Replies

1. 
   ian_cummins | Jul 24, 2001 05:08pm | #1

   *
   My only experience is with a Makita 12" portable. It's different from most portables in that the cutter head is stationary and the table adjusts. For the price, I think it's a great little machine. The quality of the cut is probably as good as large machines but it is light and certainly can't replace floor machines for heavy continuous use. My advice, if you're a hobbiest a portable will suffice. Spend your money on wood.

1. 
   Ron_Teti | Jul 25, 2001 03:59pm | #2

   *i got a delta 12 1/2 its a good machine but if i had to do it all over again id buy a makita

1. 
   scott_murray | Jul 25, 2001 06:27pm | #3

   *Douglas;I've used the older Delta models (went thru two of 'em) and now using the Dewalt.The only good thing about the Delta is that the blades are cheap and two sided. Otherwise, on both ones I had, the gear box ate itself up. Lousy machining in my opinion.The Dewalt has been good, but man are the single-sided blades expensive. Locking and unlocking the cutter-head is a bit of a pain for every cut. And of course, the company`s line of "no more snipe" is hogwash. But it does all right. If you have the money and space, though, and think you'll use it, a larger floor planer is the way to go.the rev

1. 
   Christopher_Corvi | Jul 27, 2001 08:23pm | #4

   *I have a Ridgid 13" and it works well but much like the others doing it all over again i would spring for the new Makita. Chris

1. 
   blackwelder_ | Jul 27, 2001 10:26pm | #5

   *makita makita makitathe only 12" planer gives a glass smooth finish, almost no snipe, sometimes not at all, plenty of power, fairly quiet, disposable, double sided knifes, - easy to change, and new blades reasonably priced and machined to perfection by computer. if all the other brands cost 50.00 I would still by makita. if you want a finishing planer. if you want a production planer and you don't mind sanding out the washboards made by the crushing tractor feeds in the bigger machines get a bigger machine.

2. 
   Art_Petersen | Aug 01, 2001 03:04am | #6

   *I have had a makita planer for 10 years, planed over 1000 bf of red oak plus a lot of cherry, ash, and maple. The only maintenance required is changing blades when they get dull. Works as good as the day I got it.

3. 
   Steve_Wargo | Aug 23, 2001 03:26pm | #7

   *I have the 13" ridgid and I like it. I did actually use a delta and a dewalt before I purchased it. I think that the Ridgid worked the best of the ones that I used, with the exception that it seemed to produce mor noise than the other two. But, I would have purchased the Makita, had I not found the Ridgid, with stand on sale at Home Depot for $279. Couldn't pass that up.

4. 
   Alex_Higgins | Jan 07, 2002 08:53pm | #8

   *I bought the Delta 12-1/2", works great. I get almost zero snipe by lifting the board very slightly at the end of the cut. The head lock seems to help also. The blade change is dead easy, disposable w/ 2 edges. If I had the extra money I would have bought the Makita, but for weekend use, you can't beat the Delta price.

5. 
   ian_cummins | Jan 07, 2002 11:39pm | #9

   *The Makita 2012 has received several positive comments in Knots, try a search. I've had one for about 6 years with good results and no mechanical problems. The cutter head on the Makita is stationery and the bed moves up and down to the cutters. On most or all other machines, a cutter head moves up and down to a stationery bed. I can't say one system is better but they're definitely different. As far as cost, Highland Hardware had Makitas for $299 several months ago but it may have been a limited offer. They were over $400 when first introduced. The newer model is Makita 2012 NB.