I may need a new planer, suggestions?
Sardog
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi all
I find myself needing alot of thin material (1/2 and 3/8 mostly).
My Makita floor planer takes only small bites, so I end up making alot of passes thru it.
Since most wood is usually 3/4 stock, it’s alot of work. If I get thicker, I can resaw and then plane to finished size. Still alot of passes thru the planer.
I don’t usually do very wide stock.
I also have a Dewalt lunchbox planer for some work, but still make alot of passes thru it.
I’m thinking I need something more powerful that can take a good bite each pass.
Any good thoughts or suggestions?
jeff
Replies
If you can find them a Powermatic 100 or Rockwell 22-401 are heavy duty 12 and 13 inch planers that will take a big bite. The Rockwell will take 1/4" per pass with a 5hp motor. I just saw a PM100 on Craig's list Portland for less than $700.00. These planers are relatively quiet too.
Sardog
Everybody will suggest what they own.. I'm no differant.. I can hog off a lot with each pass thru my Grizzly. Obviously I can remove more with softer narrower boards than wider harder boards.
You could look at a Williams & Hussey planer/moulder. They will take deep cuts and will make mouldings if you think you might need that function someday. An alternative might be the Woodmaster or RBI Planer/moulders.
Hi all
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
You guys are supposed to help me decide.
Jeff
Buy thicker stock and resaw it? More wood, less shavings...
You are correct, but that defeats the purpose.....I believe we are looking to justify a planer purchase here! :-) I'll take a stab. I'll spend your money! Although I don't own one, I've researched planers fairly extensively and have concluded that the choices are as follows:1. Taiwanese built......more or less all the same. (PM, Griz, etc) all pretty good, go for price.2. Chinese built.....Delta, Yorkcraft......go with the Yorkcraft.3. American Built.....Woodmaster, RBI......both excellent units for my money, the Woodmaster.My final recommendation would be the Woodmaster, followed by the Yorkcraft.John
I've been looking at 15 inch planers, and I'm curious why you think htere's a difference between the Yorkcraft YC 15P http://www.wilkemachinery.com/default.tpl?action=full&cart=11476595545708&id1=14&--woSECTIONSdatarq=14&--SECTIONSword=ww&--eqskudatarq=2534
and the new Grizzly G0453 ( http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0453 )?
They look like the same machine to me, with a different color paint.
Anyone else compared the differences? Any reason not to save $24.00 and buy the Grizz?
-----wade hutchison
Milton, PA>You are correct, but that defeats the purpose.....I believe we are >looking to justify a planer purchase here! :-) I'll take a stab. I'll >spend your money! Although I don't own one, I've researched planers >fairly extensively and have concluded that the choices are as follows:
>
>1. Taiwanese built......more or less all the same. (PM, Griz, etc) all >pretty good, go for price.
>
>2. Chinese built.....Delta, Yorkcraft......go with the Yorkcraft.
There you go! Good example! Perhaps my research needs a bit of updating as well! I agree.... same machine. All things being equal, I would agree, go with the Griz. I have hear that Wilke's service is very good while Grizzly's has been a mixed bag. Wilke's shipping can get costly, although it would seem as though they have a better handle on things now, Grizzly's shipping is quoted right on their website, so it is easy to figure costs.John
I think maybe the resaw route will be best also.
Looking at the specs on the planers, all seem to only take a small bite.
Maybe I'm being too picky.
Jeff
Dear Sardog,
Hey, I'm doing my best here! I'm not sure how much that you are looking to take off per pass, but "Woodmaster" clams a maximum cut of 3/16".http://www.woodmastertools.com/s/specs.cfmJohn
John
I've been checking the Woodmaster site out.
Also, have just talked to a shop here that sells New and Re-conditioned Powermatics.
Thay have some nice stuff and will need to go look.
Jeff
Reconditioned? That sound cool, where is here? I'm in CT. I shouldn't be checking anything out, but.................John
Here is in Vermont.
I'm in South Londonderry, he's in Rutland.
Jeff
How are you doing with the rain? i have some friends in northern NH and they said that all of the lower areas are under water. My wife's family is in southern NH, but they seem to be OK.John
We're ok here, only a small amount of flooding.
Some places are alot worse off around us.
I have changed some plans due to this awful weather.
NH is getting hit worse.
Jeff
Glad to hear that you're OK, we got some rain and some flooding, but nothing like MA & NH. I just dumped all day today and then this afternoon, it blew out and the sun came out. By 4:00PM it was beautiful! Go figure!John
given this situation Id resaw the wood on my band saw and then plane it to thickness...........saves a lot of passes and just about any half way decent thickness planed could finish the job
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
When you are making fairly thin stock your only option (with a planer) is to take small bites. The planer is not your limiting factor... trying to take large bites will be disastrous because the wood will bend allowing the planer to chew it to shreds. Since your pieces are not very wide I'd suggest using a hollow ground planer blade to rip with and then your clean up will be just one fine pass. This allows you to save the off-rips too. I have found that the accuracy of the tablesaw trumps the thinner cut of the bandsaw and is lots faster too. Of course those who need wide boards will have to use the bandsaw... but most craftsmen prefer fairly narrow stock anyway.
Believe it or not, I hadn't thought about the Table saw.
Great idea
Jeff
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