Does anybody know of a super-surfacer in the NY Metro area, or even the Northeast? This is a Japanese-made tool also known as a fixed-blade planer. It works by power-feeding a plank into a firmly held blade to get a result like hand planing on boards.
I need to make a small quantity of veneer for violin purfling and am interested in trying one of these out to slice veneer off planks of soft hardwoods. Pear, poplar.
I am a professional woodworker and understand how not to be a jerk.
Can anybody help?
Thanks!
Replies
CJ,
First of all I have never heard of a super surfacer and I don't live near NY, but when I read your post I thought of something. I assume this is a fairly specialized machine. If so, can you find a manufacturer of one or a distributor of one in your area? If yes, then I would think a call to a sales rep of that distributor would get you some information on who has purchased one or owns one near you. A couple more calls to said owner of machine and you might be in the door. Just an idea.
Eric
A Makita has been on ebay for some time. It's in Florida. I'll see if it's still listed.
DJK
CJ,
I did some Googling after I posted the first time and found a few things that might interest you. This one is someone who owns one but I don't know where he lives. At the end of the thread though is someone who knows what it is and they work for Veneer Systems out of Buffalo. An e-mail to him might get you what you want.
http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/swmf.pl?read=453916
Hope this helps.
Eric
Super Surfacer Makita
I have one in western colorado. You could take a vacatiion and take it back for $200.00. Larry
Here it is http://cgi.ebay.com/Planer-wood-Makita_W0QQitemZ7624809323QQihZ017QQcategoryZ67229QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Only $312, maybe I'll bid!
DJK
CJ,
I've been searching for one of these to buy for a while. They are few and far between. If you count Eastern Canada as the Northeast, then there is a Miyagawa SuperSurfacer unit on Woodweb - it's been on there for nearly a year now. The best bet for a good machine is a used tool seller in Japan - I know of several. Of course, you will need to add crating and shipping costs to the equation.
However, your intended use is not going to suit a Super Surfacer. It doesn't slice off veneers, but really thin shavings, like you would get out of a tuned handplane. Whisps of wood, not veneer-thickness material. Forget trying to do thicknesses like 1/128", etc - they're not built to do that.
Also, bear in mind that you will need to get a proper blade grinder as well to keep the super surfacer blades sharp all the time - a frequent need, just like with a handplane. The blade grinders are going to set you back $2000~7000, depending on what, if anything you can find.
There is a Makita super surfacer available in Japan that has insert tooling with disposable blades, but like a lot of good stuff Makita makes for the Japanese market, it isn't available in North America.
Thanks for all the comments, gentlemen, most useful.
I was thinking of a variation of the old violin-maker's trick of making small veneers with a heavy bench plane (lots of iron, plane the surface clean with a second plane, wet the wood, and two guys shove and pull the plane). Hoped to get a machine to do this for me as it was fun when I was 20 years old.
I'll probably just saw some aspen thin and reduce it to the thinckness I want by hand.
Thanks again!
CJ
Makita, Ryobi and perhaps Hitachi tried to sell these over 25 years ago in the states and it didn't work out well. Marunaka has a number of these in the states and are a real heavy duty machine. Pretty much used for veneer work in general.
http://www.marunaka-jp.com/new.eng/page3.htm
You might try http://www.foremostwood.com and they use a gangframe saw that produces a near sanded type finish off the saw, some where between planed and sanded. You can send them your wood to resaw into strips. Least visible kerf loss of any method. Great for bent laminations. Various widths available and limited to a fixed. They are in Long Island.
We have a MARUNAKA Super Surfacer & Sharpener for Sale
We have a MARUNAKA Royal 14 FX Super Surfacer and a MARUNAKA GH-50 Sharpener with Mitsubishi Super Line 3-phase industrial motor. Both are in good condition and ready to work hard.
Hello! I am looking for a Maranaka...used one in Japan, special tools for special projects....If you can help me would appreciate any leads or who you sold your unit to....Thanks! Ron Malenka
Maranaka
Hi just asking about the FX14 and grinder. By chance are they still for sale and can i ask the price on each machine.
Sinjin
I’m in Connecticut and have a super surfacer. I don’t think it would be effective cutting veneer thicknesses. Unless you are talking paper thin or thinner. I have seen the shavings used as veneer. You’re welcome to come try it but I think it would be a long trip to be disappointed. [email protected]
“[Deleted]”
Would also require a time machine to travel back 14 years.
Of course, that just makes me curious what the original poster eventually did both short and long term.
Heh.
If only I knew then what I know now . . .
I almost responded to a thread I had started 12 years ago. I guess that all these old threads popping up is a sign that the FWW is gaining renewed popularity?
I remember reading an article on the Makita super surfaced many years ago, when they first came out. After very high hopes, the shop found a niche market. They made shavings from some particular wood for sale to pet owners. I'm not sure that's what Makita hoped for.
“[Deleted]”
I have a Marunaka Royal 10 surfacer for sale. It produces a very clean surface on boards. Located in Minnesota. Extra blade carrier and tools. Very heavy. Set up for single phase power. Any interest?
Hey GaryStone,
Do you still have the Marunaka Royal 10 for sale?
Dave
I know this isn't what you are looking for. But
We use a 12.5" Delta benchtop thickness planer for making thin flat stock. I know this seems counterintuitive. The in and out feed rollers are closer to the blades than most other models. I learned this from a maker of mandolin.
We also did a lot of book butt matched burl veneers desk tops etc... We would sandwich the layers of veneer between 1/4" plywood and cut it off to desired shape on the table saw. You can give the edge of the veneer a light sand before removing it from the plywood.
This writing desk never played a note but I was still proud of it
Best of luck with all of your endeavors.
Never heard of a super surfacer, but now I want one!
Hello
I have the machine here in Minnesota. You can call me at 651 388 8400 or email at [email protected]
Gary
2006 post
Picture
So, anyone have any experience with these? I worked in a shop a long, long time ago that had a Makita version. It would look like a toy compared to this Maranaka. I just came across one and cheap! Maranaka still makes supersurfacers I've discovered but it seems for big industry. I don't think many of them ever made it over here. This must be their mini version. The one I found is like the one in the picture. I'd have to make a building for it because if I brought it in here it would ruin my shop! The Makita that we had would make a glass smooth surface , but wasn't truly a thickness planer. It wouldn't make veneers but I'd bet this Maranaka would! I do hate working on old machines though. I make my money working with tools not on them.
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