opinions going to buy planer and jointer
labatt50
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
I am looking at a new jointer and planer for my shop. I would like to make these the last ones I buy. In terms of sizes: jointer 6″ or 8″, planer-12.5″ – 20″. Any comments on the relationship of size to each other in terms of convenience would be greatly appreciated. My shop is very big, space is not an issue. I would be considered a hobbyist, I spend a lot of time in the shop, but mostly for family and friends. Brand recommendations for my use would be great as well.
Replies
I've heard the new Grizzly 8" jointer is supposed to be good. FWW did a review on them, and I've been paying attention to Grizzly tools to see how they're starting to compete. I think WW Journal also did a review and ranked it tops. My next jointer will be a 8" one, maily for the table length. A 47" table is awfully difficult to balance a 8.5' board on.
I'm happy with my Shop Fox 15" planer for the money, $675 with in/outfeed tables attached. Lots of power (3hp), nice smooth finish, positive feed, practically no snipe. I've also used a friend's DeWalt 13" planer (DW735?) with the chip blower in it. For the same money, the Shop Fox is ten times the planer. However, I do like the blower in the DeWalt...just hook up a 3" hose and let the chips fly outside the shop...scoop 'em up later. Regardless, the Shop Fox is heavier, more powerful, and again, ten times the planer. My decision was made when I priced the 735 with infeed, outfeed, and stand at $650. For $25 more I really got a great machine.
More money to spend? I picked up a Woodmaster Planer/Moulder/Ripsaw/Sander this summer for a moulding job. Awesome planer...18", variable speed drive, 5hp, poly bed, rolling base, great machine for the money. I think the base planer only config is around $1300 plus shipping, while the whole 4-way machine is $2300 plus shipping. Great machine, easy to change tasks, loud, heavy, 20 times better than a little shop planer.
Good luck.
Thanks for the comments. I am leaning towards the 8" grizzly, for the same reasons you've mentioned. What was your experience like with your friends Dewalt. I really don't want to go with a portable but I am curious. I have never see one in action. Grizzly and General have a couple nice 15" and 20" planers with large cast iron beds, they acually seem like the same planer. There is a jump in $ for 2-3". Powermatic's 15" is another I've checked out. The portables just seem light and easy which is why I am curious.
I used my buddy's planer to help surface the trim. My setup was his DW735, and my older DW733. Most of my trim blanks were from 2.5 - 4.5" wide. I could not put two pieces in either planer and expect the planer to keep cool (ie not trip the thermal overload). However, the 735 bogged down much worse than my older 733. Quality of the surface was excellent with both planers, in fact better than my Shop Fox 15". I simply did not like how badly the thing bogged down when it was loaded.
I took 1/16" cuts...no more or it would get hot. My speculation is that the DeWalt engineers needed a fan to keep the motor cool, and adapted it to blow chips out at the same time. My old DW733 will trip the thermal consistently if it is loaded.
As for using the entire 13", forget it...unless you plan to take .010 off at a time. No appreciable amount of material (1/16") can be taken off full width. If you have a stack of 4/4 roughsawn to surface, plan a day or two. The power is simply too limited. This was on the 170 cuts/inch setting. I'm afraid of switching over to the faster feed speed, and killing the machine.
I believe the Shop Fox and Grizzly (and most others for that matter) come from the same factory. The difference is trim and options. The Jet and Delta units have motors below, probably are quieter, and look better, not to mention the brand name. I bought my Shop Fox with a recommendation from a friend who deals in hardwoods and has planed with a 15" Grizzly for better than 15 years. He has had very little trouble in that time, maybe one bearing go out which was serviced quickly.
If you're looking for portable, the DW735 would be a good choice. If you're looking to only do a little lumber here and there, and need the cool chip blower, it's great. However, if you're needing to plane enough lumber to build a bed, dresser, or kitchen full of cabinets, I would encourage you to go after a heavier Shop Fox or Grizzly unit.
If the quality of the surface isn't very good, you probably need to resharpen and/or reset the knives. I have a 10+ year old Grizzly 12" and after getting the knives back, it's at least as good as new. They need to be reset every time they're sharpened, usually. I also got my jointer knives back and I don't remember it EVER cutting this well. It's actually not far from a hand planed edge or surface. Not quite, but not very far, either.
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I think I need to reset the knives. I got a caliper gauge with my Woodmaster, and am going to try it.
Too many machines, too much wood to work, not nearly enough time.
