Potentially looking at adding a bench top jointer to my shop. I think I'm narrowed down to an 8 or 10 inch, Rikon or Cutech. The Cutech has an optional cast iron fence (both the aluminum or cast iron fence options have added supports on the ends to avoid any flex).
I have an 8” Wahuda, which was/is somehow related to Cutech. Love it, great machine. The only thing I’d do different is buy the 10” version (or wider, if they offer one)…which they didn’t have when I bought mine. Of note, it’s an offset ‘spiral’ multi-carbide-cutter head, not a true helical cutter, but it works just great and makes changing cutters easier (but a little tedious).
Wahuda is headquartered in Tennessee, so at least there’s someone in the US to talk to. Highly recommend! Buy as big as you can afford!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
FWIW benchtop jointers have limitations. Stock length becomes an issue as there isn’t as much support before and after the cutting head. The Wahuda (and others) have extension arms that slide out to help with that. I can manage lengths out to about 6 feet, but I prefer to keep it closer to 4 feet max. Beyond that takes extra feed support and things start to get iffy at that point.
The Wahuda extensions are adjustable to maintain a flat bed, but they’re never going to be as good as a proper long bed jointer. That said, the benchtop models take up a lot less room! My 8” is a bit narrow from time to time, but honestly not all that often.
As with any stock prep tool, you’ve gotta make sure the beds are perfectly coplaner, and the fence needs to hold a proper angle and not flex. I took my time at initial setup to get everything just right, and I don’t screw with the settings. They haven’t moved and I still get square cuts, so I must have done something right! My Wahuda fence is aluminum, but it squares up and hold a proper angle. I haven’t ever noticed any flex from it but, again, it’s not going to be as bomber as a 500 lb. Long bed cast iron jointer.
Set up and maintained properly, I’ve got no real complaints with mine… Mounted on a flip top table with the planer underneath.
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
I ran across some "issues" between Wahuda and Cutech (lawsuit filed by Shinmax against Wahuda). Didn't get all the details but that suggests they aren't linked??
Based on few situations, I also want to know who has the best customer service. I'm tired of buying items and then crickets when it comes to support.
I believe they had a split at some point, and re-branded. Find a Wahuda and a Cutech customer service number and call them. See if they answer the phones…
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
Ryan - yep, I have the customer service numbers ready for a call to each! Might also check with Rikon, as theirs also gets good reviews and is on sale this month.
I’m a fan of Rikon. Don’t have any info on their jointer, but I have a couple of their other benchtop tools are they’re of high quality for what they are. 👍🏼
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
I have a large Rikon bandsaw and like it (no real comparison as that is the first and only bandsaw I have ever used). Did more checking and Rikon is quite a but more $$.
So far two message left and have to call back to speak with someone this afternoon. Will see who returns messages.
I have a Shop Fox 6" spiral head bench top jointer but I also have a 6" Ridgid long bed jointer. There has been a couple of times I wish I had a wider jointer. I like the bench top for small parts. I would recommend the 10". For which of those brands is better I can't say
I know there are length limitations with benchtop, but I don't want to spend the $$ for a full size. We have been watching the used market without success. Leaning toward the 10 inch.
With any jointer the best result comes when the workpiece is well supported. Optimal are beds of unending length, to support anything, however fantasy related that may be. Of course the beds attached to the jointer need to have a set length, or cost would be prohibitive. That doesn't rule out using rollers, or supports in front of, and behind the tool to support your workpiece. Just make sure they are height adjustable, and set so the work if dead flat, or as close as you can keep it. IOW, don't fret bed length, just have some form of support handy to use. Now width is another subject, so like Ryan said, buy as big as you can afford. I bought my space occupying grizz 8" with the long beds just one week before I ever heard of a Wahuda, or a Cutech. I thought damn, when I saw an 8" for a fraction of the cost, and also with a helix like head. If I had known, I believe I would have gone with a benchie.
Both Cutech and Wahuda have added support braces (not the right term) on both ends of the fence to avoid flex that apparently was a complaint with benchtop units. Cutech also has a cast iron fence option that provides a but higher (and heavier) surface. Fence length is around 24 inches as I recall.
I have a Jet 6" w/48" table(s) that I rarely use. Only use in the past ten years has been to flatten the face of resawn logs from the band saw so I can begin to quarter them (on the band saw).
Used it a bit at first for edging rough cut lumber, but found it easier to just run it on the table saw. If a board is longer or heavier that is easy to pick up off center, running on the jointer for a square edge the full length is near impossible. I can see how a bench top would be better for smaller workings, but a TS can square those even easier. For getting a flat face, I just run a board on the DS on a sled with shims to carry it thorough (36 grit). Same concept for a planer. Advantage with the DS or planer is more than double the capacity of the jointer I have.
Splintergroup- all good points to consider. Of course, given the time it takes me to change the paper on my DS...well, its still anything but a smooth process. 😕
I bought the 8” Cutech a couple of years ago after doing a lot of research, and I love it. At the time it was the only one that had the additional fence supports to prevent flexing, but from reading some of the comments here that might have changed. I think that’s important for the small jointers with an aluminum fence.
I never owned a jointer before and it’s so much easier for face jointing than my planer sled. The length of the bed is a limitation as others have pointed out, but for the projects I build it’s sufficient. For anything over about 4 feet, I still use my tablesaw with a simple sled for edge jointing.
Here’s my setup on a flip top cart with my planer on the other side.
