Rikon 25-210h Jointer / planer review?

[David Kuzdrall]

Has anyone had a chance to use the new 12" jointer / planer combo machine from Rikon? I am trying to find which of the more affordable combo machines (jet, grizzly, Rikon, etc) has the fastest changeover time and best fence. I guess this new model is a fairly recent release since I can't find too much info online.

thx

[Scott Brandstetter]

I did a bit of looking myself and couldn't find much either. Hopefully someone with experience will give their thoughts. I'm interested as well.

[David Kuzdrall]

Bump bump.

[Jamie Buxton]

In the lower-cost machines, speed of changeover may be a smaller issue than quality of design and construction. For instance, read these two recent threads about the 12" Jet jointer/planer.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...T-the-JJP-12HH

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...hard-to-adjust

[David Kuzdrall]

Jamie,

Thx for that info...kind of surprising but you are right that changeover time is nothing compared to that mess.

How much easier are the hammer and minimax machines with that regard and with changeover time?

DK

In the lower-cost machines, speed of changeover may be a smaller issue than quality of design and construction. For instance, read these two recent threads about the 12" Jet jointer/planer.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...T-the-JJP-12HH

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...hard-to-adjust

[Matt Radtke]

I too am interested--let us know if you find anything!

Seems that the 210 version solves the goofier parts of the 200. Both tables flip up in planer mode and seems to have a better fence. And reading the manual, seems like it should adjust nicer than the Jet. "Should."

[Rod Sheridan]

Jamie,

Thx for that info...kind of surprising but you are right that changeover time is nothing compared to that mess.

How much easier are the hammer and minimax machines with that regard and with changeover time?

DK

The new Hammer machine has rapid changeover.

Jointer to planer

- unlock both table levers

- lift both joiner tables ( spring assisted)

- flip dust collection hood over

- engage clutch for feed roller drive

The above takes maybe 15 seconds?

Planer to Jointer

- disengage drive roller clutch

- adjust planer height to 170mm or greater

- flip dust collection hood over

- release table latch, lower jointer tables

- lock both table levers

Maybe 25 seconds?

Regards, Rod.

P.S.

On my second A3-31 Hammer jointer/planer ( gave my first one to my brother as a gift). Great machine.

[David Kuzdrall]

Thanks for that info! How often do you need to adjust the infeed and outfeed tables to keep them coplaner?

The new Hammer machine has rapid changeover.

Jointer to planer

- unlock both table levers

- lift both joiner tables ( spring assisted)

- flip dust collection hood over

- engage clutch for feed roller drive

The above takes maybe 15 seconds?

Planer to Jointer

- disengage drive roller clutch

- adjust planer height to 170mm or greater

- flip dust collection hood over

- release table latch, lower jointer tables

- lock both table levers

Maybe 25 seconds?

Regards, Rod.

P.S.

On my second A3-31 Hammer jointer/planer ( gave my first one to my brother as a gift). Great machine.

[Rod Sheridan]

Thanks for that info! How often do you need to adjust the infeed and outfeed tables to keep them coplaner?

Hi David, in 8 years, never...........Regards, Rod.

[David Kuzdrall]

Awesome. Thx

Hi David, in 8 years, never...........Regards, Rod.

[Scott Vigder]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...iew&highlight=

For starters......here is my initial review. Would I buy it again? Yes.

[David Kuzdrall]

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...iew&highlight=

For starters......here is my initial review. Would I buy it again? Yes.

that looks to be a different model...

[Erik Loza]

....How much easier are the hammer and minimax machines with that regard and with changeover time?...

David, Fine Woodworking Magazine voted the Minimax FS30 to have the fastest changeover time and was named "Best Overall" in their 12" jointer/planer shootout....

http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-...o-machine.aspx
http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-...hangeover.aspx

This is for three reasons:

1.) The design of the FS30's dust hoods means that the planer table needs only be lowered a few inches, rather than most of the way down and then back up again, for the switch back to jointer mode.
2.) Dust collection on the FS30 always points the same direction rather than swinging both ways, meaning that you don't have to drag the dust hose back and forth to different sides of the machine during each functon change.
3.) The Tersa cutterhead that is standard on all US Minimax machines has the fastest knife change of any jointer or planer...


Also and I not sure how they missed this in their testing: The jointer fence can indeed remain mounted to the machine for the switchover. Shoot me a PM if you would like some more info or pricing on the FS30.

Erik Loza
Minimax

[Robert Wolf]

that looks to be a different model...

Yep. That's the cheapo one.