoam at all.
Summary: Great unit from my perspective of an amateur woodworker and first-time jointer-owner. I can't speak in comparison to other jointers. Solid, heavy unit that is more substantial than any other cheaper end or portable tool I've had before. Great support for getting parts replaced in shipping: important because based on other reviews here as well, you just might have the same problem! I took off one star for the damage: I was not going to take off any stars when I thought I had just one broken part, but with three broken parts, and what may be a pattern, I took off the star for the extra hassle/overhead.
Update on 3/22/06: I previously received the three replacement parts from Palmgren. However, two of the three replacement parts require almost complete disassembly of the unit: the dust tube is part of a manifold, and the cord strain relief requires actual disconnection of the AC cord from wire nuts, etc. For many buyers, the risk or hassle of this may not make the purchase of this item worth it. Buyer beware of a good product likely to come damaged due to poor packing.
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Run Away!, August 21, 2005
This review is from: Palmgren 84261 12 amp 6-1/8-inch 1-Horsepower Benchtop Jointer with Dust Collection, 120-volt 1-Phase (Tools & Hardware)
This is made in China and apparently packaged for surface transport only in China. The packaging is so inadequate that it's a virtual certainty it will arrive damaged.
There were screws and bolts rattling around inside the carton, the styrofoam was crushed. Upon inspection, the power cord strain relief was broken off leaving the cord itself in a ragged hole with sharp edges.
After unsucsessfully adjusting the infeed table I discovered one of the leveling bolts was sheared off in the casting making it impossible to align. I took the machine apart and found that the entire casting that supports the infeed table was broken in half.
This very same machine is available from ShopFox and also from Sears Crafstman, I strongly reccomend buying it from Sears if you choose to buy it at all, One less trip in a truck might do it good. Parts should be redily available from Sears as well. They sell it for @249. every day.
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