JET 8-Inch Straight Knife Jointer (JWJ-8CS)

The title says this is a JJ-8CS, but it's a JWJ-8CS as the detail description says and matches the jet product number. I think the difference is this is an updated model with a longer bed. The JJ-8CS isn't listed on Jets product page anymore, so it would seem this model replaces it.Anyway, this is a great jointer. I upgraded from a benchtop 6-inch jointer. If you're buying anything other than a benchtop jointer, you should really consider an 8-inch model. Most rough lumber typically is in the 6-8-inch width and having a jointer of this width is very convenient and safe. You can always remove the cutter guard and wrangle a board in multiple passes, and I'm sure I'll still do it with this jointer, but that should be rare rather than typical. The downside is that it seems all the 8-inch jointers require 240 power, but don't let that stop you. If you don't have 240 power service already installed, I'm guessing your shop would benefit an electrical upgrade.I opted for the knives rather than helical head for the price. I'm a weekend woodworker and won't be shoving a ton through this thing. Plus aftermarket upgrades are available for less than the price difference if I change my mind. Personally, I think segmented cutters count most on your planer, so you can reasonably cheap out here to help your budget.The knives appeared to be parallel to the tables from the factory. I ran some scrap through it a few times to dial in the outfeed table and I get a smooth cut with no snipe. I've run a bunch of maple, walnut, and cherry and it handled it perfectly. When it gets warmer I'll take a closer look at the tables to ensure they're co-planer, but I'm not seeing anything to make that adjustment a priority.A few notes.This thing is obviously heavy. You need to lift the table out of its crate and up on to the base and mount it on the stand. The table itself weighs like 250 lbs. It's also awkwardly big with the center of gravity in the middle and rear. You'll likely need three sturdy people with the strongest lifting the middle. I used hydraulic power and rented an engine hoise with ratchet straps. This worked great and I was able to ease it on the base myself no problem.I would say a mobile base is required for this. Unless you've got a big warehouse with lots of space, odds are you're going to want to move the jointer to get the necessary runway space for long boards. I got the Jet universal base and it works. It's not designed specifically for any machine, but it's sturdy and rolls easily enough. Jet 708118 JMB-UMB Universal Mobile BaseI was surprised the jointer didn't have any push paddles/blocks. If you don't have any, you should order a pair.Installing the belts were a minor challenge. I had to unmount the motor and then I shimmed it with a piece of wood, then slid the belt into place. If you have a second pair of hands, it would be easier to have someone lift.Wiring was interesting. The power box is unwired and you have to wire the motor and install a plug for your electrical installation. You should have a 20A/240V circuit, which most likely will require a NEMA 6-20P plug like this one: Leviton 620PV 20 Amp, 250 Volt, Plug, Grounding, Yellow.The manual is curious. It seems to indicate the motor is a 120v motor. It would also be nice if the diagram matched the motor terminal. The terminal has three screws, presumably for 3-phase use, although this is a single phase motor. Basically, put the hots on the two ends and the ground to the mounting screw leaving the middle empty. So, we have a manual that indicates 120v with a single-phase 240v motor and a three-phase terminal. If you're unsure, get an electrician. Also, it may be easier to wire the motor with the base on its side before mounting the table.The freight delivery was great. I was concerned whether this would have lift gate service or expect me to have a loading dock and for me to get it out of the truck. I was also concerned about the driver just plopping this 375 lb thing in my driveway on a winter weekday when I couldn't deal with it. The driver was able to bring it down my driveway and put it in my garage. The box was also in pretty good shape. The box side was busted in at one spot, but there was no damage to the machine. Very pleased with the delivery service and even better that it was included in the price.I'm a little confused on setting the knives, but I'll save that for another day. This is a critical adjustment and the manual I think glosses over the task. It has a jig that's supposed to help, but I'll most likely use a dial indicator to ensure the blades are all level. I just need to figure out a way to lock the head in place to get consistent measurements for adjusting.

This thing is GREAT! Cuts straight as an arrow on stock over 6ft long. So happy with this purchase! Even used it on some bevel cuts and it was perfect!

Very nice jointer. I bought the knife version but there is also a helical head version available. The jointer comes directly from JET- it was packed very well and arrived quickly. The tables were nice and flat and the knives came perfectly setup. Attaching and aligning the belts took some work just like on most jointers. I have used it quite a bit and the finish on the wood is great.