Ok, I know there are two main camps out there, 'HFH' Harbor Freight Haters and 'FHF' Friends of Harbor Freight. I don't want to start a debate about the pros and cons of HF, I just would like some feedback on one of their lovely green tools.

1. Central Machinery 6 Inch Jointer Manual
2. Central Machinery 7 Jointer

I see their 6' jointer listed on Craigslist quite often in the $100 range. If this unit has a straight bed, good fence, and decent cutters, is it worth buying? I'd mostly be using it for cleaning up reclaimed boards and rough wood for smaller projects. I look forward to your feedback! Thanks for the feedback so far. I agree there are some duds and some diamonds when it comes to HF.

(I own tools in both categories.) My thinking is the jointer is such a simple tool that with the exception of the motor you pretty much see what you get. I would definitely check the bed to make sure it is straight, but I have questions on that process. It is easy enough to check the beds on both sides of the cutter for straightness by using a straight edge.

But since one side of the bed is higher than the other, how do you compare the two? And, do you need to check the blade for trueness against the beds? What are the advantages of a jointer vs a planer? Which would be a better tool to buy first for general woodworking? It seems like a jointer would be better for large pieces right?2 different tools, with some crossover. A planer is for thicknessing, taking rough lumber down to a specific thickness. A jointer is more for making an edge straight and sqaure to the adjacent face (the one along the fence).

A jointer can be used as a planer in that the face of a board can be run if the board is not wider than the jointer. But if the board's thickness is inconsistent, using a jointer won't fix that. Personally, I would buy a jointer before a planer. You can easily buy wood milled to the thickness you want, but cutting to width will require dressing the cut edges.

2 different tools, with some crossover. A planer is for thicknessing, taking rough lumber down to a specific thickness.

A jointer is more for making an edge straight and sqaure to the adjacent face (the one along the fence). A jointer can be used as a planer in that the face of a board can be run if the board is not wider than the jointer.

But if the board's thickness is inconsistent, using a jointer won't fix that. Personally, I would buy a jointer before a planer. You can easily buy wood milled to the thickness you want, but cutting to width will require dressing the cut edges. Sometimes I wish we would adopt the term our Australian friends use for a planer. On the one Australian forum I often hang out on they, almost to a man, call a planer a 'Thicknesser'.

I think it's a more accurate description of the machine's primary function. What are the advantages of a jointer vs a planer? Which would be a better tool to buy first for general woodworking? It seems like a jointer would be better for large pieces right?They are different machines with different purposes.

The jointer has cutters underneath the board, the planer has them above. A jointer will make any surface of a board, edge or face, straight and flat. Jointers are hand fed, planes have power feed. A thickness planer will make the top surface of the board a uniform dimension or 'thickness' for its entire length. And will follow any irregularities, humps or curves that are on the bottom surface since that's the one on the bed of the planer. Before you run a board through a 'thickness planer' the bottom surface should be 'straight and flat' by using the jointer first.

You need both for proper preparation of lumber unless you are willing to use hand tools for the same purposes. You can joint an edge on a table saw or router table also. You can surface a board using a router with a movable sled also. Some plankas are too wide to run through a planer, so a router and sled HAS to be used. Sad to say, Harbor Freight appears to have discontinued the 6' jointer as an ongoing product. They killed off the 8' a couple of years ago. They are left with that weird 7' machine which isn't well regarded.

The HF 6 and 8' jointers are both well made machines. Mind you, a jointer is a pretty simple device. Not a lot to screw up there. Both of these machines are well regarded by those that own them.

But they ARE cheap jointers. To put it bluntly, if I could chose between the old style boxy Craftsman 6' jointer for $75.00 or the HF 6' for $125.00, I would get the HF as I think it's a better designed machine (copies the old Rockwell design from the 50s.). I see a LOT more Craftsman and Jet jointers going around here even though HF sold a lot of their jointers in my area.

Guys are keeping them though. I've never used this jointer either but if my needs were for small projects I would buy it. It's just when you try to make glue ups 4' or longer, a longer bed is really needed.

It can be done but it's hard to make the joints straight enough on a short jointer. Also if it lacks power for face planing you could put a bigger motor on it.I have to beg to differ. I don't have the HF 6' jointer, I have a Sunhill 6' bench top unit.

And rigged with properly aligned infeed / outfeed roller stands, face /edge jointing 9' long stock has been no problem at all. And as far as face jointing is concerned.

Central Machinery 6 Inch Jointer Manual

I must admit to being somewhat conservative with it. I have no issues face jointing full width in Pecan or Mesquite with my 6' sunhill, but then again.

Central Machinery 7 Jointer

I don't try to hog 1/8' off at a time. I make repeated light passes which gives me a great finish anyway.

Thanks Again I contacted Harbor Freight and was able to find the # for the 6 inch jointer which is basically the same machine but just not as wide as the 8 inch model and they emailed me the PDF file for the manual. So I can use it to set up the new knives when they come in. I would be glad to add this manual to the forums data base if I knew how to upload files. If I am permitted to upload files at this stage of membership. Please advise, as I would be glad to share this info for any one else who might need it.