Replies

1. 
   RickW | Jan 30, 2008 03:26am | #1

   Very good quality and I don't know if the company is still in business, or if parts are available. For more info, try http://www.owwm.com.
   Rick W

2. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 30, 2008 04:23am | #2

   The company was located in Cincinnati, Ohio and they went out of business in the late 80ies or early 1990. I owned their 12" 5 hp floor model and it was a jewel. Ran great , had it from 1977 to 1987, sold it for what I paid for it. There is a company that makes replacement parts but I cannot remember the name of the co. I believe it was their model #95

   
   

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   Edited 1/29/2008 8:25 pm ET by mrbird90

1. 
   woodenhead | Feb 01, 2008 04:18pm | #3

   Thanks for the info. was it 220v or 110v and is there away to connect a dust collector?

1. 
   mrbird90 | Feb 01, 2008 05:31pm | #6

   It operated on 220v and had no dust collecter hood so my brother being a sheet metal worker made me a chute that covered the top and connected to my dust collection system. I believe the hood was optional at the time but when I purchased the planner I did not have a dust collector. One use of this machine showed the need for a collector.

3. 
   cigarmike | Feb 01, 2008 04:29pm | #4

   Had one for a number of years. Fine machine and lots of cast iron. The company went out of business in the late 80's, but parts are still available. I gave away the info on the company when the machine was sold, but try OWWM site for info on many old woodbutchering iron. There should be a link there.

   Sold it after getting a J/P combo.

4. 
   ChipTam | Feb 01, 2008 04:45pm | #5

   I have an old Powermatic 12" which is almost identical to the Parks.  They're both built like tanks.  If you do get the Parks, check out your index for FWW.  There was a great article from about 15 years ago on how to tune up your planer.  The author used his Parks planer as the model for the article.  He also showed how to make several gauges to help with the adjustments.  Boy, I wish FWW still published articles like that!

   Chip

1. 
   jeff100 | Feb 01, 2008 11:38pm | #8

   Here's the link to the referenced FWW article on the Parks Planer.http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDF/011107072.pdfRequires subscription of course...Jeff

1. 
   ChipTam | Feb 02, 2008 05:09pm | #9

   Jeff,

   Thanks for that link.  I keep a photcopied copy of that article with the owner's manual for my planer.  The article was very well-written and, whenever I need to adjust the planer, I pull out the article.  Fine-tuneing a planer can be tricky and I would be lost without that article.  By the way, owner's manuals for older Powermatic machines were very poorly written and the grainy photographs were nearly useless.

   Chip 

2. 
   woodenhead | Feb 07, 2008 04:01pm | #12

   Thanks for the information, i am going taking a look at the planer today.

5. 
   joinerswork | Feb 01, 2008 07:17pm | #7

   wooden,

   I have a 12" parks planer.  Bought it new in 1974 or 75.  It has been in daily use in my small shop since then.  The only problem I have had, is that I let the cutterhead bearings get dry once, and spun one bearing on the shaft, requiring that it be re-turned to accept a replacement bearing.  That was about 25 yrs ago.  Still using it every day.  My motor is a 3 hp I believe, 220v.  It has plenty of power to do what I ask of it. I ordered the optional dust chute when I got the machine, but used it for years before I hooked it up to a collector.  One annoying habit it has is that of the drive belts slapping the inside of the guard as it winds down after cutting off.  Scares women and small children, and can make a grown man jump :-).

   Ray

   Ray

1. 
   DonC | Feb 02, 2008 07:39pm | #10

   My belt slaps too Ray. My only complaint. It's my best purchase in 1975. Built like a tank and has survived the test of time in countless shops. I also bought a Parks 18" Bandsaw in 1975. It also is quality.

6. 
   philip | Feb 03, 2008 09:30am | #11

   Some of those found their way to Southern Africa, Zimbabwe in fact. Don't hesitate if you get a chance to get one-very nice little machine which is simple and strong. Ideal re-build candidate-doesn't take much to jack up one one and have it good for another 50years.

   Philip Marcou
7. 
   DavidJSK | Jan 18, 2022 04:52pm | #13

   I have a Parks planer in the UK and need parts for it: - The leaver that disengages the gear box from the cutter head was long ago removed and a plate put on to hold the two permenantly engaged. I'd like to get hold of the leaver mechanism and re-enstate this provision.

8. 
   kikodoss | Jan 20, 2022 10:20am | #14

   I have a Parks 12" planer, later vintage with the base, 5 hp Baldor motor and, very important, a cover for the belt drive. I love this big hunk of cast iron. I have yet to have any issues with it. You just can't beat the benefits of having a couple of hundred pounds of cast iron.

   The only negative is the setup which takes a bit of time each time you replace the blades, and the value of the video/magazine article by Bob Vaughn is priceless. The benefits of this machine far outweigh this negative.

   I made a wooden dust shroud. Works great. Will post a picture when I can.