Replies

1. 
   RalphBarker | Nov 22, 2012 10:48am | #1

   No personal experience with General, but . . .

   I have no personal experience with General, but, from what I've read over the years, they seem to have a pretty good reputation.

   From the description and photo on their site, it appears to be a well-built mid-sized machine:

   http://www.general.ca/site_general/g_produits/planer/30-125.html

2. 
   jrm200 | Nov 26, 2012 01:35am | #2

   15"Planer recommendation

   Dubie,

   Are you interested in buying brand new?  If not, you can find a used woodmaster 712 or 718 between 700 -1200 for a well kept one and their spiral head will set you back about $1000.   The woodmaster's are nice because they have the variable speed 0-16 fpm and they have a 5HP motor.   I looked at them very carefully when I was considering a planer/moulder unit but couldn't justify the cost of a new unit, and I didn't see a used one I liked in my area.

   However, I opted for a Foley-Belsaw 985, a 12" planer/moulder.  You can check out them out @ http://www.belsaw.com (they also advertise a 15" Planer/Moulder that looks a lot like the Powermatic PM15).  The 985 also has a 5 HP motor, and dual feed rates (unlike the variable feed rate of the Woodmaster).  It cost me about $300 for a used one, and I invested another $100 or so to tune it up.  It runs like a tank, planes really well with straight blades, and will definitely bury any of the benchtop models you have used.  If you really need a Helical Head, Byrd told me they would supply me one for ~$1200.

   Hope this helps.

   Best regards,

   JRM