Porter Cable Benchtop Joiner Review

american-outdoo...
My opinion about the PC160JT Porter Cable benchtop joiner after using it almost daily for over two months.

[@nickkropat8857]

Thank you. There are nowhere near enough reviews on tools from folks who have used them quite a bit before jumping on camera. Great video!

[@tomw4231]

Well done. I appreciate that you actually used this tool a lot before you reviewed it. Much more meaningful than watching someone unpack and assemble it. Using a variety of wood species and sizes is also very helpful in seeing what this jointer can do. I have been researching benchtops for awhile now, and this review has clinched my decision.

[@rickowen6181]

Just bought the Craftsman version of this jointer. Same thing but different label and color. Thanks for the inputs and demo. From your review I feel this is perfect for what I need. I appreciate the candor and you seem to have hit the points that needed covering. Great job. Thanks.

[@brianmiller9365]

Looked at several "reviews on this product. I consider yours to be the best. Included pros/cons and straight up honest. And from a legit real world user! Thanks vey much.

[@michaelyoung5464]

Great review! I just found out that my wife got me this for Christmas...I've been wanting a jointer for a long time. I build farmhouse style furniture for my house and for friends as well. Thinking this will work great for me.

[@roberttrimmier3276]

@Michael young so you had your Porter-Cable jointer for about a year now is that right? I make Farmhouse Furniture also. How is the Porter-Cable working for you? I read a lot of really negative comments about the Craftsman 1 and they're basically the same machine as I understand it. Are you having any problems with it?

[@cammayor522]

Great review, thank you. I purchased the King Industrial version of this jointer, same thing but no variable speed and helical replacable HSS cutters.

[@Specialized61]

So glad I found your video. I've been eyeing it for the past few years but never went for it. Back in the old days my dad had a large Delta. I'm going buy it now.

[@Ariiannaclp]

I bought mine with a Delta tag on it. Its the same machine! After some painting and waxing the aluminum tables from dampness and slight corrosion its up and running, thank you for this insight on this one!

[@Deltro61]

I just picked one of these up from Lowe's. I'm not sure if I was lucky or what, but the tables were co-planar, and the knives were adjusted just about perfect. One was may be one one thousandths lower than the other, but not something I was going to worry about. Some people complained they could not get the fence dialed in, but mine was perfect front to back, checked with a machinist square. I just took very light bites, but finish was glass smooth. Very happy with this joiner, and just hope it doesn't disappoint me in time. About the only thing I could say to people is put it on a 30 inch bench, as opposed to a standard 36 as you can't get enough leverage to put the required downward force needed. I'd also like to devise some kind of a feather board for this, as once you wax the table it's hard to keep the material up against the fence. I used a 2" flexible (rubber) pipe connector, as the what comes with it doesn't fit a standard shop vac. I used a 90 elbow I had for a spindle sander, and that worked great. No backup of shavings. Overall, a good buy.

[@bdkane721]

Bought the Craftsman version of this machine (same company). Worked great for about 2 weeks, then mid-piece, the motor stopped. The machine never started again. Returned to Lowes. Read the reviews, many people had same issue. Just wanted to share my negative experience.

[@fredmorina861]

Thanks...very informative. Just a weekend warrior here that's trying to get back into the shop after a few years off. I purchased this unit used, and haven't had much opportunity to see just what it can do. I'm looking forward to giving it a little TLC to get it back into shape. I'm glad it's worked well for you (for the most part).

[@ttsupra87]

Definitely put a little more confidence for my purposes of pulling the trigger to get one thank you for your effort!

[@rayhadley1590]

Thanx Man. I liked the way you explained it all for us "getting started" folks. I sure appreciate it.

[@johnnau1429]

Okay, I have this little porter. It's my first Jointer. Perhaps I should have purchased a better unit, but I think it will serve my needs. In the end, this jointer cleans up my wood and my thickness planar is for more precise creation of identical wood for specific projects. I am a novice! sorry for the newbie comment.

[@jimlahey5354]

You should be sorry!

[@thefeet]

Thank you for taking the time to do an in-depth experienced review. SOLD! Ordered mine from amazon after watching this video.

[@justincottingham3969]

Uses a jointer as an extension table for his bench top jointer. Nice.

[@theolehomestead]

Nice Shop! Great Video just purchased this model and ready to get workin.

[@woodyal3726]

Thanks for review. I will be buying one tomorrow. You convinced me.

[@jimlahey5354]

Well how do you feel about your decision 3 years on

[@Greghc48]

Great review. Thanks for posting.

[@ronaldkearn6368]

That was great! I am going to be putting verticle pine paneling an my room. I was going to use my stanley number 7 plane, however, this is cost effective and faster. Thanks

[@DanCoastie]

Excellent review...thanks to your review, I went out and bought this yesterday at Lowes!

[@brianknab8367]

Thanks. I just bought this and appreciate your insight. Thanks for sharing.

[@robertrisner8829]

Thanks for your time and candor. Very helpful.

[@BucksYTChannel]

I found this very helpful. Thanks for doing this.

[@rtmarsh614]

Variable blade speed is there to reduce speed when dealing with wide/deep cuts, especially with really dense woods. If you cut at 1/32" on white pine then it won't really make a difference for the most part, but it is meant to reduce speed of the blade for deeper/wider cuts. This reduces the chance that the motor, coupled with depth of cut and sharpness of your blade, will overcome your in-feed force and throw the wood out from under you and possibly dropping your hands into the blades. I have the same jointer and have some mixed feelings about it personally. I wish I would've dropped some extra cash and gotten a much better jointer to be honest. If you're working on small craft projects then this is fine, but if your jointing anything longer than four feet I would go with something that has a much longer table. More than anything be sure to read the manual about making knife and table adjustments. If yours is anything like mine, then it won't yield good results until you adjust everything. There are plenty of videos about setting jointer knives (though not for this particular jointer) that I've found on KZbin.

