Looking for a reliable benchtop jointer that won’t break the bank? We’ve been trying out the WEN 8-Inch Spiral Jointer, and it’s been a real game-changer for our woodworking projects.
This compact powerhouse packs a punch with its 10-amp motor and spiral cutterhead. We love how it smooths out our boards with ease, leaving them perfectly flat and ready for the next step.
The extendable table is a nice touch, giving us extra support for longer pieces.
We’ve found the fence adjustment to be simple and precise, letting us make angled cuts when needed. The dust port is a big help in keeping our workspace clean.
While it’s not the biggest jointer out there, it’s perfect for small to medium-sized projects.
Overview: WEN JT833H 8-Inch Spiral Benchtop Jointer
We’ve been using this jointer for a while now, and it’s a real game-changer for woodworking projects. The spiral cutterhead with 16 blades gives our boards a super smooth finish. We love how the table extends to 51 inches, making it easy to work with longer pieces of wood.
The fence can tilt up to 45 degrees, which is great for making angled cuts. We found the depth adjustment to be precise, letting us remove just the right amount of material each pass. The 10-amp motor is powerful and runs quietly.
Safety features like the spring-loaded blade guard give us peace of mind. The included push blocks are handy too.
Clean-up is a breeze thanks to the dust port.
While it’s not the largest jointer out there, it’s perfect for our small workshop. We think it’s a solid choice for both beginners and experienced woodworkers.
Innovative Spiral Cutterhead Design
We were really impressed with the spiral cutterhead on this WEN jointer. It’s a game-changer for getting super smooth finishes on wood.
The cutterhead has 16 small blades arranged in a spiral. This setup helps the jointer make cleaner cuts with less tear-out.
We found the spiral design works great on both soft and hardwoods. It leaves surfaces so smooth, we hardly needed to sand afterward.
The motor spins the cutterhead super fast – up to 12,000 times a minute. This speed combined with the blade layout gives amazing results.
The spiral design has another cool benefit. When a blade gets dull, we can just rotate it to a fresh edge. This saves money on replacements and keeps the jointer working well for longer.
Pros
- Very smooth, clean cuts
- Works well on different wood types
- Less tear-out than standard cutterheads
- Blades can be rotated when dull
Cons
- Replacing blades can be tricky
- Spiral cutters are pricier to replace
We think the spiral cutterhead is one of the best features of this jointer. It’s not perfect, but the pros far outweigh the cons in our experience. The smooth results and less frequent blade changes make woodworking more enjoyable.
Extended Table: Accommodating Large Workpieces
We love how this jointer’s table extends to handle bigger jobs. The main table is already a good size at 33 by 8 inches. But the real magic happens when we pull out the support arms. They stretch the total length to 51 inches!
This extra room is super helpful when we’re working on long boards. We can smooth out planks for shelves or tabletops without worrying about them tipping off the ends.
The extended table keeps everything stable and level as we feed the wood through. It’s a simple feature, but it makes a big difference in what we can do with this tool.
Adjustable Precision: Material Removal and Beveling
We found the depth adjustment on this jointer to be a real game-changer. The onboard depth-of-cut scale made it easy for us to set the exact amount of material we wanted to remove.
We could make super thin cuts for fine-tuning or deeper cuts when we needed to level out larger imperfections. The ability to bevel edges up to 45 degrees was also really handy. It let us add nice touches to our projects without needing a separate tool.
We loved how smoothly the spiral cutterhead worked, leaving behind a really clean finish. The only small issue we noticed was that adjusting the outfeed table took a bit of practice to get just right.
Safety Features and Accessories
We were impressed by the safety features on this jointer. The cutterhead guard keeps fingers away from the blades during use. The power switch has a safety key to prevent accidental starts. We also liked the included push blocks for safely feeding wood through the machine.
The dust port helps keep the work area clean. While it doesn’t come with many extras, the extendable table arms are a nice touch for working with longer boards.
We wish it came with replacement blades, but overall the basic safety features work well to protect users.
Customer Reviews
We’ve been impressed by the overwhelmingly positive feedback for this WEN jointer. With a 4.5-star rating from over 380 customers, it’s clear that many woodworkers are happy with their purchase.
Users praise its smooth cuts and good value for money. We found the spiral cutterhead gives a nice finish on various wood types.
Some folks mention the fence could be sturdier, but it hasn’t been a deal-breaker. The compact size is great for small shops like ours. A few reviewers note it works best with slower feed rates for optimal results.
