Replies

1. 
   woodshaver | Mar 17, 2003 05:20am | #1

   Hi Chuck I own a delta 15" planer , its been good.no problems. but all the machines

   your  looking at are good , I chose delta because all my shop tools are delta, didnt want to change the color scheme. I do reccomend puting your planer on wheels.

                                       good luck         mark

2. 
   camel | Mar 17, 2003 02:24pm | #2

   Chuck, I'd seriously recommend that you look beyond the major brand names. The Bridgewood 15" planer is identical to the jet and probably the powermatic too. But about $300-400 less. Go to wilkemachinery.com.

   I've had the Bridgewood 15" for about 4 years and have not had one complaint.

   John E. Nanasy

3. 
   eximreb | Mar 17, 2003 03:17pm | #3

   Hi Chuck 6 Monthes ago I bought the Delta 15" planer through Tool Crib. Good delivery, & I rented a small fork lift & assembled the beast. Then came the fun. As I went about setting the rollers, I ran into roller set screws that stripped out when I put an allen wrench to them. I went out and bought american metric set screws. I set & re-set the rollers, because I'm fussy. It took me a long day,but I don't have snipe, repeat, I don't have snipe. I also put the beast on a skid with very, very good casters. I also hooked it up to my 4 station cyclone dust collecter.

   good luck

   Good luck Richard

   
   

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   Edited 3/17/2003 8:33:30 AM ET by Bohiemian

4. 
   Andrew | Mar 17, 2003 06:43pm | #4

   As far as I'm concerned there is very little difference between the 15" planers out there except price. They are all made overseas, and the castings are all pretty much identical, so like the others have said, look around at smaller names, just make sure you check out the machine before you buy it.

   My advice is to stay away from the moving head design if you want easy to change blades. It is the worst possible design for this as you have very little room to work in and the motor is in the way as well. Also notice how the big industrial planers all have moving tables. It is a simpler and more reliable design. Don't worry about infeed and outfeed tables. Personally I don't see what the big deal is with them anyway. I avoid snipe by lifting the end of a board as it goes into the planer and as it comes out, and this works even on thin 1/4" boards where an outfeed table wouldn't help you.

   I have an import 15" planer that I bought used, and it works fine, however, if I had a choice I would have bought something like the General 130. Not just because it's made in Canada, but because blade changes are easier and it's easier to raise a table then the whole cutterhead assembly and the motor.