Replies

1. 
   blade004 | Oct 03, 2006 04:19am | #1

   This makes the two of us. From what I have read, go with the Makita.

2. 
   Knotscott | Oct 03, 2006 04:23am | #2

   Don't let reviews sway you too much. Many of the amateurs have an axe to grind, many of the pros...well, let's just say they do reviews for a living....some companies spend more on promoting product than others.

   I doubt you'd go wrong with any of them, but I'd bet that the Makita is the best built of them all. Snipe is a funtion of setup...they'll all be nearly snipe free if adjusted correctly.

   FWIW, Delta is now owned by B&D who owns DW if that matters to you. My 22-580 has been fine for 2 years.

   http://www.epinions.com/content_156115177092

3. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 03, 2006 05:44am | #3

   I have the 22-580 as caught it on sale for a little under $300 3 or 4 years ago. No complaints what-so-ever and the dust collection is fantastic attached directly to a mobile DC.

   I have used the Ridgid and know several that own it. I have heard no complaints to the point I almost purchased it instead of the Delta, but Amazon ran a sale on the Delta and  I wanted to try the 2 speed.

   I have never used the Makita, but I know several that use it on job-site and rave about it as a lunch-box planer. I have seen it in use and the results were excellent. I doubt you will hear many complaints on it.

   I'm sure you could find a nit-pick on any of them if you used them long enough. But I see all  3 as excellent considering what they are and that is portable. None would stand up in a commercial enviroment where they run continously day in.. day out.

   If I had (and I will eventually) to replace my current, I would look for the best price available among the 3 and that probably won't be the Makita as it is currently around $100 higher and has been for some time. You will see more of it on job sites as it seems to be the on-the-site construction choice in my area (Atlanta). 

   So.. all said, I would welcome all three in my non-commercial shop!

   SARGE.. 

4. 
   nikkiwood | Oct 03, 2006 07:54am | #4

   There is no Consumer Reports for tools, so you're left to process and analyze the individual views of users and reviewers.

   For obvious reasons, most folks push the machine they happened to buy.

   I can't help you with the Makita.

   I know people with the Ridgid, and from what I gather from them and posters around here, it is a good machine.

   I have that Delta model, which I use as a job site planer, and it is pretty good. However, I had their first model (a 12 or 12 1/2"), which is still available, and I think just as good. It has fewer bells and whistles (which I don't use anyway), and it is quite a lot cheaper.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

5. 
   art | Oct 03, 2006 05:16pm | #5

   I can't help you with a comparison, but I've had a Makita for 15 plus years and used it consantly for hardwoods, mostly red oak and cherry. It does a great job and after playing with the table adjustments you can minimize the snipe. I usually just allow some extra length. The only maintenance required so far has been blade replacements when they get dull, which is a snap. Hope this helps, Art

6. 
   GW52 | Oct 03, 2006 05:30pm | #6

   Steve,

   Not to throw another model into the mix but I recently purchased a Dewalt 735 and I am very pleased with it. It had good reviews from Wood magazine. I had for about 12 years a Taiwanese knockoff (Totalshop) so I am familiar with what goes wrong with planers. The quality of cut on the Dewalt is great, has 2 cutting speeds and from the reviews the knives are easy to change, but I have not yet experienced this.

   Greg

1. 
   smslaw | Oct 04, 2006 08:04pm | #13

   I am starting to look at planers and had seen some favorable comments here about the Dewalt 735.  When I looked at Amazon, there were a lot of reviews and nearly all were very negative.  Specifically, they all said that the knives were dull and useless after very little use.  Have you seen that? 

1. 
   GW52 | Oct 05, 2006 05:05pm | #15

   The brand new knives had a real smooth cut as expected. I have run red and white oak, hard maple and pine and I can see they are getting duller but not to the useless point. Check out the Nov. 2006 issue of Wood magazine they have a review of planers. I guess it all depends on how you use the machine. I don't take a lot of thick cuts and usually use the slower feed rate. If I were going to be cutting some figured wood I would use the other edge of the knives.

   Greg

7. 
   DJK | Oct 03, 2006 06:10pm | #7

   I have a Makita 2040 15" planer with new poly rollers you can have for $700. Pick it up in Warren, MI

   DJK

8. 
   multium | Oct 04, 2006 01:39am | #8

   To compare the makita and the delta for a minute. The makita is raved about with little remarks of doubt. What the delta does offer is 2 speeds that the makita obviously does not. When planing figured woods is the delta going to offer me that much of an advantage against tear out. Or just by using simple tips like dampening the wood benefit me on both models to yield the same result no matter the speed.

