Replies

1. 
   johnlill | May 19, 2006 03:33am | #1

   Here's one on eBay:

   http://cgi.ebay.com/Wagner-Safe-T-Planer-DeWalt-Ryobi-Delta_W0QQitemZ7619981285QQcategoryZ42937QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

   John L

2. 
   AitchKay | May 19, 2006 06:13am | #2

   I had (have?) one, and I attempted to use it once. That was pushing 30 years ago. As I recall, it was a heavy, cast disc, approx 4"d, with one or two carbide teeth. In a drill press app, it would be placed like a pilotless hole saw, hovering above the work. The work would be slid underneath it to take a shaving. In fact, come to think of it, a large diameter hole saw might work almost as well.

   The main problem with it is that it needs serious holddowns, leaves a fairly obvious sawtooth pattern (like resawing on a tablesaw), and only cuts a 4" swath. You can plane a wider piece in two or more passes, limited (in a drill press app) by the distance between the column and the far edge of the cutter, times 2, if you spin the work end for end, wih the other edge closer to the column.

   With modern-day portable planers being priced as cheaply as they are, I really wouldn't recommend the Saf-T-Planer. It takes way more setup and work, and suffers from a lot of cutterhead deflection (read: notched, uneven surfaces) due to radial thrust.

   That said, you might have a particular app in mind that would only be served by the Saf-T-Planer: 4" rabbetts, for instance, or God-Knows-What--- I know I'm always having to do some sort of Don't-Try-This-At-Home setup.

   Also, I was using a radial saw (more deflection than a drill press), I was planing hard maple, and I might have given up too easily. A drill press, serious holddowns, and a light pass might work better than my radial saw setup.

   Good Luck!

1. 
   sapwood | May 19, 2006 07:14am | #3

   Many years ago, my dad used one in a drill press. He was a pattern maker and did some very precise work. It seemed to serve him well. I remember seeing an enlarged table on the particular drill press equiped with the planer device. I don't know why he chose to use it and not a surface planer although I know he did acquire a planer in later years. I have his old tools and don' t really have any desire to try this one out.

3. 
   MikeHennessy | May 19, 2006 03:58pm | #4

   I have one of these I got about 30 years ago for my RAS. Used it once. Never saw wood actually explode before!

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

4. 
   mufti | May 19, 2006 07:36pm | #5

              I bought the drill press model in a junk shop two years ago and use it for thin stock- box linings etc (it was brand new). I find it works well provided the work is mounted by double sided tape to faced chipboard and I take it easy. Mine is light aluminium alloy.

              I paid £3.00 and reckon I got an absolute bargain. Will sell for 150 dollars. Any offers?

5. 
   BossCrunk | May 19, 2006 08:01pm | #6

   The Shakers invented the industrial sized version, if you will, of this little contraption.

   It's much better in the larger iteration.  Unfortunately, it is a museum piece.

6. 
   douglas2cats | May 20, 2006 12:53am | #7

   I'll dig out the paperwork that came with mine (DP type) to see if I can find you an address or phone nbr for the manufacturer. I know Stewart-McDonald also has the drill press type but I've never seen anyone selling the RAS version (didn't know they even made one). If there's any info in there I'll post another reply.

    

   If you build it he will come.

7. 
   douglas2cats | May 20, 2006 03:09am | #8

   Found my paperwork. The model you want is the RS-2 Safe-T-Cutter. The makers info is:

   G & W Tool Inc

   PO Box 691464

   Tulsa, OK 74189-1464

   (918) 486-2761

   Hope that helps.

    

   If you build it he will come.

8. 
   Bolts | May 20, 2006 04:16am | #9

   I have had the radial arm model for years it used to be sold by Garret Wade I use it mainly for raised panel cabinet doors then finish by hand used carefully it works quite well.Regards from Melbourne Australia

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/19/2006 9:19 pm ET by Bolts

9. 
   PADDYDAHAT | May 21, 2006 08:58am | #10

   Jeema, don't waste your time or money, I used one of these with carbide (3 or 4) cutters on an old sears ras -when they made them right and sturdy- and it was a looser. All the best , Pat

10. 
    cadiddlehopper | May 26, 2006 05:59am | #11

    I finally found mine - the RAS version - with instructions. Mine has the Craftsman brand name on it. Used it for one task then sold the saw. Forgot to give it to the buyer. As I recall, it will not take off much material in one pass. The instructions also warn to cut only a 2-inch swath at a time. I doubt that you really want one if you've read your replies, but, if you do, I'll put it on the market cheaply.

    Cadiddlehopper