I need some advice… In setting up shop as I’ve gotten into woodworking in the past year, I have learned not to waste my money on inferior (whether in terms of quality or capacity) equipment. I prefer to buy good heavy used tools as opposed to cheaper, lighter stuff, but I’ve heard/read several opinions that portable “lunchbox” style planers are the one category of woodworking equipment where that approach isn’t necessarily best? In your experience, would you select a mid-range ( Dewalt 734, Delta 22-580, Steel City, etc ) portable or wait for a deal on a used stationary planer and likely still spend quite a bit more $$? If I go with a portable, which model would you suggest?
Sorry for so many questions and thanks immensely for any advice!!!
Replies
I would say that your decision is determined by the power supply to your shop and the amount of space you can afford to sacrifice. I own a DW735 (13", 3 knives, two speeds) and am very happy with it. Some users report significant snipe - I rarely get any. While not exactly light, it is portable and a relatively compact package. If you move into the larger 15" and up planers, they usually weigh a couple hundred pounds and often come on a stand. I belive most require 220V. They would be the better choice if you are a heavy user.
For what it's worth, I often spend half a day or more on stock prep - jointing and planing. Then I move on to joinery and such.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I have one of the early Delta "lunchbox" models, and it has served me very well. I recently had the opportunity to use a 20" Powermatic surface planer and I thought it would cast a different light on my little planer, but I left unimpressed with the Powermatic.
The little Delta is only held back by its 12" capacity. It has plenty of power, and is very accurate. Snipe isn't even too much of a problem. Since this is such a basic model of fairly old vintage, any of the newer models would probably work as well or better.
If mine were to give out, I think I'd get the DeWalt. It seems to have some nice features, but it is a bit larger.
Rob Millard
http://www.americanfederalperiod.com 
I agree with the Dewalt DW735. 2 Speed, three cutter head choice. It does a super job. I was able to reduce what little snipe I was getting by providing more infeed and outfeed support for the stock. Also, the cutter blades are super easy to change out on this machine. First, they're double sided so when one side gets worn, you just flip them over. The task requires no special tools or fussy set up. There are locator pins on the head that the blades fit on to just right. Couldn't be easier. (just make sure the machine is unplugged before you service it, as with any machine) A SAFE shop is a happy shop!
I agree with Chris (flairwoodworks). The decision needs to be based on available power, available space, and budget.
For me, those elements had me buying the Delta portable -- the newer two-speed model that can handle 13" width.
And its been good to me.
JW,
I'll cast another vote for the Dewalt DW735. I bought one reconditioned (about $400 with shipping) and have been using it regularly for 6months now without trouble. Having used a whole range of planers over the years from the portable to a 40in running on 480V 3 phase, I'm pleased as punch with my little Dewalt. Besides not being able to handle panels, there's little it doesn't do.
I did have a bit of trouble with snipe until I raised the infeed and outfeed tables just above the bed. This handles the little bit of table deflection that you get. As another option, I was searching the FWW site yesterday and came across an old article about a bed for portable planers. The bed goes all the way through the planer and provides complete support. If you still get snipe with that thing you're doing something wrong. I don't remember the author, but you should be able to dig it up if you're interested.
In short, I don't think you could go wrong with the DW735, and I haven't even begun to dream about an upgrade. I just don't see the need.
Happy cutting,
Aaron
Aaron,> Dewalt DW735 planer or similarI have been eyeing these for years. How would it perform on purple heart do you think? PH has some resin that oozes out to a small degree. Also quite hard.I am concerned resin/what ever would cause it to hang up on smooth table. I understand can wax table. Do you wax table much?Also PH tends to scorch on the wood and dull blades. What are your thoughts there.Would a planer with rollers on bed like big dogs be the way to go? Is for one man shop.I am not arguing but would like info.Thanks
Edited 12/16/2008 3:49 pm by roc
Roc,
The real question is how hard are you going to push the planer with the purple heart? If you want to hog of 1/8" passes, you're going to need a more industrial planer. If you just want to take minimal passes and get the boards cleaned up, you should be fine with the lunchbox planers.
As for the resin, I don't know what to say other than I would expect it to affect both types of planers. If it dulls the blades in the lunchbox it will do the same to a big planer. There may be some differences in the metals between the blades that will help, but it's still going to dull them. It's a tropical hardwood, so it dulls blades. It's the devil you have to deal with if you want the exotic materials.
I've not had much trouble with boards getting held up in the feed. Occassionally, I need to put light pressure on the back of the board to get it to feed, but I've never seen this as a problem. My planer is used for rough prep only and all stock gets a handplane pass and sanding afterwards, so any small burnishing hasn't caused me concern. I will take you're suggestion and put some wax on the table. I hadn't thought about that.
I guess all I can say is that for my one man shop (hobby only) it's enough. Other than glued up panels (which wouldn't fit through a 15 or 20 either), it does what I need. You'll have to make the decision based on the type of work you do, your budget, power and space availability.
