Replies

1. 
   walnutjerry | Dec 03, 2004 07:00am | #1

   good choice on the jointer-----i have the 8" wide 6' bed powermatic and totaly satisfied with it.   Sander vs. planer????????  You are looking at two totaly different operations.  A sander works in thousandths while the planer works in sixteenths.  Unless you have an unlimited supply of rough sandpaper and more time on your hands than you can imagine---well I am sure you get the idea.  Go for the planer first------you can sand with a portable hand sander untill you are ready for a drum sander.

1. 
   JimDiaz | Dec 03, 2004 07:01pm | #2

   Thanks for your reply, any suggestions on a planer?

    

   Jim

1. 
   walnutjerry | Dec 03, 2004 11:11pm | #3

   Jim---I have a Belsaw 12" planer I bought through Sears in the 70's and have been very pleased with it, There were not near as many "benchtop" planers on the market then. My suggestion is to consider what you will use it for, if is a production atmosphere go with an industrial rated planer. If it is an occasional use situation then a smaller machine will suffice.

   In recent years when I updated machines I went with Powermatic. I have a jointer and lathe built by Powermatic and am extremely happy with both. They are not cheap machines-in price or quality.

2. 
   jimlightner | Dec 04, 2004 12:54am | #4

   Jim,

   I have the DW 735 and am pretty pleased with it. Yes when you add the table extensions, stand, and mobile base you're looking at roughly $750 or so.

   The thing is though as someone else mentioned earlier is what are you going to use it for?

   For myself this planer works on just about everything I could want it for. Granted that if you want to go to a industrial size planer you may be able to do more but you do pay a lot for just a few more inches in width and do you really need something wider that 13 inches?

   As to a drum sander, this is an entirely different animal. A sander is used to smooth a surface where a planer is used to remove a surface. While you could use a sander it would take so long to remove anything mire that an eighth of an inch and the cost in paper would end up costing you more in the long run.

   Jim

    

3. 
   gusser33 | Dec 06, 2004 05:54am | #5

   Jim,  I have a planer and jointer, both Powermatic.  The jointer is 8" and the planter is 15".  My advise to you would be to get the jointer first.  After the table saw, I feel this is the next most important tool.  Once you get the edge straight your cuts on the table saw will be perfect.  Have Fun.  Merry Christmas.

1. 
   AndyA | Dec 08, 2004 11:13am | #6

   Jim,
   I'm pretty much of a newbie and spent the last twelve months putting together a large shop in a small space (garage). Two of the first things I bought were the Powermatic 6" jointer and 64A table saw. I like them both a lot though I wish I could have afforded the 8" jointer and 66 cabinet saw. My point is that I'm sure you'll be happy with a Powermatic planer if it suits your needs. I just bought the Dewalt DW734 planer. After reading the reviews on Amazon I was a bit concerned with some of the problems with the DW735 (though the people who have posted to you are please with theirs). I would assume that the transport is the same for both these planers but I didn't read any similar complaints about the DW734. Anyway, I just pulled my DW734 out of the box today and will report back ASAP (assuming I remember to). Dewalt is running a rebate program and Amazon/Tool Crib are offering $25 off of Dewalt orders of $199 or more. I think the same discount goes for Delta and Powermatic/Jet as well. Dewalt has information about the rebate at http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=5934. The deal with Amazon is that you get $50 off a future order.
   I priced out some sanders recently and was surprised at how expensive they are.
   Have fun.
   Happy Holidays.
   Regards,
   Andy

2. 
   user-143961 | Dec 13, 2004 05:48am | #7

   J.T., All,

   I'm on the other side of adding to my shop.  I have a Delta planer and now want to adda jointer.  I'm looking at the new 6" and 8" Powermatics.  I can afford the 8", but I have a basemenst shop and don't want to buy more machine than what I'll need.  (Not to metion getting the 8" brute down the stairs.)  I'm planning on expanding into larger cabinet making and furnature projects, such as a big screen TV entertainment center.  What do you think, do should I get the 8" jointer or will 6" be enough for home projects?

4. 
   Peter36 | Dec 19, 2004 04:58pm | #8

   Hi Jim. You should check out the Knots forum for a ongoing discussion about the 735. I do not own one but reading what people have to say I sure do not want one. I would definately by the planer before a drum sander as well.

1. 
   JimDiaz | Dec 20, 2004 05:59pm | #9

   Thanks:

   I believe Santa is bringing the 735 and I'm getting myself the Powermatic 8" Jointer.  Now I need to find more time to spend in the shop.