Thanks, that confidently rules the portables out. I would like the option to be able plane much larger stock.
Bigger is better. You'll never regret having extra capacity if you've got the room. For a hobbyist, just about all of the better brand names will do well. Find some features, color, price, and the circumstances you like best and buy that one.
Been woodowrking for over 35 years and in my opinion and experience having a jointer as wide as the planer is best. With proper glue ups you really don't need a wide planer. 12" or 16" used jointers are pretty inexpensive and 16" planers are pretty inexpensive new so for me it's a no brainer. Combo's are nice but typically short on jointer beds and a bit pricey and more scarce used. Buying used doesn't mean having to rebuild necessarily and there are plenty of reasonable dealers out there who will back up a sale but it does take some learning to buy uesd as well as new in my experience. I've overcome the "last ones I buy" a long time ago. I've owned many different planers and jointers over the years depending on space and location. Presently don't own a jointer as I sold it to buy my house but it was an Oliver 16" that cost me $1740 and a few hundred to refurb it. Luckily I have access to a 12" and 20" so it's no big deal. Hopefully will have a biiger shop soon and will go out and buy a bigger jointer again but don't expect to pay over $2,000 for a 16".
Thanks for the comments. That's funny about the "last ones" we buy, it is true. I mentioned in another reply i will probabley go with an 8" jointer, unless I was able to go used. Do you have any links for the MN/ND area on used tools? With an 8" jointer, any other comments on planer width?
Look in your local papers, yellow pages under woodworking machinery for dealers and often there are other local classifieds, Craigs list and sometimes cold calling a shop to see if they have any surplus equipment. Calling on ads for different stuff and saying ...by the way do you know of anyone with such and such available. There's lots of creative ways to find used. Auctions, and it doesn't have to be a woodshop. Lots of places have fab shops or shipping departments that don't even list the wood tools. The net is only one way to go.
http://www.exfactory.com is a broker of machines so prices vary.
A big jointer is a great thing to have. If you can find a nice old Oliver or simmilar machine it's a great tool. Used iron can be a bargin if your a careful shopper.
Troy
Hi "50"
I am in the same boat.
I am looking for a jointer and planer.
I saw a General Intl 6" an hour ago. Pretty nice. You can't beat General.
Usually.
I was at Grizzly yesterday in Bellingham, WA
The 8", 75" G0586 was fabulous. Looked and felt good. Nice fit and finish. Smooth action on the adjustments. I haven't put any wood on it yet, this was just a showroom evaluation. It is big though, so you better have some room. But I think I am going to go with this one. 655$US
And they had a 6", 46" G0452 at 325$ that look pretty good, especially for the money.
I also really liked the G0453 15" Planer at 775$. Straight cutters. I think I will go with this one, but I am still sitting on the fence. I am not sure if spiral cutters are the way to go or not. Any opinions?
The guy beside me bought the 20" G0454 at 1175$.
PS I don't work for Grizzly, I was just impressed.
Good to hear regarding the Grizzly 8". I am no where near a factory so I have to buy blind; personally I find it scary. I looked at the General 6" a couple days ago, the bed was about 5" longer on average with the exception of the powermatic. I really liked it though, and the price. Tell me more on your first hand encounter the Gz 8". My shop is big, no space problems. That is the model I will lean toward. In terms of cutter's? blades are easier to change and set - so I hear. Is it worth the money? I will most likely go straight. I just haven't read enough to convince me other wise. the 15" GZ looks pretty impressive as well, again it was very similar the General's 15" and 20". I think I am pretty settled on the jointer but the planer I go back and fourth on.
Check out the threads on EZ Smart or look at their website. I happened on it and with their system for about $300 you can get guides that use a router to joint and actually do away with the need for a table saw. Of course, you will still need a planer.
Hi,
As the proud owner of one of the new Grizzly 8" jointers, I can hearily recommend this machine. Great fit and finish. No rust or shipping issues. I put it together in a couple of hours..you really do need the help of two others to get the head onto the stand....it's heavy!
My first day I jointed 100 bf of quartersawn White Oak...I"ve never had the dust collector fill up so fast...dead on flatness, no bogging down the motor...a dream come true.
I only have a couple of "lunchbox" planers. I own the DeWalt and the Rigid. For my money, the Rigid is 10 times as good as the DeWalt..more solid, better longetivity...a good machine at a great price.
Good luck!
lp
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