Replies

1. 
   Jfrostjr | Mar 19, 2006 04:08pm | #1

   I don't know where the review is but I can endorse the DeWalt 13", three cutter head, 2 speed unit. Went to work out-of-the-box and I've had no problem. My local tool dealer primarily stocks Delta. When he stopped by my shop, he saw the DeWalt and was envious. He now stocks the DeWalt.

   Jerry

1. 
   cherryjohn | Mar 19, 2006 04:16pm | #2

   Thats the one I am looking at.  Its a beast weight wise, they have it listed at 90# but I dont move mine that much.  Thanks for the inputWicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

2. 
   BG | Mar 19, 2006 04:20pm | #3

   cherryjohn,
   Are you sure another toy is the answer? It seems to me a big boy machine is in order...

1. 
   cherryjohn | Mar 19, 2006 05:05pm | #4

   That too has crossed my mind but you see there is this, well, cute lil person living with me.  Cute as the day is long in June but she is tight as bark to a tree.  I told her that another machine was going to be $500 and she rolled her eyes back until I pointed to the billiard room ceiling ( see the gallery for pics) as proof of the need for a new machine.  Now coming back to her with a $1000+ price might make things un-copacetic in the Cherry John household..if ya know what I meanWicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

1. 
   BG | Mar 19, 2006 08:59pm | #6

   Cherryjohn,
   Yup, I do know what you mean...and if its like my wife, the bite is bigger than the bark.
   I was thinking more from the standpoint of longevity and long term lower cost, etc.

2. 
   tangomike | Mar 20, 2006 05:30pm | #9

   I just replaced by 2 speed Delta portable with a stationary 15" planer. If I was on a tight budget I would have gone with the Grizzly 15" (G0453) for $775 plus shipping. Cast iron tables, motor down below, built in mobile base. With portables getting up to $400 for the better ones it's just not that much of a jump to the stationary machines.

3. 
   dukeone | Mar 19, 2006 05:22pm | #5

   CherryJohn/All: Related question: Do portable planers do the same quality work that the larger stationary machines do, just slower with narrower lumber? Duke

   Kenneth Duke Masters
   The Bill of Rights
   December 15 1791
   NRA Endowment Member
   LEAA Life Member
   CRPA Member
4. 
   Ricks503 | Mar 20, 2006 12:49am | #7

   Last I saw, the delta 13 2 speed and the DeWalt  were toss ups. on mag favors one, another the other and usually they were rated almost identical on whatever scoring system was used.  - buy the one that is on sale for the best price in your area.

   1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
1. 
   cherryjohn | Mar 20, 2006 12:59am | #8

   Thanks Rick

    

   By the way.......the way we do it heya at Wicked decent woodworks is

   measure the board once

   cut it

   measure the space difference

   cut a filler piece

   use a lot of wood putty and squint when you look it over for final review

   saves on wasted wood

    Wicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

5. 
   BenM | Mar 20, 2006 07:58pm | #10

   Try Issue 160 (Winter 2002).  I think it's a Tools and Shops issue.

6. 
   cherryjohn | Mar 20, 2006 09:26pm | #11

   well it came down to 2 planers.the 13: Dewalt and the 13 " Delta.  Both have 15 amp mptors.  Both have depth stops.  The convincing factors where these....... I found the Delta to have an easier to read scale.  The Dewalt didnt come with any outfeed tabled. and with the price at Woodcraft was $420 for the Delta and $499 for the Dewalt.  The Dewalt does have a 3 blade head and the blades are much beefier than the Delta. The blades for the Dewalt for 3 blades was $47 and the Delta blades were $40 for 2.  The management at Delta went to the Gillete School of Marketing.  Both were 2 speed machines

   Wicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

7. 
   Jay | Mar 21, 2006 06:25am | #12

   I recently purchased the Delta 13" and it is a great tool!  It weighs a bit, but like you, I don't move it that often.  Assembly was quick and easy, and I got it off Amazon for $319 with a promotion they were having.  Free shipping too and no tax.  It was a great deal.  I think you could have purchased the DeWalt for a similar price off Amazon too.

1. 
   cherryjohn | Mar 21, 2006 03:05pm | #14

   typical of me, when I want something I want it NOW! It appears that I paid the price for this demand since mine cost me $414.  I did check Amazon and some other online outlets just last nite and the best price I found for the tool was $370.  Oh well at least it will allow me to return to the job of trimming my billiard room ceiling.  Ill be running a lot of oak thru it this coming week.  The single biggest thing that kept me from the Dewalt was the fact that it didnt have and infeed/outfeed tables.  I have mine set up on a Workmate most of the time.  Sometimes I move it onto my workbench.  I couldnt see a planer with no feed tables.  Thanks for the inputWicked Decent Woodworks

   (oldest woodworking shop in NH)

   Rochester NH

   " If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"

1. 
   jackofall | Mar 21, 2006 06:10pm | #15

   I just bought the Dewalt planer and it was great right out of the box and with the exstentions I get almost no detectable snipe especially if I lift the end of the board a little just as the other end clears the cutter head.  However I have very few board feet thru my planer.  You should definetely read all!!! the reviews on Amazon.com  Owners slammed the Dewalt hard for how soon the blades got dull and one gear that often broke.

   Edited 3/21/2006 11:14 am ET by jackofall

8. 
   gb93433 | Mar 21, 2006 07:04am | #13

   I bought a Makita in 1995. I have used it to plane several thousand board feet. In fact the chrome area which lies underneath a board is completely worn off. The bearings have been completely replaced three times. It keeps running very well. The knives it uses are cheaper to replace then what it would cost me to but the steel and have it ground over the lifetime of a set of knives. The knives itr uses are razor sharp and seem to last a long time. I can have them changed to the other edge or new ones installed in less than 15 minutes.

   The problem I see with every small planer is the issue of snipe. I have a larger planer that never snipes which I use to dimension lumber when snips are especially important. I use the Makita a lot when I want a nice surface and the very small snipe can be sanded or planed easily. I do not use it when a snipe may show in a joint.

   One thing I do not like about small planers is their hiogh pitched noise. My larger planer is much quieter in that regard.