Cheers,
Aaron
Aaron,Thanks man.I am concerned the resin/what ever it is that comes out of the wood will cause drag on the bed if no rollers. You can feel it more than see it if you rub your hand across a planed surface after the wood has been left for a few weeks or months depends on the plank.Yes 1/8" is about the max. more than that and I will cut it off with bandsaw for veneer. I realize I must take a few passes to cut this thickness off with small power thicknesser.Any body else have experience with purple heart wood and small thicknesser with a bed with no rollers? roc
Unless you do lots of woodworking I'm not sure the cost is justifiable for a "real" planer. The opinions you are getting on the "lunch box" planers are justified. They are capable of giving excellent results.
I have the Delta 22-580, that has a 13-inch capacity. And, I am highly satisfied with it. Theoretically the surface finish won't be quite as smooth as the Dewalt 735, because the Dewalt makes roughly twice as many cuts per inch. That said, I have tried wetting a freshly planed piece of maple with mineral spirits, and holding it up to the light to look for surface wave, and can't detect any.
From my perspective, I'm sure that the Dewalt 735, isn't worth the extra $200 dollars they are selling for on Amazon.
I'll throw a plug in for the Makita 2012NB. Looked at the Delta 22-580, the DeWalt 735 and the Makita ........... wound up with the Makita. The Makita leaves a nice surface finish, minimal snipe, quieter than the Delta or the DW 735 (at 100+dB it's noise will raise the dead) and more portable than either (the DW735 is 90+ lbs) . Downside- the dusthood is extra and it's uses a bit of an oddball 3" outlet and it has less capacity-12". If I were in the market for a benchtop planer the Makita would still be my first choice.
Sir Winston Churchill
My choice was and remains the Makita 2012. Have used mine two = years with no problems.
Dear J,
I have posted several times on this subject, so I have gone back and selected two posts that may be of some assistance:
43568.9 in reply to 43568.8
Dear Still,
I was praying for the death of my Makita planer so that I could justify a stationary unit. That was until a friend wanted to store some tools at my place. :-) One of those was a Delta 15" planer so I got a chance to use one and was surprised a few things:
1) Speed: no contest, the Delta's feed rate, depth of cut and raw power let it win hands down.
2) Finish: Again, no contest, but the Makita won this one! In particular on light cuts.
3) Noise: They are both ridiculous in the shop, but the Delta is louder
4) Blade change: Makita... Good, Delta......bad.
What I discovered was this. For me, if I had to have one planer, it would be the Makita. The only thing that the 15" planer did better was to hog off material quickly, or make cuts over 12" wide. Ideally, I would use the Delta as "rough" planer and do my finish cuts on the Makita. Otherwise, I do as I do now, if I am planing rough sawn material I just take a lot of passes.
Best,
John
This is from a while back (2003). I still have and use the same Makita planer:
3279.5 in reply to 3279.1
After burning up two Delta single speed planers, I went for the Rigid. Ran material through it, no real improvement over the Delta, but it did seem more substantial. It tended to shatter very thin pieces, so I figured that the blades needed changing. Opened the machine up and the second bolt (allan?) stripped almost immediately. I put the machine back together, got my money back, walked to the "tool coral" and purchased the then new 12 1/2" Delta planer. Less than a year later, I am back at HD without my receipt and a cooked planer, they said no receipt, no deal. Even if they had given me my money back, I was done with HD and Delta planers. I purchased a Makita 12 1/2" planer two years ago from Amazon.com and haven't looked back. You can read my review there. I have had numerous problems with tools bought from HD. IMHO, spend your money elsewhere.
Good Luck!
John
Makita 2012. I've treated it like a big machine and it refuses to die. The 3" DC hookup is a bit odd, but it works effectively.
I'll jump in. Old Makita 2012, just keeps going.The newer version addressed my only beef with it, the bed moves instead of the cutterhead. Makes infeed/outfeed support more of a challenge but the new one has a stationary bed.If it ever dies I would replace it with the same.
Thanks to everyone for their input! I am definitely going with a portable and it sounds like I can't go wrong with either the DeWalt 735 or the Makita. Anyone used the new Steel City? It's hard to find on-line but my nearest WoodCraft had it last time I was there for only $399. I haven't seen the Makita Planer but am a big fan of the rest of their lineup. Again, thanks to all for the advice offered!
I have the DW735. Love it. Some complain about the knives but as yet after about 18 months I have no issue. Sweet and smooth.
I have a small shop and all my equipment is mobile. My planer and my 12"CMS each have their own Rigid MSUV for portability.
The fit and finish are as good as its' performance. Mine was new at a small lumber yard. Dusty box that they marked down and I took it home for $400.00. A friend has the Makita. Both are great and it would come down to deal/price if I were to do it again.
More room and a few more $ and I'd go with a stand alone just because more mass is usually steadier and quieter....The unspoken word is capital. We can invest it or we can squander it. -Mark Twain...Be kind to your children....they will choose your nursing home....aim low boys, they're ridin' shetland ponies !!
Well Christmas came early to me :D
Home Depot happened to be running a sale on the DeWalt 735 today and I got the last one they had for $479. No need to shop around at that price! Again, thanks for all the advice offered!!
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled