I decided my benchtop planer (12″ delta) was not going to work for my interior door project (6 doors) and the future kitchen reno. Construction of the doors will require milling 8/4 and 6/4 cherry. I ended up buying a General 13″ planer moulder, largely because it was in stock and 120V, but am now questioning this decision. The store will take it back even tough I have used it three times. My primary concerns with the planer/moulder unit are the teflon rollers, short table and the 1.5hp motor. The 15″ planer is basically the same cost, has a much longer table and a 3hp motor. Any advice would be helpful.
Thank you in advance.
Replies
Brad,
All else being equal, bigger is always better in these machines. All other things are seldom equal and the bigger machine is probably more robust in every way. Small planers suffer from short beds, underpowered mechanisms, gears that fail, etc.
It's surprising you can return the used machine, but if you can, I think the larger machine will give you much better service.
Rich
Edited 1/3/2007 1:02 pm ET by Rich14
Thanks for your advice. I am puzzled how this project has taken on a life of its own. Really, all i set out to do is make some doors and new cabinet faces. Now I have built cabinets, two work benches for a permanent cut off station and am about to embark on a work bench that seems to become ever more difficult the more i read.
Yeah, isn't woodworking great!?
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