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Great insight. Thanks.

[@allanbancroft4692]

I feel much better about making this purchase now. Especially from someone that has had it a while. this isn't one of those reviews from a guy that just bought it. I mean yah right out of the box that stuff better work! anyway glad I will at least get my money's worth for it. Thank you for your time sir.

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Your welcome. It has always seemed to me when it came to anything mechanical or electronic that if something were going to fail it either happens right away or far down the road/not at all. We'll continue with more product reviews in the same manner with the focus on extended time performance.

[@swannnee]

Thank you for your video and honest review!

[@lewisbrazil5485]

Have you had any issues with the cutter head bearings? I have had two fail, (outer bearing). I do know they get hot just from running not processing wood. Thanks

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Lewis, no abnormal heat buildup on our unit. Actually, as I think about it a year after we've done the video, we've had no component failures either.

[@puffyd58]

Great review. I bought this same model used and love the way it works. However it didn't come with the dust collection port and I'm having a hard time finding one that fits. Any thoughts on where to get one or how to make something? Thanks!

[@GenralNuisance]

That's all god, but what about the pressure on the board as it passes through the jointer. I understand the pressure only the board should be on the front not the back.

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Nice review. Thanks!

[@brandonweslock4187]

Good honest review

[@the_secret_goldfish]

Hey how's it going. I just purchased this piece of equipment and it worked great for a few weeks. Now I feel I have a whole lot of snipe across the board and the engine bogs down. I use the same type of wood for every project. Any suggestions?

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

How long are the boards? Are you using any sort of table extension? what method do you use for sliding the boards over the cutter? The portability is a nice feature but having it in a fixed location is also important, especially when joining long/large/bulky lumber. Also note that the deeper the cut, the more load on the motor. Hope that helps.

[@tmwoodworking]

great review!

[@wurzelle1999]

good review, thanks

[@shobesmel]

How do you eliminate the bow? Seems it's not

[@grandpasgaming5232]

Very good info!

[@CGCampUT]

I am making a desk and for the table top I want to join some boards together to make them look like one giant piece. Will this do the trick?

[@jimlahey5354]

No

[@estudiosescatologicos]

WHERE CAN I FIND THE FUSE IN THIS JOINTER ? THANK.

[@azlowslow-bbqandbeverages1828]

So it looks like this would pair very well with my Dewalt 734 to create my straight edge. In your opinion I build and sell work benches from my garage as a weekend hobby; this can handle 36 inch cuts with ease it appears. With the appropriate support i could run a 6 foot plank as well would you agree? The reason I'm asking is I'm debating the need to purchase this when I have the planar. I do understand the value of both but I want perfect square benches and this is what I think I need when buying cheap lumber IN ADDITION to my planar. Thanks for any feedback you provide. Great video demonstrating use and overall value.

[@azlowslow-bbqandbeverages1828]

My only long cuts are the bench top FYI :)

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

The 734 is a great benchtop planer, so yes. If you were a full time ie cabinet maker/wood shop etc I'd suggest a floor model commercial unit, but it sounds like you are the demographic porter cable was shooting for with this joiner. And yes, for 6' lengths I'd dedicate a laminate top outfeed table for truer edges without the chance of snipe.

[@buddymorgan2351]

If I had it to do over would Unger a different jointer and which one

[@gumecindotobias2391]

I'm a newbie, if I purchase this jointer, do I still need. The porter cable tabletop planer?

[@felixmx3]

You would still want to get the planer, the jointer is going to help square and flatten sides, The planer will take your project down to the desired overall thickness.

[@NicknamedSin]

Thanks for the info.

[@seanmcaleavy2369]

Didn't see your dogs, was the jointer too loud?

[@jimlahey5354]

Thanks bud

[@owensrayfeilds6800]

truth,,make you sleep better....nice...

[@PhillipHall01]

I am going to be making some bee hive frames 🐝. I willNeed to take off about 3/16 from each side of a 2"x6"x8"long. The 3/16 " take off will Be on each side of the long flat side about 5" down leaving 3" on each side at original width. leaving an 3/16 indention 5" on each side, In your opinion, will this machine be good to go ? Your review is tops and I will respect your opinion .. thank you so much!!

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

Good blades and lighting, adjust your speed to the wood and you should be good to go. Preparation is the key.

[@PhillipHall01]

American-Outdoors. Thanks for the reply. I have a Lowes close to my home also and this is the only local jointer that I have found ..

[@barstad-9591]

"... guy ... or gal ..." Thank you, seriously, for recognizing that there are female woodworkers. And thank you for this review.

[@American-OutdoorsNet]

:')

[@robertgaritano7718]

I just got one and the two tables do not line up. Are those screws adjusters?

[@estudiosescatologicos]

I HAVE A NEW PORTER CABLE JOINTER ....BUT IT FAILURE TO STAR. 😳

[@VersinKettorix]

servicenet.dewalt.com/documents/English/Instruction%20Manual/Porter-Cable/N030466,PC160JT.pdf or search their site for whatever model you bought.

[@alexschmidt3692]

*jointer

[@BryanCoombes]

good video, thanks! unboxing vids a pretty useless

[@rinchhanaralte9707]

Prices how much in India

[@jimlahey5354]

Just look it up stupid