Delta Shopmaster Bench Top Jointer JT160

Pros: Light weight, easy to reach controls, low noise at reduced speed.
Cons: Flimsy fence, poor chip clearance without buying an accessory.

I have many tools that I chose because of their portability. I often need to "set up shop" at a job site and light weight tools are a must. The Delta JT 160 jointer fills the need quite well. It is light and easy for one person to move - either a few ...

Pros: Light, portable, cheap
Cons: Aluminum tables, flimsy fence, difficult or impossible to adjust for accurate work

I bought this on a whim. I have a small shop, and this is a small, portable tool. I have plenty of experience with buying things twice, but apparently that lesson wasn't stuck in my head on the day I decided to throw this thing on a cart and take it ...

Pros: sharp blades, minimal setup time, easy-to-use adjustment knobs, clean operation, portable and light weight
Cons: the fence is cheap, wobbily, but once set works perfect

Some Background Information: There came a time when building my first piece of furniture in my home shop that I needed a jointer. I was cutting some blocks up on my table saw for the legs of a bedside table. They were extremely thick, ...

Pros: None
Cons: Terrible quality issues. Avoid this one. Read the rest of my review.

I bought this jointer at Lowe's for $199.00. I thought it was the greatest thing I'd ever seen. I thought I couldn't go wrong with a tool from Delta. I was wrong and will look closer next time I consider a low-end Delta tool. I followed the ...

Pros: Compact unit that, conceptually, is a reasonable design suitable for hobbyist with a small workshop.
Cons: Poor manufacturing quality control renders the machine essentially useless

My experience with this jointer is reflective of those others that had a bad experience with this machine. In general, I have the feeling that the problems that exist with it are ones of poor quality control. I purchased two of these machines both of ...

Pros: Light weight Variable Speed Easily removed guard
Cons: Required additional setup and user supplied washers/shims Fence angle adjustment is ugly.

I picked up the 6" Delta jointer last week. It's a nice lightweight unit (easy to move around and/or store). I was trying to choose between the 105lb cast iron craftsman unit and the 35lb Delta. In my shop I would have to move this tool around quite a ...

Pros: Low purchase cost, light weight (portable)
Cons: Not reliable, expensive to maintain, table was warped, fence is flimsy.

For $200 you can't expect too much, but unless you are only looking for a workshop decoration that is used less than once a year, look for a different machine. Even if you can live with the poorly machined table and flimsy fence, it will cost you more to maintain this than you would pay if you had bought a good machine in the first place. The speed control on mine has failed twice in two years. When that fails the machine is out of service for several weeks while the expensive repairs are being made. I'm now trying to find some way to bypass the speed control but so far have had no luck. Nor have I been able to locate a speed control board to install myself. Unless I have missed something, you will be forced to take the machine into an "approved" Delta repair shop. Delta won't even respond to e-mail. My advice: don't buy it.

Pros: I can honestly say there are none. It would make a nice door stop.
Cons: Save your cash and buy something that gets the job done!

Like everyone else on here, thought wow, what a great deal, but problems right out of the box. Spent hours trying to set the fence to a 90, only to find out it was so warped I could shoot an arrow off it. Infeed and outfeed tables both out of whack as well. I could go on and on, but everyone else has pretty much covered all the problems associated with this product.

Pros: none
Cons: Great for making tooth pics

Tables are roughed aluminum (cannot wax, easily damaged), fence is difficult to adjust and maintain adjustment, could not make a flat edge (tapered or bowed). I am avoiding purchasing any Delta tools based on the poor performance of this jointer