   One more thought, if this planer is not going to be mobile would the extra weight of the delta be more of a benefit. Thoughts...

   Found $362 shipped for the Makita, sounds pretty good to me. Are Deltas two speeds worth extra money.

   Thank you all for replying. I do appreciate all the wisdom and warm words. Its been very helpful.

   Steve

1. 
   mbholden | Oct 04, 2006 03:38pm | #11

   multium,

   I have the delta 22 - 580 and am pleased.

   as regards the two speeds, the slower speed gives a noticebly smoother finish (less waves). Does this matter? Only if you are going to finish the board direct from the planer. If you hit with a sander or a finish plane (galoot style) then it really does not matter. Conclusion: dont let the speed(s) influence your decision.

   as regards chip collection: the collector (an extra) does a very good job. Only concern is that while it is non-handed (a plus) it hangs slightly below the pass line, meaning that the board contacts and lifts it slightly on exit. Does NOT seem to affect anything, but I think it could have been designed better.

   Would I do it again? Yes.

   Would I consider the DeWalt? Yes, but then, I have had nothing but good luck with my DeWalt drill motors.

   None of the planers you mentioned are bad choices, so I would go with price, or any other intangible you like (If you really like orange, for instance)

   Mike

1. 
   forestgirl | Oct 04, 2006 05:50pm | #12

   "...the slower speed gives a noticebly smoother finish (less waves). Does this matter? Only if you are going to finish the board direct from the planer. ?

   My understanding is it can make a big difference with figured wood.  This has been born out by comments from people who actually use it to plane that type of wood.  My suspicion is, when someone says "I can't see any difference" it's because they haven't put the slower speed to a good test.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   mbholden | Oct 04, 2006 11:38pm | #14

   Forestgirl,

   My point was that if you are going to sand, or hand plane the surface afterward, the difference was moot.

   Tearout was not the issue. Tearout also happens at the slower speed, perhaps not as much, but it happens. I think tearout is a completely separate issue and depends more on the wood and the current sharpness of the blades than the machine. YMMY.

   Mike

2. 
   Knotscott | Oct 05, 2006 09:09pm | #16

   I agree....the 2 speeds has been a good feature for me. The speed change is a simple matter of physics....50% more cuts per inch on slow speed. Our ability to detect that may vary, but it seems pretty noticeable to me.

9. 
   cadiddlehopper | Oct 04, 2006 01:55am | #9

   I have numerous Delta power tools & have not been disappointed with any of them except an old 22-540 planer. It was faithful but never ceased to snipe. My current 22-565 (560+stand) seldom snipes. They were new on the market when I bought. Dust collection is no problem at all. My primary criterion for planer choice is sniping frequency. Most any planer is dependable these days, but some do snipe more than others and many times it is invisible until finish is applied.

   I have only one Makita product. If you want something rugged so that it can be tossed around at job sites, Makita may be a good choice. I would save my money if it is to sit in a safe shop area.

   Cadiddlehopper

10. 
    JonE | Oct 04, 2006 03:19pm | #10

    I have the Ridgid planer.  I think it's an awesome machine.  The only downside to it, and I'm not even sure it's a negative, is that it's only a single speed machine.  A friend has the Delta, and he says that the two speeds seem to make no difference in cut quality.   Anyway, blade changes are easy, they seem to wear a long time.  It's a really nice machine and I would recommend one to anybody.  The Ridgid is one of two planers I have, the other is a monster, 3-phase 5-hp Powermatic 180, but it's out of service at the moment.  I recently ran 2500 board feet of pine and 400 bf of curly and birdseye maple through the little Ridgid, and it was no effort.    It's really not "portable", though, at 90-something pounds.  The stand that comes with it is worthless - build a heavy duty stand and you won't be sorry.  I built a stand out of some leftover 4x6 timbers from my timber frame house project, and the stand weighs about 120 lb by itself.  Makes for a stable planer.  Also make sure that you have good dust collection.  What else..... all the tools to change blades are included with the machine, they give you an extra set with the purchase of the machine, the automatic thickness stop works extremely well, I get little or no snipe on any species unless I force it.   Keep it clean, keep the bed waxed and the feed rollers clean and you'll be very happy with it.

    FWIW, I have used the Delta 22-580, I would say it's an equivalent machine but I heard a lot more good and a lot less bad about the Ridgid.

     

11. 
    multium | Oct 16, 2006 03:17pm | #17

    Thanks to everyone for their input. And I do agree that I can not go wrong with any of these machines. I think price will ultimately drive this purchase. I am leaning towards the delta or the ridgid which ever on I can get a great sale price on.
    Thanks again,
    Steve