I also have the Jet 8", and it has served me well. I really like the Delta jointer, and would really like an extra 11" on the tables. But unless it was a really good buy I probably wouldn't change. Selling the jet may recoup a lot of the cost, so I'd consider total out of pocket before leaping. But that's just me….

 

I recently moved from a Delta 37-220 6" jointer with a 42" bed to the DJ20 with the long bed.

I don't have any experience with a Jet jointer.

My answer to your question will be, "It depends."

If you regularly joint pieces that will benefit from the longer bed, then it may be worth pursuing.

I do like the fence on the DJ-20 better than the fence on my old Delta 37-220.

 

I say yes longer tables that are in plane are better then short tables in plane.
The Dj 20 might even have a bigger cutting circle. That will be a better too.
You can not only face short boards but longer one too.
Good Luck

 

Depends on many factors?

- Do you need longer bed, and have room for it in shop?

- DJ-20 has parallelogram tables, while most Jet 8" have dovetail mounted tables. The parallelogram design is superior to dovetail. Leveling a parallelogram is just as much work as dovetail, but they don't change level as table height is adjusted as the dovetail ways wear. Dovetail table correction shims are difficult to keep in place if you change the table heights often. Parallelogram table machines are more expensive when new. So if both were available at same price, the DJ20 would be a better value.

- 1.5HP is plenty of power for straight blade tool, and taking shallow cuts on segmented head. But milling a full 8" wide, 1/4 deep cut with segmented head can/will bog down without 2-3HP. Not a major issue to general use, more of an operational limitation if you need thick/deep cuts per pass, or you plan to upgrade to segmented carbide cutter head.

- The Delta DJ-20 was produced in several different countries. The Invicta Brazil produced machines are slightly different from the Taiwan made machines, and parts can be next to impossible to find. Taiwan produced clones of the DJ-20 for other OEM, so finding usable/modifiable parts for Taiwan made machine is easier. So if the used machine being sold has Invicta label or was made in Brazil, make sure everything 100% works, and there is no machine damage. Not much can wrong on jointer (unless you drop it off trailer), but still need to know this caution.

- The DJ-20 came with 3 knife cutter head. Some 8" Asian machines come with 4 knife cutter head (most are long bed 72-76" long jointers). Having 4 blades cuts smoother, and blades last longer than 3 knives. How many knives are in your Jet?

Don't know why I typed all this, again. This question comes up regularly on LJ?

 

Depends on the scale of work you're doing.

Keep in mind while you're inquiring on LJ about the buy somebody else is considering it and will perhaps snatch it away from you. This happens a lot.

 

- The Delta DJ-20 was produced in several different countries. The Invicta Brazil produced machines are slightly different from the Taiwan made machines, and parts can be next to impossible to find. Taiwan produced clones of the DJ-20 for other OEM, so finding usable/modifiable parts for Taiwan made machine is easier. So if the used machine being sold has Invicta label or was made in Brazil, make sure everything 100% works, and there is no machine damage. Not much can wrong on jointer (unless you drop it off trailer), but still need to know this caution.

- CaptainKlutz

I have owned several of the Taiwan tools, only bought one Invicta from Brazil, and won't do that again. Parts nightmare, and the machines themselves weren't all that swell.