Replies

1. 
   Dustmight | Jan 06, 2004 12:13am | #1

   Most of the 12" benchtop planers have evolved their way to 12.5" and 13" planers, and are really pretty popular. Lotsa features and models to choose from....cutterhead locks, 2-speeds, reversable indexed blades, depth gauges, etc. Delta and DeWalt seem to be taking the lions share of the market latelyy, but Ridgid, Makita, Jet, Sunhill, Craftsman, Ryobi, Grizzly and Woodtek also have offerings. The newer models from DeWalt and Delta (DW735 and 22-580) have 2-speed settings for a smoother finish and for less tearout on figured wood. The Delta has a longer track record and has been on sale frequently for ~ $300 (incredible deal IMHO)....was around $450 over a year ago. The DeWalt model is newer and is catching alot of attention lately. It's selling for a bit over $400 now. The older DeWalt DW733 has been discountinued, but is occasionally still available at a good price(< $300), but for even money I'd lean toward the Delta 22-580.

   Delta and Grizzly both have very basic 12" models for about $200. There's no cutterhead lock, so expect some snipe.

   BTW - The current issue of Popular WWing has a 13" planer review. #1 went to DeWalt, best buy went to Delta, they didn't like the Woodtek much. Do a little research and tire kicking and see what you like.

1. 
   mike4244 | Jan 06, 2004 12:58am | #2

   Scotty, Dave was referring to bench top jointers, not planers. I have never seen one wider than 6".

   mike

1. 
   Dustmight | Jan 06, 2004 02:08am | #4

   How the heck did I read that post as "planer"? What a brilliant job of explaining the wrong thing! duh.....

1. 
   BG | Jan 06, 2004 03:36am | #5

   Scotty,

   You deserve partial credit..only one word was wrong...the rest was quite correct and toughtful....lol  if Dave is smart he'll buy a planer...lol

2. 
   forestgirl | Jan 06, 2004 05:00am | #6

   Your well-composed response was magnificent, and I suspect the slight oversight was a result of your brain saying "Nope!" to the idea of a benchtop jointer being so darned big, LOL.forestgirl Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)  you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)

2. 
   TomMGTC | Jan 06, 2004 02:05am | #3

   IIRC both makita and inca made wide bench top jointers that were of very good quality. I haven't seen anything in recent years. I know the picture you are referring to but I don't know any specifics about the machine. Sorry.

   Tom

   Douglasville, GA

1. 
   milanuk | Jan 06, 2004 08:15am | #7

   The closest thing I've seen is this:

   http://www.right-tool.com/rikrp10plan.html

   A 10" planer/jointer. The bed is only about 39-40", which is considered kinda small compared to the 46"+ you see on 6" stationary jointers, or the 75"+ ones you see on some of the 8" models. No reason why it shouldn't work, though. Kind of tempting to me, but I'm not sure I want to be a guinea pig, and I haven't actually ever heard of anyone actually having one (at least not that admits it on the internet)

   HTH,

   Monte

1. 
   MyTacoma | Jan 06, 2004 10:46am | #8

   I believe the Rikon is a brand made in China. I'm guessing Mark Duginske has either an old Inca 570 or the Dewalt 1150, both 10 inch jointer/planer combo. There are dozens of companies in Europe that make tabletop 10' jointer/planer combo but they seldom go any larger than that for something that sits on a table, and most do not import to the U.S. Dewalt sells tabletop models in Europe and there are brands like Metabo and Electra-Bekum that make table-top jointer/planers for hobbiests and small professionals. I don't think these are imported either. I have a stand-alone 14-inch jointer/planer combo that weighs 750 lbs. and a table-top sized like an aircraft carrier. There's absolutely no way this thing can be redesigned to sit on a table.

   Here's a vendor in Britain that sells some 10"+ jointer/planers. This is just a tiny sampling of type of cool machines are sold in Europe:

   http://www.machines4wood.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/catalog.category_products/CFID/1840633/CFTOKEN/5468e97-af940a2b-5e6a-4741-8b8f-b740ae6e5eca

1. 
   milanuk | Jan 06, 2004 11:02am | #9

   Oh, I know that they seem more popular overseas. Funny how they get along just fine w/o aircraft carrier size beds on their jointers. Come to think of it, even some of the larger Euro combo machines have relatively 'small' beds compared to stand-alone machines. The price on that Rikon is *really* tempting. Just wish I could talk w/ someone who actually has one, to see how it performs, blade placement $$$, etc. May have to call them up and see if they have any referral lists.

   Monte

1. 
   MyTacoma | Jan 06, 2004 11:43am | #10

   I think I would be tempted as well considering the Inca 570 sells for something like $3,500. Maybe you can get some references of owners from the retailer. I'm not sure if they'll give away that sort of information but it couldn't hurt. It seems to have all the right specs. and just light enough to be moved around easily. Can you imagine when Jet comes out with bunch of machines like this? With decent quality, price and 10" width/bigger machine, 6-inch jointers will go obsolete like the 4-inch jointers.

2. 
   jhausch | Jan 06, 2004 02:48pm | #11

   Let me know how you do in finding a referral.  That does look "too good to be true"