While it may not match industrial-grade machines, most agree it’s an excellent choice for hobbyists and DIYers. We think it’s a solid pick for those wanting an 8-inch jointer without breaking the bank.
Product Performance
We’ve put this jointer through its paces, and it’s a solid performer for the price. The spiral cutterhead leaves a smooth finish on wood, even on trickier grains. We found it handles softer woods like pine with ease, and it can tackle harder woods like oak too.
The 10-amp motor provides enough power for most home workshop tasks.
The fence is a bit wobbly, which can be annoying at times. But it’s not a deal-breaker.
We like the extendable table – it gives good support for longer boards. The dust collection works well with both 2.5-inch and 4-inch ports.
One thing to note: you need to feed the wood slowly for best results. This is especially true with harder woods.
The machine is quieter than some others we’ve used, which is a nice bonus. Overall, it’s a capable tool for hobbyists and DIYers looking to step up their woodworking game.
Ease of Set-Up and Use
Getting this jointer up and running was a breeze. We had it out of the box and ready to go in no time.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow. We found the controls simple to use, with an easy-to-read depth-of-cut scale for precise adjustments.
The fence was a snap to set up and adjust, even for angled cuts. We loved how the support arms extended for longer boards – it made our work so much smoother.
The push blocks included were a nice touch for safer operation. While the dust port helped keep our workspace cleaner, we did notice some sawdust escape during use.
Overall, this jointer was user-friendly and didn’t require much fuss to start making smooth, flat boards.
Conclusion
We’re genuinely impressed with the WEN 8-inch jointer. It packs a punch for its price, offering solid performance for woodworking enthusiasts. The spiral cutterhead leaves a smooth finish, and the extendable table is a nice touch.
While the fence could be sturdier, it doesn’t stop this machine from getting the job done well. We found it easy to set up and use, even in tight spaces.
For those on a budget or with limited room, this jointer is a great pick. It handles most woods nicely, though you might need to take it slow with harder species.
All in all, we think it’s a smart buy for hobbyists looking to step up their woodworking game without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s dive into some common questions about this handy benchtop jointer. We’ve spent plenty of time using it in our workshop, so we’re excited to share our insights with you.
What features does the WEN JT833H Spiral Benchtop Jointer offer?
This jointer packs a punch with its 10-amp motor and spiral cutterhead. We love how the 16 staggered HSS blades create smooth finishes on both hard and soft woods.
The infeed table is adjustable, letting us remove up to 1/8-inch of material in one pass. We found the depth-of-cut scale super helpful for precise work.
The 33 by 8-inch table extends to 51 inches, which is great for longer boards. We also like the 45-degree adjustable fence for angled cuts.
How does the WEN JT833H compare to other benchtop jointers in its class?
We think this jointer stands out in its price range. It’s hard to find an 8-inch benchtop jointer with a spiral cutterhead at this price point.
The WEN offers similar features to more expensive models, like the Rikon 8-inch jointer. We noticed it handles well compared to other benchtop options, especially with its powerful motor and smooth cutting action.
What are the advantages of using a spiral cutterhead in a benchtop jointer like the WEN JT833H?
We’re big fans of the spiral cutterhead on this jointer. It gives us much smoother cuts than traditional straight blades.
The staggered HSS blades make less noise and reduce tear-out on tricky grain patterns. We also like that we can rotate or replace individual blades if they get dull or damaged, which saves money in the long run.
Is the WEN JT833H suitable for both professional and amateur woodworkers?
We think this jointer hits a sweet spot for both groups. It’s affordable and compact enough for hobbyists with limited space or budget.
At the same time, it has the power and features that many pros need for smaller jobs or as a backup machine. We’ve found it works well for a wide range of projects, from simple edge jointing to more complex tasks.
How easy is it to set up and use the WEN JT833H right out of the box?
Setting up this jointer was pretty straightforward. We had it up and running quickly.
The instructions are clear, and most parts come pre-assembled. We just needed to attach the fence and dust port.
Using it is simple too. The controls are easy to reach, and adjusting the infeed table and fence is intuitive.
We appreciate the included push blocks for safe operation.
Can the WEN JT833H handle larger pieces of wood effectively?
While it’s a benchtop model, we’ve been impressed with how it handles larger boards. The extendable table support arms are a game-changer, letting us work with pieces up to 51 inches long. However, it’s still an 8-inch jointer, so there are limits to board width.
For most of our projects, though, it’s been more than capable. Just remember to take lighter passes on really big or hard pieces.
