I read a lot about this planer here, but to be honest I’ve never read a review that didn’t say no difference could be seen between the 2 speeds. Conversely, they also don’t mention what wood they are running through the machine either. The difference may show between softhard woods and harder woods. What’s your experience with the speed choice if you own this planer?
Don
Replies
Don,
I too have read several reviews of this planer and heard guys say the is no difference. I beg to difference(differ). Maybe these guys have had their fingers dangling over their table saw blades too closely for too long. I own two of these units and can tell a vast difference in the finish of the two speeds. I used the first one on the job and bought a second so I wouldn't have to be hauling the one from the job back home every weekend to use. On hard woods (ie. walnut, maple) the finish speed leaves me with very little prep sanding. On softer woods I have virtually no finish sanding with the exception of knocking off the sharp edges. I have a 20" planer but still enjoy the versitility of this machine. When the weather is good I take it outside and let the chips fly. When the weather is not so good I hook it up to my DC system and have no dust or chips to speak of left to clean up. I can purchase replacement blades at my local Lowe's for less than $30 a set. The price on these machines has come down since I bought my first one. Why would anyone think of buying a single feed speed machine when they can have the two speed machine for the same money. There is a difference in the dimensioning speed and the finishing speed texture. I wouldn't have bought a second one if there wasn't a difference. This too is a Delta quality product that came out of the box nearly 100% ready to go. There's my review, for what it's worth.
JB
How's the snipe on this unit? Does it vary with the speeds? Thanks.
With the cutterhead lock in use, the tables set up properly and a couple of roller extensions in the right place I find snipe to be minimal. I think that alot of people fight snipe because of impatience. Trying to take off too much in one pass. Afte you have the stock properly dimensioned and turn it up to the finishing speed you should be doing just that, finishing. Nothing more. Not trying to continue removing amounts of stock. Snipe is an equal an opposite reaction to the pressure being applied to the cutterhead. Removal of less stock in each pass usually results in less snipe possibilty on anybody's machine.
table setup is really critical... especially the outfeed.
I find the difference between the finish produced by each speed to be noticeable, in hard or soft woods. Quite honestly, I don't know how anyone could say they don't notice the difference.... just run your hand over the surface and you can feel the difference.
I recently ran a bunch of rough poplar through for some baseboards I was milling, the result with a final pass at slow speed meant I had no sanding to do before finishing. The same week I ran some hard maple through for a blanket chest I was making, again the final pass at low speed meant I only had to scrape lightly to get a finish ready surface.
On figured woods, the low speed really goes a long way to minimizing tearout. I am a fan of the 2 speed system, I don't think I would buy another planer that didn't have speed control.
JB and Jeff,
No doubt you two are adamant when it comes to the finish difference between the speeds. Since I've never used the machine I can only go on what I read, and the reviews don't give much credibility to the speed option. Thanks for the review.
Don
The magazine reviews may not say much, but I've seen 1st-hand reviews from people who have actually used the machine in their woodworking who say there's a big difference when planing highly figured woods especially. Or, even with "ordinary" wood, that making the final pass at the slower speed produces a noticeably better surface.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG,
Since you underlined, "actually used the machine," do you think the reviews are either predetermined, or do you think the reviewers are doing a less then reasonable job of reviewing the features of the machines they are using? Either way, this potentially raises some inflamatory opinions concerning the reliability of reviews. For magazines, reviews seem to be a mainstay and possibly the most discussed feature of magazines. These user reviews don't speak well in a round about way of the magazines do they?
Don
Personally, when I'm researching a tool choice, I do use magazine reviews for help but I don't read just one review and assume it's "right on." I read as many reviews as I can find and look for patterns with regard to any one manufacturer's machine. (This in addition to cold hard specs and such).
There will always be real-world users of a particular machine who will differ in their experience with or opinion of their machine. However, I see enough confirmations of magazine opinions to feel that the reviews are worth reading, especially if a cross-section of opinions is taken as mentioned above.
In this particular instance, I don't recall reading any negative review of the Delta 2-speed. But, if I had seen such, and subsequently read 5 or 10 or more comments from forum members who had been using the machine and seen a positive difference from a 1-speed, I'd give more weight to the forum comments, lacking any more details about the mags review than I've seen here.
Can someone provide mag title and issue#?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG.
Actually, you can go to the video stream of the home page of this site and watch the video of the portable planers. I don't remember ever seeing a review of this machine that didn't say there was no appreciable difference in speeds. Myself, I have a single speed Delta portable planer and I haven't been looking for another. Hey, I have no beef with this machine at all. I just found the diversity of opinions interesting which is why I asked, and the owners of this machine seem to be a loyal bunch. As for other magazines, I have Wood and American Woodworker so I guess that's where I've read the other reviews. I'm not a magazine saver so I don't know if I can help you with the issue numbers. For saving mags though, I do have some very early FWW buried away in storage somewhere. It was a very different magazine back then.
