I would like some feedback on 15 planers. After looking over the selection of planers, I am inclined to go with the Powermatic Model 15 cast iron planer over the Delta 22-680 or the 15 inch Jet.
Portablity of the unit is not an issue, as I only want it for my home shop. I have looked over the collection of ‘portable planers’ and read the recent FWW article, but I still am not too impressed with the portable units.
I intend to use the unit in my home shop to surface rough stock (walnut, poplar, mahogany, cherry).
Replies
I have the Bridgewood 15" and have been very happy with it. I bought it when money was tight and I couldn't afford one of the "name brands". I've replaced every thing else I bought during that period but I can't imagine any more expensive planer doing anybetter than the Bridgewood.
My 2 cents
Portablity of the unit is not an issue, as I only want it for my home shop. I have looked over the collection of 'portable planers' and read the recent FWW article, but I still am not too impressed with the portable units.
What are your issues with the 12-1/2" planers? Perhaps this board can help you sort them out. I have the Dewalt portable planer, and I love it alot. I've put Oak, Hard Maple, and Walnut through it and gotten almost glass smooth results on the output side. If I were to buy one today, I would get the Delta model with the two speeds. Unless you are going to put hundreds of bd. ft. through a week, I would save your money and get a portable planer over the 15" models.
Scott
Thanks Scott for your input.
I am having a hard time deciding on a cast iron 15 VS. a smaller portable like the Dewalt or the Delta two speed. The thought of the portables were not bothering me too much, until I showed my wife the portable delta and the dewalt and she said 'they both look like junk what do you want to buy one of them, just buy the cast iron unit'.
I am having a hard time deciding on a cast iron 15 VS. a smaller portable like the Dewalt or the Delta two speed. The thought of the portables were not bothering me too much, until I showed my wife the portable delta and the dewalt and she said 'they both look like junk what do you want to buy one of them, just buy the cast iron unit'
Bob,
I guess if money were no object I would love to have one of those 15 inch monsters in my shop too. However, that said, the 12-1/2 inch planers are not junk by any means. Thousands of guys like you and me have them in their shops and turn out beautiful woodwork. Just look at the Gallery section of this forum. Lastly, you have to ask yourself.....Is your wife going to use the equipment or are you?
Scott
A cast iron planer will be ten times the machine for about twice the price of a portable. A stationary planer, with an induction motor will be able to hog thru material faster, something to consider for dressing rough lumber.
I hate to say it, but your wife's instincts jive with what I felt about the Delta two speed.
GC
GC,
Thanks for your opinion.. I guess that is what I am tring to protect against.. I rather spend good money for the right piece of equipment once, rather than rebuying the same piece of equipment twice..
I too have the Bridgewood 15". This is the same machine as the PM, Jet, Grizzly and Sunhill. Figure in either the shipping or sales tax and make your best buy.
http://www.thewoodnaut.com/wood_files/Shop_Images/planer.jpg
If you ever come across a used Makita 2040, its worth a look. 15 5/8" capacity. Dead reliable and they leave a really nice finish. I think they priced themselves out of the market. I regret ever selling mine. About the only negative is they are loud with their universal motor.
I have had the Jet 15" for 9 years and it has been a workhorse. Never a bit of trouble and handles everything I have ever asked it to. It is a solid machine.
I bought the new Delta 15" planer. It was amazing that it wasn't damaged by trucking dock fork lifts. You must be careful & follow the instructions. The Chinese steel adjustment screws( for in & out feed) would strip out when you put a little torque on them, so I found some American steel metric & readjusted all of the rollers. Even if you have never done this sort of thing before, it is not brain surgery. Mine now is so sweet & precise that I glad I got it
Boheimian
I have the Powermatic 15 and so does my son. They are good machines and almost identical. The Jet has put their on/off control in a more accessible place for right-handed users; the PM put theirs lower down on the opposite side (below the speed control handle) where it's not the least bit handy if you're working from the other side. Earlier models of the Jet (before they were corporate cousins) only had one roller on both infeed and outfeed sides, but now have 3 like the PM. I saw a photo in FWW a while back which showed a long line of 15-inch planers in the same factory and the only differences were the paint colors (for each brand). The argument used to be that different companies had different quality control specs even though they were all made in the same factory. Personally, I doubt it. I'd look closely at all the 15-inch planers you can research and see if there's more difference to go on than color -- in which case least expensive may be the way to go. Delta doesn't appeal to me because their planer is made so the top-mounted motor assembly has to move up and down to change the depth of cut, and there aren't rollers on top to hold your boards when you run them through more than once (which is very likely). Good luck!
I'm also looking over the available planers, trying to decide which one to purchase. I'm pretty sold on Powermatics reputation, and I'd love to have the 15" model.
I've only used one portable model and that was the Ridgid 13". It was used in conjunction w/ a Woodmaster planer/molder, the Ridgid being the "finish" planer, the Woodmaster being the "rough" planer. I thought the Ridgid did a superb job - ran thousands of board feet through it, and negligible snipe. Then the boss bought an Extrema double sided planer and pushed the Ridgid & Woodmaster off into the corner, never to be heard from again.
I have a Delta 15" also. Like it alot. The 16 and 30 FPM speeds,neoprene outfeed rollers and very solid and stable mobile base were some deciding factors in my purchase.
Glendo.
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