mercifiknow
Well-known member
Thoughts on the value or worthiness to purchasing one?
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Penncraft 4” jointer
- Thread starter mercifiknow
- Start date
paulsomlo
Well-known member
For $40 or less? Maybe. Too small to flatten faces, good for edges, I suppose.
shoot summ
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2010
- Messages
- 2,952
Free would be a good price, if it has a decent motor that is probably worth more than the tool.
Very little demand for a 4" jointers, does look like the were made by Rockwell Delta.
Very little demand for a 4" jointers, does look like the were made by Rockwell Delta.
OP
mercifiknow
Well-known member
That’s what I was thinking. Not about price though. They want $125. I thought it was pricey but have no idea what’s the going rate for things.
OP
mercifiknow
Well-known member
Couldn’t find who made them. Good to know though. Appreciate it!Free would be a good price, if it has a decent motor that is probably worth more than the tool.
Very little demand for a 4" jointers, does look like the were made by Rockwell Delta.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
It depends on what you want it for. 4" is too small for many, but it works for me because I don't make big stuff.
Looks like Penncraft was JC Penny branded Delta tools. I have a 1940s 4" Delta / Homecraft jointer, basic but it works. I paid $80 for mine a couple years ago. That was for a fully functional jointer with a factory stand (steel legs not cast iron).
Assuming it is standard Delta, parts should be no issue, and there are aftermarket helical heads available if you want to go that route.
Looks like Penncraft was JC Penny branded Delta tools. I have a 1940s 4" Delta / Homecraft jointer, basic but it works. I paid $80 for mine a couple years ago. That was for a fully functional jointer with a factory stand (steel legs not cast iron).
Assuming it is standard Delta, parts should be no issue, and there are aftermarket helical heads available if you want to go that route.
OP
mercifiknow
Well-known member
I venture into 1x6’s here recently but just 1x4’s are my go to boards
nadogail
Well-known member
My Pencraft disc sander is a rebranded WEN.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
I venture into 1x6’s here recently but just 1x4’s are my go to boards
Yeah that is where I am at. Most of my current expected needs for a jointer are 2-4" with 6" being theoretical. A 4" jointer can do 6 or even 8" boards, just more set up than a wider jointer since you have to run it through twice and ensure both passes are equal. For an occassional board not a big deal. If frequent then hold out for a bigger machine.
In their favor 4" jointers are a little more compact and easier (lighter) to move around the shop than a similar 6"
Delta made a couple of 4" jointers, and I don't know anything about Penncraft other than Delta Rockwell made some of their machines in the 70s.
My particular jointer is branded Homecraft which at one time was Delta's budget line. Often older Delta designs were shifted to the Homecraft line when a new Delta design came along, so they were not really made cheaper, just an older model. Ironically now some of the Homecraft machines are preferred to their contemporary Delta models since they are the same as some early classic Delta models. Mine was made in the 40s, but it is an early Delta design first sold in the late 1920s.
1970s Delta is generally still considered "good Delta" it wasn't until the 80s that they really started to cheapen up manufacture.
As far as price consider that a decent budget Chinese made 6" benchtop 2 blade jointer from a company like Wen or Grizzly will cost $240-270.
Other than width my 4" Delta is better in several ways. It has a 3 blade cutter vs 2, and a longer bed by several inches so can do a bit longer boards. Personally I also like that is is all cast iron, no tin or plastic.