Incra or Jointech?

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:20 pm

I am debating between an Incra or Jointech system to add to my Shopsmith 520 and am torn between the systems.

If the price was equal which would you choose and why?

http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith.htm
http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/cata ... tempkg.htm

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:44 pm

Hi tdubnik,
Unless a person has both systems to compare side by side, I do knot know how you can get a satisfactory answer. Rick Davis demonstrated the Incra system at a Traveling Academy that I went to, and he knew how to use it. It was impressive. I bought one. Ed Reible really talks up his Jointech system. They will probably both do a good job.

edit:It reminds me of the difference between a Chev and a Ford; it depends on who you ask, and the only way to tell, is if the same driver spent half his time in a Chev and half his time in a Ford.

jlevin01 · Post by **jlevin01** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 9:58 pm

I have an Incra with a router table and a SS 520 with Jointech. I'd buy the jointech first. It is more substantial and better built. The Incra documentation, tapes, project book are better. I use both.

shydragon · Post by **shydragon** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:00 pm

I have the Incra System and it's a good system, but not for the shopsmith. If I would have known about Jointech system for the SS, I would have gone that way. It is much easier making changes with the jointech and getting repeatability. The other nice feature, it comes with something that allows you to raise or lower your extension table.

SS way of mounting is a little Mickey Mouse too me. Read up on the jointech system for SS, and I think you will want to go that way. They both do the same thing, I just think it is easier with the jointech for about the same price.

reible · Post by **reible** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 11:01 pm

Hi,

I've posted several reviews of the Jointech system and I think we may have had a review of the Incra system somewhere along the way. I'd use the search feature to try and locate them.

I own several pieces of Incra equipment and in fact I'm in the process of upgrading my Ultra Pro with the wonder fence (about a $200 upgrade). I'm use to using it and have done a lot of projects using Incra tools. I do not however own the system for the shopsmith.

When I compaired the two systems for shopsmith use I chose the Jointech. I'm very happy with it. I'm not going to tell you that is the system for you, once you study the systems you can decided for yourself... it is your money and you are the one that will be using it.

I will say look for sale prices if you decide on the jointech system, they have had some good sales of late.

Ed

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 12:35 am

As I understand it if you want to use the SS fence on the jointech router table you have to buy front and back fence rails which add $88+ dollars to the cost.
Therefore the difference in price between the Incra and Jointech system is not as large as it first seems.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 5:55 am

Thanks for the input. I haven't decided yet but based on my research I'm leaning toward the Jointech.

I hope to see both systems in January at the Atlanta Woodworking Show. It seems that the Jointech is slightly less expensive than the Incra at current sale prices even if I have to buy rails for the router table.

Do exibitors at the woodworking shows run any significant sales at the end of the show?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 6:01 am

shydragon wrote:I have the Incra System and it's a good system, but not for the shopsmith. If I would have known about Jointech system for the SS, I would have gone that way. It is much easier making changes with the jointech and getting repeatability. The other nice feature, it comes with something that allows you to raise or lower your extension table.

SS way of mounting is a little Mickey Mouse too me. Read up on the jointech system for SS, and I think you will want to go that way. They both do the same thing, I just think it is easier with the jointech for about the same price.

Would someone who is familiar with the Jointech please explain what it is that allows the extension table to raise and lower.

Pictures would be nice.

shydragon · Post by **shydragon** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 9:20 am

For the 510 model, they are showing a table raiser. I didn't see it mentioned for the 520.

http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith500&510.htm

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:28 am

shydragon wrote:For the 510 model, they are showing a table raiser. I didn't see it mentioned for the 520.

http://www.jointech.com/shopsmith500&510.htm

Thank you, Pat. I don't know why I never noticed that before. I am sure that it has always been part of the ad.

The photo that accompanied the ad was not very revealing but at least I know sort of what it is. It appears to be some sort of threaded rod that fits between the bottom of the extension table and somewhere on the Mark V.

I use the same principle the raise and lower the belt sander when installed on the Power Stand. This is an aid for tensioning the drive belt but it employs the same principle.

I have threaded stop collars for the extension tables. I seldom find a need for them but they are there if the need arises. I only have an inch or so of adjustability with the stop collar whereas this Jointech devise appears to have much more.

Guess I'll go see how much threaded rod I have in the scrap box that I have hauled with me everywhere I have lived. That makes two projects now that need threaded rod; the other being a homemade Joint-Matic.