Replies

1. 
   Kell | Jul 18, 2003 10:43pm | #1

   John,

   Welcome to Knots.  A jointer is a tool that gives you a dead flat face or edge to reference against for other operations.  A planer gives you a smooth face parallel to the opposite face from the cut.  (I hope I explained that clearly.)  If you are getting a smooth rip from the table saw and then want to  reduce the thickness of the piece, a planer is what you want.  Bear in mind that the edges of any board that will show in your floor will need to be clean and very straight or they will grab the eye and ruin the look you're going after.

   For what it's worth, I feel like you can rip to approximate thickness on the TS and then plane it final thickness provded that your TS is properly tuned and you use a good rip blade.

   Hope that's helpful

   Kell

2. 
   maneyj | Jul 19, 2003 05:02am | #2

   I have decided to go out in the morning and buy a planer. I looked in Home Depot they have a Rigid portable planer. It looks nice and Rigid makes good plumbing tools, but I have never heard anything about their woodworking tools. Lowe's has a Delta 12" portable for $199.

   I will go to the Metro tool shop in Charleston, SC. I don't know what brands/models they stock. I would like to stay in the $200 price range, but I want quality, so I am flexible.

   Can I get any recommendations, or stay away froms?

   Thanks,

   John

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 19, 2003 09:29am | #3

   John, is that Delta a 12" or a 12.5" planer?  Their last 2 models are 12-1/2", any 12" model you see is going to be pretty outdated.

   Both the Delta 12.5" and the Rigid 13" are excellent planers.  I have the Delta, but if I had had enough jingle in my jeans, I would have gone for the Rigid instead -- you get an extra 1/2", a zero-setting (I think), and excellent blade changing process. 

   The Delta 12" would be a good machine, and might be a pretty cool way to save money, but I would suggest you check on the blades first -- are they the disposable, quick-change type blades????  The blades on the newer Deltas (12.5") and the Rigid planer are automatically set at the right blade height by indexing pins, and that takes a huge amount of hassle out of changing the blades.  They are two-sided blades, cost about $28 or $30 for a set, so they end up being around $15 per useable set.  I just don't know myself about the 12" design.

   There are several other brands out there that are good:  Makita & DeWalt most notably.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

   Edited 7/19/2003 2:32:08 AM ET by forestgirl

1. 
   maneyj | Jul 19, 2003 09:24pm | #4

   I just purchased and test drove my new Makita 12" planer. I can't get over how easy and smoothly it works. I did a few pieces of hard maple and walnut. They are as smooth as a baby's bottom. I was surprised at the quality or lack of quality in the Delta 12" planer ... small tin infeed and outfeed tables. Their 12-1/2" and 13" planers look professional.

   The Makita even handles small pieces ... greater then 5-1/8" long. I tried some 6" pieces of 3/4" x 3/4" and they came out perfectly ... no snipe. Time to get back to work.

   John (Omahney)

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 21, 2003 07:55am | #5

   Congrats John!  You've got an excellent machine in that Makita.  Yep, ain't it wonderful? -- that first Garbage In/Beauty Out planing experience is somethin' else.  Have fun!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   JMartinsky | Jul 22, 2003 02:01am | #6

   Good eye on that Delta quality! I burned up three Deltas before buying a Makita. What I can I say, I am a glutton for punishment! The Makita is an EXCELLENT choice! I looked at them all and for straight quality, quietness, ease of use and how about the cool little toolbox AND holder that actually WORKS! Good choice and GOOD LUCK!

   John

2. 
   sailalex | Jul 23, 2003 02:29pm | #8

   I may be the exception, but I bought the Delta 12" 2 speed planer and have used it extensively on a boat project. It has been outstanding although I find the 2 speed feature not so much benefit; the less fine speed cuts as smooth as I need. I have run about 200bf of white oak through it and couldn't be happier.

1. 
   forestgirl | Jul 23, 2003 07:19pm | #9

   Hopefully, you got a Delta 13", or else got cheated out of an inch!  The two-speed feature is most notably useful with figured woods such as birdseye maple (from what I've read/heard).forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   rickles13 | Jul 22, 2003 05:37pm | #7

   I totally agree that if you can afford it the Makita is the way to go, knives were very easy to change, also I get NO snipe with my Makita unlike what the reviewer wrote in the Fine Woodworking comparisions on portable planers.

   R13