Don
Hi again Don, I have the Delta single-speed also -- maybe that explains why I don't remember those articles. Maybe I didn't read them because I'd already bought a planer! If I had had the budget to get the 2-speed I certainly would have, but I'm quite happy with that little 12.5" machine.
Have to confess, I'm a magazine hoarder -- I have a good percentage of the FWWing collection, and a ton of others just to fill space, LOL.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I trust FWW far more than most other mags when it comes to tool reviews. Still, most reviews are flawed in subtle ways and most reviewers have their own biases I much prefer a thorough review where the author takes great pains to setup each machine as near perfectly as possible. For deadline reasons or maybe publishing space reasons often this setup phase is omitted from the article--a huge error in my opinion.
Case in point about the very machine you are interested in: Late last year I went to a touring WW'ing show intent on bringing home a new planer. This was very soon after the FWW issue that basically stated all the tested portable machines gave equivalent excellent results. I had enough money in my pocket to choose any machine there that impressed me. All machines were being demo'd by factory-trained experts who certainly have an interest in properly displaying their wares. The Delta is very heavy & impressively built so went to the top of my list. Until the actual demo. The factory guy fumbled around changing blades--making it look much more difficult and dangerous than I know to be the case. Then when running a board thru it the result was the worst snipe I have ever seen--both ends of the board! (a 5' pine 2x6 if I recall) Several snipes clearly seen from a distance. Now I know this machine is capable of much better than that. If this was a reviewer instead of a Delta employee we'd soon be reading how horrible the new Delta planer functions. Luckily for Delta it was just a group of maybe 20 guys instead of the entire circulation of a major WW magazine.
Personally I and a stranger I bumped into on the same mission walked away from that demo & bought the Dewalt planer. We knew the Delta was a good machine, but are you supposed to reward that kind of incompetence? Don't flame me for my decision--it was based on many other factors besides the demo.
A short review that doesn't appear to rigorously inspect & tweak each machine before testing is good only as a fire starter.
Mark
hence the value of forums such as this... rather than allowing one demo or review to guide your research, you get the benefit of multiple users of the product (although this is a challenge with new products, such as when the Akeda jig first came out)
I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences and thoughts concerning this machine. FWIW, although I am not in the market for a new planer you have changed my opinion on the virtues of this machine. Thanks again.
Don
BTW, the review is in the recent Tools and Shops issue (Winter 2002-3). Only one line toward the end in which he mentions the lack of difference between speeds.
I don't put alot of stock in written reviews. They are written by human beings and companies that can being influenced by advertising dollars. Not to jump on a stump for Grizzly here but I have used their referal service and have been used by their referal service. I have spoken to people in my area who have a piece of equipment I am looking to purchase and gotten "real life" feedback from someone who puts that machine through all it's paces. Not just cutting 10bf of hardwood in optimum conditions on a dozen different machines. I have a piece of Grizzly equipment I have been very dissapointed with after purchasing. I have told Grizzly of my dissatisfaction with the unit but let them know I am willing to be used as a reference if someone in my area is interested. Ain't it odd that I've never had a call on that piece of equipment but I have on three other Grizzly units I own. For anyone to say that this equipment is thoroughly tested prior to being reported on would be far from the truth. It simply says that all these machines/products we tested in the same fashion. We all know that every piece of equipment has is strong and weak aspects regardless of the manufacturer. These tests, in most cases are not comprehensive enough to determine the overall usefullness of the product. That is what makes this forum so good. Your get real answers from men and women that actually use these products "actively". Day in and day out. Although I think there are people on here whose opinions I would pay the price of a phone call for if you do like our friend Forest Girl says and weed through the junk you can gather some helpful information. Long live KNOTS.
JB
Edited 1/18/2003 7:56:38 PM ET by jb
Reading all those magazines (which I do in "spurts") enables me to say that I read both fiction (mysteries, usually) and non-fiction, LOL! Well-rounded in the literature department. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
i too bought the 2-speed when it came out, and use it quite abit .for finishing the thing does well for dimensioning with the dust shoot ..... the only thing that i can say that hasnt been said is i believe the dust shoot is to small and when planing anyrthing over lets say 8 inches there just to much material heading for this smaller opening. i do have a cyclone dust collection hook up to a vaccum. all 4" hose a total of 10 feet from cyclone to vac to tool, i dont take a huge amount of stock it just seems to collect in this smaller opening . headin out, maybe a more powerful dust collection. but as i digress, this material if not sucked away ,will back up and eventually cause tear out. so my observation is anything over 8" watch the amount you take , and make sure theres enough vac power to whisk the material away. or back up is inevitable, which causes problems..... FWIW.... bear
I saw a picture on the internet somewhere last night that was of a guy's dust collection system. He had built his own dust chute for the planer. Looked much bigger than the stock chutes that I've seen. Got any scrap sheet metal sitting around?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Don,
Smooth and smoother! I've used mine on oak and pine and have been very pleased with the results.
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